The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-12
ave hither,o held ourselves bound I

have Hitherto held ourselves bound 20
treat,ali similar questions" 2, -
Thercupon Andrew jackson proceed
ed TO consider the risk that there might
be imputed TO the United States mo-
tlves OF selfish interest In view OF the
former claim on our part to the terri
tory OF Texas, and OF the avowed pur-
pose OF the Texans In seeking recogn!-
ton OF independence MS an accident to
the incorporation OF Texas in the I'm
ion: concluding thus. IL
Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate
that we should still stand alooc and
maintain our present attitude. II not
until Mexico itself, or one OF the great
foreign powers shall recognize the lin
dependence OF the new government, at
least until the lapse of time or the
course OF events shall have proved be-
You'd cavil OF dispute the ability OF the
people of that country to maintain
their separate sovereignty and to up
hold the government constituted by
them. Neither OF the contendlng par
ties can Justly complain OF this course.
BY. pursuing 1t. We are but carrying out
the loHg-established policy of our gov
eminent! policy which has secured to
US respect and Influence abroad, and in
spired confidence at home"
Presl tient JacIxson,. .AttitnIn. .igs (;
These are the words OF the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evil
dence that the United States In addi-
tion to the test imposed by public law
as the condition OF the recognition OF
independence by neutral state Ito wit
that the rcvolted state shall Constitute
In fact body polite, having a goy-
eminent In substance as well ms 10
name, possessed Of the elements OF sta
billy" and forming de facto eff left
to itself. q state among the nations,
reasonably capable of dlscharslng the
duties of q state" has imposed for Its
own Governance in dealing with cases
like these the further condition that
recognition OF independent statehood Is
not due TO a revolted dependency un-
til the danger OF Its being again subju-
gated by the parent state has entirely
passed away This extreme test was in
fact applied in the case OF Texas. The
Congress to whom President Jackson
referred the question as one probably
leading to war" and therefore q prop
er subject for "a previous understand
ing with that body by whom war can
alone be declared, and by whom all the
provisions for sustaining its pe:iIs
must be furnished" left the matter Of
the recognition of Texas to the discre-
tlon of the executive, providing merely
for the sending of a diplomatic agent
when the President should be satisfied
that the republic OF Texas had become
IAN Independent State" It was SO rec
oglized by President Van Buren,. who
commissioned q charge d'affaires March
Z. 1887, after Mexico had abandoned an
attempt to re-conquer the Texan terri
tory. and when there was at the time no
bona flde contest going on between the
insurGeIt province, and its former SOW
ereisn.
I said, in my message OF December
last:
: 1T is to be seriously considered
whether the Cuban Instruction pos
sesses beyond dispute the attributes OF
statehood which alone can demand. the
recognition OF delinquency in Its fav-
or
The same requirement must certainly
be no less seriously considered when
the Gravcr Issue of recognizing indie
pendence Is in question, for no less pos
tive test can be applied to the greater
act than to the lesser: while on the
other hand the influences and conse-
quences OF the struggle upon the inter-
nal policy OF the recognizing state,wh!ch
form important factors when the rccog-
milton Of belllgerercy is concerned are
secondary, II not rightly elIminable fac
tors when the real question Is whether
the community claiming recognition Is
or Is not Independent beyond peradven-
ture.
Against Recognition of In snrcents.
z Nor. from the standpoint OF expert
encc do think It would be wise or pru-
dent for this government to recognize
at the present time the independence of
the ao-called Cuban republic. Such rec
ignition Is not necessary in order to en-
able the United States to intervene and
pacify the island. To commit this coun-
try now to the recognition of any par
tlcular government in Cuba might sub
ject US 70 embarrassing conditions OF In
ternational obligation towards the Dr.
Sanlzatlon SO recognized. In case OF In
Prevention our conduct would be sub
jcct to the approval or dlsapproval OF
such govcrnment;wc would be required
to submit to It's direction and to assume
to 1t the mere relation OF friendly ally.
When It shall appear hereafter that
there IS within the island government
capable OF performing the duties and
discharglng the functions OF q separate
nation, and having as n matter OF fact,
the proper forms and attributes OF ma
tlonnlltF. such government can be
promptly and readily recognized, and
the relations and interests OF the Uni
ted States with such nation adjusted.
Z There remain the alternative forms Of
Intervention 10 end the war, either, as
an impartial neutral by imposing q ma
tlonal compromise between the contest
ants, or MS the active ally OF the one
party or the other. e Z. Z
AZ 10. the first, It Is not to be forgot
ten that during the last few months the
relation OF the United States has .vlr-
tually been one OF friendly Intervention
in many ways. each not OF itself con-
ducive. but ais tending TO the exertlon
of n potential influence toward an ulti-
mate pacific result just and honorable
10 all Interests concerned. The spirit
OF MI our acts hitherto has been an
earnest, unselfish desire for peace and
prosperity!n Cuba, untarnished by dlf-
ferences between US and Spain and I'M
stained by the blood of American cit!-
zens.
Z The forc!bic intervention OF the
United States rs n neutral, TO stop tho
war. according TO the large dictates OF
humanity and following many hIs,orl-
cal presidents where HcIGhbor,ng
states have !nterfercd to check tho
hopeless sacrifice of life by nternoclne
conflicts beyond their borders. Is tus,i-
fable on rational grounds. II. Involves,
however, hostile constraint upon both
the parties 10 the, contest, as well to on.
force n truce as 10 guide the eventual
settlement
THE grounds for such Intervention