Warren sheaf., 1898-04-14

| E r i + = - ~ r. / =
memorandum; but from Gen. woodford's
explanatory reports Of preliminary discuss
sions preceding the final conference it Is
understood that the Spanish government
full powers to settle the terms Of peace
WITH the insurgents, whether by direct me-
gotiations or Indirectly by means of legis-
iatlo1' uoes not appear s -
End of Diplomacy.
With this last overture in the direction Of
immediate peace and it's disappointing re. e.
ception by Spain, the executive was broneht
to the end of his effort.
aaf seid; ~ ,ntroa :, ;. s,,,o. .,o,.. .,'
Recognition Of the insurgents aus belliger-
ents, recognition of the independence Of
war by imposing rational compromise
between the contestants and the interven-
IN or Of 9pG or the ether party
cannot be thought OF. That by our code
of morality, would be criminal aggression"
Thereupon reviewed these alternatives,
in the light of President Grants measured
words, uttered in 1875, when after seven
years Of sanguinary, destructive and cruel
barbanties lin Cuba he reached the com
pendence of Cuba was impracticable and
indefensfble; and that the recognition of
belligerence, was not warranted by the
facts according to the tests of public law.
I commented especially upon the latter as
pect of the question, pointing out the in
conveniences and positive dangers Of a
recognition of belIigerency which, while
adding to the already onerous burdens of
neutrality within our own jurisdiction,
could not In any way extend our influence
or effective offices in the territory of hos
tilities. Nothing has since occurred to
change my view In this regard, and cecog.
nize as fully now as then that the issuance
of proclamation of neutrality, by which
process the so,called recognition of bel
ligerence is published, could, of itself and
unattended by Uther action, accomplish
nothing, toward the one end for which we
labor, the instant paciflcation of Cuba and
the cessation of the misery that afflicts the
island. .-a &C.,.
Precedents from History.
Turning to the question of recognizing
at this time the independence Of the pres
ent insurgent government in Cuba, we find
safe precedents in our history from an
early day They are well summed up in
President Jackson's message to congress
December 21, 1886, on the subject of the
He said: 'In all the contests that have
arisen out of the revolutions of France,
out OF the disputes relating to the crews
ton of the American % % Possessions ms Of ofpo5 bofh
from the European governments, and out
of the numerous and constantly occurring
ica, So. wisely consistent with our just
principles has been the action of our gov
ernment that we have, under the most
critical circumstances, avoided all cen
that; produced by transient estrange-
ment of good will in those against whom
we have been by force of evidence COM
PEELED to decide.
Our Established Policy.
1T was thus made known to the world
that the uniform policy and practice of the
United States is to avoid all interference
in disputes which merely relate to the in
ternal government of other nations, and
eventually to recognize the authority Of
the prevailing party without reference to
our particular interests and views or to
the merits Of the original controversy.
casion. safetT @ is to to I be found % in g gied cid
adherence to principle.
I'm the contest between Spain and the re-
volted colonies we stood aloof and waited,
to protect themselves was fully estab-
ilshed, but until the danger Of their being
again sMubjugated M had entirely passed
recognized. Such was our course in regard
to Mexico herself.
s4 The Texas Case. l." &gr
''It is true that with regard to Texas the
civil authority of Mexico has been expelled,
its invading army defeated, the chief of the
republic himself captured, and all prese MT
power to control the newly y-organized gov
ernment of to-day annihilated within it's
confines. But onthe other hand, there is, in
appearance at least, an imm ense disparity
Of physical force on the side of Texas.
The Mexican republic under another execu-
leader, and menacing a fresh invasion to
recover it's lost dominion.
Upon the issue Of this threatened in
vasion, the independence of Texas may be
considered as suspended; and We're there
nothing peculiar in the situation of the
United States and Texas, our acknowledg-
ment of its independence at such a crisis
could scarcely be regarded as consistent
with that prudent reserve wirheWhich we
have hitherto held ourselves bound to treat
all similar questions.
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded tc
consider the risk that there might be i'm.
puted to the United States of motives o,
selfish Interests in view Of the former claim
on our part to the territory Of Texas and OF
the aWowed purpose ofsthe Texans in seek.
ing recognition of independence as an In
cident to the Incorporation of Texas il
the union, concluding thus:
Words of Jackson.
"Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate
that we should still stand aloof and main
icoitself or one of the great foreign powers
shall recognize $the independence of the
new atleast until the h lapse : G1 o.
proved beyond cavi1- or dispute the ability
of the people ofsthat country TO main air
their separate sovereignty and to upholc
the government constituted by ,them
Neither of the cpntending parties can just
ly complain Of this course. BY PURSUING
it, we are but carrying out the long estap'
lished policy of our government, poilc9
which has secured to US respect and int1u,
ence abroad and inspired confidence al
home"
Conditions for Recognition.
These are the words Of the sresolute .and m
patriotic Jackson. s. They are evidence
that the United States, in addition to
the test imposed by. public law as tn the
ence by a. neutral state TO w.t. that the
revolted states shall "constitute in fact a
body polite, having.:a government in SUB. n
stance as well as in name, possessed OF the
clements Of stability and forming de
facto, .'if left to itself, a state among the
nations, reasonably capable Of dlscharging
the duties Of a state'), has imposed for ITS
these the further condition that recogni-
t3on of independent. statehood is not due
to q revolving dependency until the danger
Of its being subiugated by the parent state