Evening journal., 1898-04-12

recognition Of Texas TO the discretion of
the executive, providing merely for the
sending of diplomatic agent when the
president should be satisfied that the re-
public of Texas had become AN independ-
ent state. :" 1t was so recognized by Pres
ident Van Buren,, who commissioned a
charge daffaires March z, 1897, after
Mexico had abandoned an attempt to re-
conquer the Texan territory and when
there was at the time no bona flde contest
going on between the insurgent province
and It's former sovereign.
said In my message of December last
ut is to be seriously considered whether
the Cuban instruction possesses beyond
dispute the attributes of statehood which
alone can demand the recognition of bel.
| ligerency in its favor" The same require
ment must certainly be no less seriously
considered when the graver issue of recog-
niziDg independence Is in question, for no
less positive test can be applied to the
| greater act than TO the lesser, whilo on
tho other hand the influences and conso-
! quences of the struggle upon the internal
1 policy of the recognizing state which
form important factors when the recogni-
| tion of belligerency is concerned, are Soc
ondary if not rightly eliminable factors
when the real question is whether the
community claiming recognition is or is
not independent beyond peradventure.
Ner from the standpoint of expedienoy
| 10 think It would be wise or prudent for
This government TO recognize at the pres
ont time the independence of so called
! Cuban republic. Such recognition is not
necessary in order TO enable the United
states to intervene and paoify the island
! 10 commit this country now TO the recog-
r,f .l..a
! Cuba might subject us to embarrassing
conditions of international obligation to-
ward tho organization so recognized. In
case Of Intervention our conduct would be
subject TO the approval or disapproval of
such government. We would be required
to submit TO its direction and to assume
| to it the mere relation of friendly ally.
| When it shall appear hereafter that there
Is within the island government capable
OF performing the duties and disoharging
the functions of a separate nation, and
having as a matter of fact the proper
forms and attributes of nationality, such
government can be promptly and readily
recognized and the relations and interests
of the United States with such nation ad-
iusted.
There remain the alternative forms of
Intervention to end tho war, either as an
impartial neutral by imposing a rational
compromise between the contestants, or as
the active ally of the one party or the 9TH
or.
As to the first, it is not to be forgotten
that during the last few months the rela-
tion of the United States has virtually
been one of friendly Intervention In many
ways each not of itself conclusive. but all
tending to the exertion of potential in
| mi IA tn a., L.
just and honorable to all interests con
corned. The spirit of all our acts hitherto
has been an earnest, unselhsh desire for
peace and prosperity in Cuba, untarnished
by differences between us and Spain and
/ unstained by the blood of American citi-
zens.
The forcible intervention of the United
States as neutral to stop the war accord
ing to the large dictates of humanity and
following many historical precedents
whore neighboring states have interfered
To check the hopeless sacrifices OF life by
internecine conflicts beyond their borders
is justifable on rational grounds. 1t in
wolves, however, hostile constraint upon
both the parties to the contest as we'll to
enforce a truce as to guide the eventual
settlement.
The grounds for such Intervention may
be briefly summarized as follows:
First.-In the cause Of humanity and to
put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed,
starvation and horrible miseries now ex-
isting there and which the parties to the
conflict are either unable or unwilling to
stop or mitigate. II is no answer to say
this is all in another country belonging
to another nation and is therefore none Of
our business. 1t is specially our duty, for
il Is right at our door.
Second. We owe 1t to our citizens in
Cuba to afford them that protection and
indemnity for life and property which no
government there can or will afford, and
to that end to terminate the conditions
that deprive them of legal protection.
Third. The right TO intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to the
commerce, trade and business of our peo-
pie and by the wanton destruction of prop
erty and devastation of the island.
Fourth.-And, which is of the utmost
Importance the present condition of af-
fairs of Cuba is a constant menace TO our
peace and entails upon this government
an enormous expense. With such a con-
ilict waged for years in an island SO near
US and with which our people have such
trade and business relations when the
lives and liberty Of our citizens are in con.
| stant danger ana their properly destroyed
and themselves ruined, where our trad
ing vessels are liable to seizure and are
seized at our very door, by warships Of q
foreign nation, the expeditions of flibus
tering that we are powerless altogether tc
prevent and the irritating questions and
entanglements thus arisinR-an these and
others that / need not mention with the
resulting strained relations arc constant
menace to our peace and compel us to keeI
on a sehiwar footing with a war nation
with which we are at peace.
These elements Of danger and disorder
already pointed out have been strikingly
illustrated by tragic event which hai
deeply and Justly moved the American
people. ! have already transmitted to con
gress the report of the naval court of in
quiry on the destruction of the battleshiI
Maine in the harbor Of Havana during th'
night of the 10th of February. The de
struotion of that noble vessel has filled
the national heart with inexpressible hor
ror. Two hundred and ffty-eight brav'
sailors and marines and two officers Of ou
..,.,,.f,,. a., tho fapofod connrftv n