The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-04-13
Ing with the Spanish authorities SO as

about peace in Cuba, to confide the pre-
paration thereof to the 1nsular Par
| lament, inasmuch as the concurrence
Of that body would be necessary to
reach n final result, II being. however,
understood that the powers reserved
| by the constitution to the central gov
| ernment rae lot lessened or diminished.
| AS the Cuban Parliament does not
meet until the 4th OF May next. the
| Spanish government would not object
| for Its parts. to accept at once n sus-
pension of hostilities II asked for by
| the insurgents from the general-ln-
| chief, TO whom II would pertain, In
such case. to determine the duration
and condition of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by Gen.
Woodford and the reply OF the Spanish
government were both In the form OF
| brief memoranda. the texts OF which
are before me, and are substantially in
| the language above given. The func-
| tion of the Cuban Parliament, In the
| matter OF preparing" peace and the
manner OF Its doing so are not ex-
pressed In the Spanish memorandum;
| but, from General Woodford's explana-
tory reports OF preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference, II Is un-
derstood that the Spanish government
| stand ready to give the Insular Con-
| gress full powers to settle the terms OF
| peace with the Observation-Disclosures by
direct negotiation or Indirectly by
means of legislation, does not appear.
| PLANS OF INTERVENTION.
| With this last overture In the direc-
ton of immediate peace, and its dlsap-
| pointing reception by Spain, the exc
cutve was brought to the end of his
| effort.
In my annual message of December
last l said:
| "Of the untried measures there re-
main only: Recognition of the insur-
| gents as belligerents; recognition OF
| the independence of Cuba; neutral In
tervention to end the war by imposing
| n rational compromise between the
contestants, and Intervention in favor
Of one or the other party. 1 speak not
| of forcible annexation: that cannot be
thought Of. That, by our code of NOR
| ality, would be criminal aggression.
| Thereupon I reviewed these alter
natives, In thellght OF President Grants
| measured words. uttered In 1875, when
| after seven years of sanguinary. des-
| tructive and cruel hostilties In Cuba,
4 he reached the conclusion that the re-
| cognition of the Independence OF Cuba
was impracticable and indefenslble;
and that the recognition of belligerence
| was not warranted by the facts ac-
cording to tests OF public war. 1 com
mented especially upon the latter aspect
| OF the question: pointing out the incon-
| veniences and positive dangers of a re-
cognition of belligerence. which. while
| adding to the already onerous burdens
| Of neutrality within our own jurlsdic-
tion, could not In any way extend our
influence or effective offices In the ter
| STORY OF hostilities. Nothing has since
| occurred to change my view In this re-
| gard-and I recognize as fully now as
| then that the issuance Of proclama-
| ton OF neutrality by which process the
so-cailed recognition Of belligerence is
published, could, Of itself and unat-
tended by other action. accomplish
nothing toward the one end for which
we labor, the instant pacification of
Cuba and the cessation of the misery
that affiicts the island.
THE QUESTION OF RECOGNITION.
Turning to the question of recognize
| Ing at this time the independence of the
present insurgent government In Cuba,
we find safe precedents in our history
from an early day. They are well sum-
med up In President Jackson's mes
sage to Congress, December 21, 1885, on
the subject of the recognition of the In
dependence OF Texas. He said
"In all the contests that have arisen
out of the revolutions of France, out
Of the disputes relating to the crowns
| OF Portugal and Spain. out of the Sc
paration of the American possessions
| Of both from the European govern
ments, and out of the numerous and
| constantly occurring struggles for DOM
inion in Spanish America, SO wisely
consistent with our just principles has
been the action of our government that
we have. under the most critical cir
cumstances, avoided all censure and
| encountered no other evil than that
produced by transient estrangement
| OF good will against those whom we
have been by force of evidence COM
PEELED to decide"
NEUTRAL POLICY.
TT has thus made known to the
nvth
| practice of the United States Is to
avoid all interference in disputes which
merely relate to the internal govern
ment of other nations and eventually
to recognize the authority of the pre-
vailing party without reference to our
particular interests and views or to the
merits Of the original controversy. But
| on this as on every other trying occa-
sion, safety Is to be found In rigid
adherence to principles. In the contest
4 between Spain and the revolted col
| onies we stood aloof, and waited not
only till the ability of the new states to
protect themselves was fully establish
ed. but until the danger OF their being
again subjugated had entirely passed
away. Then, and not until then, were
they recognized. Such was our course
In regard to Mexico herself.
"It Is true that with regard to Texas
| the civil authorities OF Mexico had been
expelled. its army defeated. the chief Of
the republic himself captured, and all
present power to control the newly-or-
ganized government OF Texas annihi-
lated within its confines. But. on the
other hand. there is, In appearance at
least, an immense disparity of Physical
force on the side of the Texans. The
Mexican republic. under another exec
utive. is rallying its forces.
Upon the issue of this threatened
invasion. the independence Of Texas
may be considered as suspended; and
were there nothing peculiar In the rela-
tive situation Of the United States and
Texas. our acknowledgment OF Its in
dependence at such crisis could
scarcely be regarded as consistent with
that prudent reserve with which we
have hitherto held ourselves bound to
treat all similar questions
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceed
ed to consider the risk that there might
be imputed to the United States mot
ives of selfish interest In view Of the
former claim on our part to the ter
ritory of Texas. and of the avowed pur-
pose of the Texans In seeking recog-
| nitton Of tudapendauca an inridant