New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-13
THE VOICE OF THE NATION
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE IN Accom-
WITH LAW AND FACTS.
HIS ARGUMENTS AGAINST RECOGNITION AND Hrs
USE FOR THE PRESENT OF THE MAINE DIS
AsTER AS THE STRONGEST LINK
IN THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
AGAINST SPAIN

! To the Editor or Inc Tribune.
Sir: In describing the Presidents message in you,
| leading editorial of to-day logical consistent
| convincing temperate and brave. peace-loving but
not warfearng, you have expressed the conclusonf
| which necessarily all fair-mnded men must reach
| after reading a document which has already taker
| its proper place among the remarkable State %.
pers not only Of this country. but Of the world
You could have gone further and added that not
only has Mr. Mckinley effectually demonstrated
the superiority OF American craftsmanship over
popular clamor and foreign diplomacy. but in DO.
ing 80 he has kept strictly within the rules Of
constitutional and international law, and followed
the established presidents applicable to the situa-
ton.
The Constitution requires that the President shall
from time TO time give TO the Congress nforma-
ton Of the state Of the Union. and recommend to
their consideration such measures as ne shall judge
necessary and expedent," and ne certainly has
advised Congress as to all the facts In the fullest
manner possible; he has asked 1t TO authorize and
empower him TO take measures 70 secure a fun
and final termination Of hosiilities In cuba. TO In
sure peace to its citizens as well as our own. and
also to use our military and naval forces as may
be necessary to obtain the desired ends Beyond
this he could not CO. for the constitutional pro-
visions requiring him to impart Information and
recommend the measures also limit his functions
and cothe the legislative department OF our tn
pnrtite Government with the sole power OF declar
Ing war and he would have usurped powers ex.
preSsly reserved TO congress nan gone II single
step further in his requests and recommendations
AUTHORITIES SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT
Not only is the message in strict accord with the
Constitution but It Is also based the undispued
principles OF international law acknowledged by
the civilized Powers OF the world; and While, a.
you say 1T Is the voice OF this Nation to the
world Il is also spoken In tones and accents that
must be recognized and accepted by all the Foreign
Powers.
The arguments as 10 the individuality ana I'M
proprety OF recognition Of any particular form OF
local government especially IN case OF final inter.
vention are based on the highest authorities. both
American and English. Lorimer terseiy sum-
married. the argument when he captioned .
chapter on the subject with the words: "lnterven-
ton and recognition relations which are mutu.
ally exclusive. and the doctrine OF Intervention
the converse Of that Of recognition
Historical presidents cited by Vernon Harcourt
show that the intervening Powers did not recognize
but created Belgium: did not recognize but saved
Greece. and. taking into consideration the intense
sympathy naturally aroused In our hearts Tor mo
insurgents the memory OF the gallant Maceo and
admiration for the indefatgab.e Gomez II required
as much Craftsmanship In 1898 70 quote as IL ala ior
Jackson IN 1886 TO enunciate under Similar lee'hss
OF sympathy and patriotism that safety Is 10 %
found in rigid adherence TO principle. ana uhQues'
tonaby this sentiment will be appreciated ana
echoed by every loyal Cuban who desires our friend
ship and aid in securing freedom for his oppressed
and beloved island home
But while unable TO recommend recognition on
account OF law and precedent he has clearly dem'
o,s,r,,ed our right TO intervene under the same
law, OF nations and the four grounds Tor interVen'
ton AZ briefly summarized In the message are sup
ported by all the authorities from Grotius to Han
IN England and from Wheaton TO woosey IN
America ~ o,,-,c,s,,
In treating the Maine disaster as evidence OF iacx
stnnY n
nr,nu. casus beM the President has placed any
action which may be taken above and beyond AL
criticism by foreign Powers and prevented any iass
sympathy for Spain by her oner TO arotrate ths
question OF fact and amount. ana 70 ao'ds oy e'o
award Doubtless Spain would have addressed such
a note 10 all the Powers and accompanied IL oy
s.cl,ra,ion that evidence existed as to internal
cau.es and in this age OF arbitration some OF me
Powers would have considered that the Ch'.eo
states we're bound 10 accept the proposition "n'c"
vyoula have resulted IN two or three years oeiay'
and meanwhile having made that the basis OF our
grievances all intervention would necessarily nav.
haen SUSPENDED pending such arbitration IN"
contingency however. is eliminated py using 'n'
Maine for the present only as the strongest 'A ~
the chain OF evidence which conclusivey proves ho'
only SPANS inability TO control CUBA out '"a' sa
lack Of control is an unceasing menace to the ives
and nroperty Of citizens. our claim asa'"e.
c,.,r FOR indemnity for ship and the HVes Oh
,na sailors remains unpretudiced. as wen as u"
r,yh, 10 make Il eventually the basis OF hosu'o ~,
tsiation II Spain refuses properly 10 reeoSle ~
,ro,,tv q. the act. Furthermore. the freslae".
has acted in accordance with preceoen'S eS'"''"'~
hv his !llustrous predecessors ..
7, tho conduct CT National affairs the doctrine "
s,,ra decis,s applies almost as pertinehuy aS "
does IN law. and proper regard thereto Is o, wv
greater advantage 10 the conduct OF 'a.o
fairs II Is not necessary 10 cite III t"e '''s ~
IN which important messages were pracocai'y oo".
no
certainly there many who remember l-''oo'
,ecaI message OF July 1851 in which after review"
ing all the facts and stating that ou''"e
recess so far. re had done what ne o"et''eu .
duty he said 10 Congress: You VIII now aooo'u'
ing 10 YOUR Judgment perform yours bu' III.
mos, notable instance was the special messaee W
president Madison. June l. lsl2 In which at'e'
.,,i,, oil tho facts OF Great Br,an's Violations
OF our treaty rights. he said;
I'VE behold In fine. on the side OF Great Britain
n stat, OF war against us, and on our side s'a''
OF peacc toward her Whether the United o'a'e"
shall continue passive under these progressive
usurpations and these accommodating wrongs OF.
opposng force TO force In defence OF their natura.
rights shall commit just cause into the Names '"
Tho Almighty dsposer OF events. Is solemn queS
ton which the Constitution wisely conhdes 10 LEV
legislative department of the Government
What Congress may do Is as yet problemat'cai'
hi, this much Is certain that II 1t acts In accord
ance with the law and the facts as stated III "e
message OF yesterday. there can be no douo, mat
whether accomplished with without resort "
arms success will attend efforts and deterrni-
nation 10 Insure in the island OF Cuba peace ahe
safety for It's citizens. well a. our own. ana tha'
tho able craftsmanship OF our President Will DC
commended not only by ourselves, put ny e'"'
Power in the world.
CHARLES HENRY BUTLER
New-York. April Il. 1898.