The state herald., 1898-04-15

other nations and eventually to recog.
nize the authority of the prevailing
pnrty without reference TO our partic-
ulhr interests and views or to the mer-
lis OF the original controversy. But In
tliis, as IN every other Occnsion safety
Is to be found In rigid adherence to
principle.
| IN the contest between Spain and
the revolving colonies we stood alOOf
and waited not only until the ability of
the new states to protect themselves
was fully established, but until the dan
ger OF their being again subjugated
had passed away. Then and not until
then were they recognized. Such was
our course In regard to Mexico herself
1T is true that with regard to Texas
the civil authority of Mexico had been
expelled. Its invading army defeated,
the chief of the republic himself cap
turcd and all present power 10 control
the newly organized government of
Texas annihllated within its confines.
But. on the other hand. there Is in ap-
peari'nce, at least, an immense disparl-
~ OF physical force on the side of Tex
as. The Mexican republic under an
executive is allying its forces under n
new leader and mcnacing fresh inva-
sion to recover its lost domain.
| Upon the issue of this threatened
INVASION the independence of Texts
may he considered as suspended, and
were there nothing peculiar in the sit
ualion of the United States and Texas,
our Acknowledgements of its indepcn-
dence at such n crisis could scarcely be
regarded ms consistent with that pru-
dent reserve With which we have hiih-
eric 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 mo-
tivcs of selfish interests in view of the
former claim on our part TO the terri
tory of Texas and of the avowcd pur-
pose of the Texans in seeking rccogni-
tion of Independence ms nm incident To
the incorporation of Texas in the un-
ion, concluding thus:
prudence, therefore. seems to die
tate that we should stand aloof and
maintain our present attitude. If not
| until Mexico itself. or one of the great
foreign powers shall recognize the indie
pendence of the new government. nj
least until the lapse of time or the
| course of events shall haze proved he
y0nd cavil or dispute the nbllity of tile
people of that country to maintain their
separate Sovereignty and TO uphold the
government constituted hy them.
Neither of the contendng parties can
justly complain Of this course. by pur.
suing II. we are carrying out the long
established policy Of our government,
n policy which has secured TO ns re-
spect and influence abroad ard Ill
splred confidence nj home
These are the words of the resoluic
ana patriotic jackson. They are evi-
dehcc that the United States, In nddl.
tion to the test imposed by public law
IA the condition of the recognition of
independence by n neutral stntc, to.
wit: that the rcvolied state shall CON
stitute In fact body polite. having n
government IN substance as well Ms In
name, possessed of the elements Of
stability" and forming lie facto. III left
| To itself, n state among the nations,
reasonably capable of Jischarglng the
duties of n state"-has imposed for its
own governance In dealing with cases
like these the further condition that
w SlUttHDpl Is
not due To a rcvoltcd dependency until
the danger of its being again subln-
gated 10y the parent state has entirely
passed away. This extreme test was.
in fact. applied In the ease of Texas
The Congress TO whom President Jack
son referred the question ms ''one prob
ably leading TO war" and therefore n
proper subject for n 'prcvious under.
standing with that body by whom war
alone can he declared. and by whom nll
the provisions for sustaining It's pcrlls
must bc furnished" left the matter OF
recognition Of Texas 10 the discretion
of the executive. providing merely for
the sending OF n diplomatic agent when
the President should he satisfied that
the republic of Texas had become "nn
independent state" II was so rccog.
nlzed by President Van Burcn. ,chn
commissioned charge daffalrcs
March Z. 1897, after Mexico had nhnn.
doncd nm attempt to conquer the Tex.
an territory. and then there was at the
time no bona ildc contest going on be.
tween the insurgcnt province and Its
former sovereign,
! said In my message OF December
last; 1T Is TO he seriously considered
whether the Cuban lnsurrcctlon pos.
scsscs beyond dispute the attributes Of
statehood. which alone can demand The
recognition of hclligcrcncy IN liz IN.
yor." The same requirement must ccr.
tnlnly bc no less seriously considered
when the gravcr issue OF recognizing
independence Is In question. for no
less positive test can he applied 10 the
greater act ihnn To the lesser. while ON
the other hand the Influences and con.
sequences OF the struggle upon the
internal policy OF the recognizing state.
which form mn Important factor when
the recognition Of bolligorcncy l. con.
corned, ARE secondary. II not rightly
.llmlnablc factors WHEN the real lucs.
tion whether the community claiming
recognition Is or Is not independent h..
yond pcrndvrni,lrc comes M.
Nor ON the standpoint of rxpedlcnce
do think II would he wise or pr,l.
dent for this government 10 recognize
NJ this time the Independence of the
so-cnlled republic. Such recognition Is
not necessary In order To enable the
United States 10 Intervene and pnclfy
the Island. To commit this country
now 10 the recognition OF amy pnriicu.
lar government Ia Cuba might subject
us 10 embarrassing conditions of inter.
national obligation towards the or.
gnnllntloD ~ recognized. In ease or
intervention our conduct would he sub.
jcci To the approval or ,llsnppro,nl of
such government. and We would bc fc.
qnlrcd Ia submit 10 It's direction nnd Ia
assume To II the more than relation OF
n friendly ally.
There remain tho alternative forms
of intervention 10 end the wnr. either
nA mn hmm III LII iiiaIl LIZ IillLu.I LIZ. !.