The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-04-21
of peace with the good Offices Of the


of peace with the good offices Of the
president.
In addition, Isasked the immediate revo-
cation of the order of recommendation, so
as to permit the people to return to their
farms and the needy to be relieved with
provisions and supplies by the United
States. cooperating with the Spanish
authorities so as to afford full relief.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was re-
ceived on the night of the 31st ultimo. 1t
offers as the means to bring about peace
In Cuba to confide the preparation there
of to the insular department. inasmuch
as the concurrence of that body would
be necessary to establish a final result,
1t being however understood that the
powers reserved by the constitution to the
central government are not lessened or d.
minished. AS the Cuban parliament does
not meet until the 4th of May next, the
Spanish government would not object, for
it's part, to accept at once suspension
of hostilities If asked for by the insur-
gents through the general-in-chief, to
whom 1t would pertain In such cases to
determine the duration and conditions OF
the armistice.
The propositions submitted by General
Woodford and the reply of the Spanish
government were both in the form of
brief memoranda, the texts of which are
language above given. The function of
the Cuban parliament in the matter Of
preparing peace and the manner of do
ing so are not explained in the Spanish
memorandum, but from General Wood
ford's explanatory reports of preliminary
discussion preceding the final conference
1t is understood that the Spanish govern
ment stands ready to give the insular
congress full power to settle the terms Of
peace with the insurgents, whether by di-
rect negotiation or Indirectly by means of
legislation does not appear. With this
last overture in the direction of immedi-
ate peace and its disappointing reception
by Spain, the executive was brought to
the end Of his efforts.
Recognition Not Warranted.
In my annual message Of December last
said:
"Of the untried measures there remain
Recognition of the insurgents as bellig-
erents, recognition Of the independence of
Cuba and Intervention to end the war by
imposing a rational compromise between
the contestants, or Intervention in favor OF
one or the other party. 1 speak not OF
forcible annexation, for that cannot be
thought Of That, by our code of NOR
atty. would be criminal aggression
Thereupon I reviewed these alternatives
in the light Of President Grants message
in the words uttered IN 1875, when after
several years of sanguinary. destructive
and cruel barbarities in Cuba, he reached
the conclusion that the recognition Of the
independence Of Cuba was impracticable
and indefensible, and that the recognition
of belligerence was not warranted by the
facts according to the texts of public law.
commented especially upon that phase
of the question, pointing out the fncon-
veniences and positive dangers of recogni-
ton Of belligerence, which, while adding
to the already onerous burdens of neu-
trality without our own Jurisdiction, could
not In any way extend our influence or
effective offices in the territory of HOSTILE
ties.
Nothing has since occurred to change
my view in this regard, and I recognize
as fully now as then that the issuance of
proclamation of neutrality, by which
process the so-called recognition of bellig-
erency Is published, could, Of itself and
unattended by other action, accomplish
labor, the instant pacification Of Cuba, and
the cessation Of the misery that afhicts
the island.
A Precedent Cited.
Turning to the question Of recognizing
at this time the independence OF the pres
ent insurgent government In Cuba, we
find safe presidents in our history from
an early day. They are well summed up
In President Jackson's message to- con-
gress December q. 1886, on the subject Of
the recognition Of the independence of
Texas. He said:
lin all the contests that have arisen
out Of the revolutions Of France. out of
the disputes relating to Portugal and
Spain, out Of the separation Of the Amer
lean possessions Of both from the Eu-
merous and constantly recurring strug-
gies for dominion in Spanish-American
countries, so wisely consistent with
just principles has been the action OF our
government that we have under the most
critical circumstances avoided all censure
and encountered no other evil than that
produced by q transient estrangement
of good will in those against whom we
have been. by force Of evidence, COM
PEELED to decide.
1T has thus been made known to the
world that the uniform policy and practice
Of the United States is to avoid all inter-
ference In disputes which merely relate
to the Internal government Of other ma
TONS and eventually to recognize the au-
thority Of the prevailing party without ref
erence to our particular interests and
views or to the merits Of the original
controversy. But In this. as in every
other occasion, safety Is to be found in a
rigid adherence to these principles. In
the contest between Spain and the revolt
ing colonies we stood aloof and waited
not only until the ability of the new states
to protect themselves was fully estab-
lished, but, until the chance Of their being
axain subjuGateds had entirely passed
away. Then, and not until then, were
they recognized. Such was our course In
regard to Mexico herself. It Is true that
with regard to Texas the civil authorities
Of Mexico had been expelled, Its invading
army defeated, the chief OF the republic
himself captured. and al present power
to control the newly organized govern
ment OF Texas annihHated within It's con-
fines. But. on the other hand, there Ii, in
appearance at least, an immense dispar-
ity Of physical force on the side OF Texas.
The Mexican republic again Is rallying Its
forces under a new leader and menacing
q fresh invasion to recover its lost DO
main
upon the issue Of this threatened In
vasion, the Independence OF Texas may
be considered ~ suspended ana were
there nothing peculiar In the relations be-
tween the United States and Texas. our
acknowledgment Of Its independence at
such q crisis could scarcely be regarded
a consistent with the prudent reserve
with which we have hitherto held our
selves bound to treat al similar Ques-
lions"
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded
III hot
imputed to the United States motives Of
selfish interests In view Of the former
claim on our part to the territory OF
Texas, and of the avowed purpose OF the
Texans in seeking recognition Of indie
pendence as an incident to the incorpora-