Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-14

Onhkrcrb W WHuHl j lTbBlUeub Jackson
referred the question as one ''probabiy
leading to war" and therefore a propsl
subject for previous understanding
with that body ~ whom war can alone
be declared, and by whom all ths pro
Visions for sustaining its perils must
be furnished left the matter of the
recognition Of Texas to the discretion
OF tho executive, providing merely for
the sending of diplomatic agent when
the President should be satisfied that
the republic of Texas had hec0me IAN
Independent State 1t was 40 recog-
nizsu BY President Van Buren,, who
commissioned charge d'aifaires. March
Tth, 1877, after Mexico had abandoned
an attempt to reconquer the Texan ter
ritory and when thers vas at the time
no bona Edo contest going on between
the insurgent province and its former
sovereign.
said IN my message of Dscember
last 1T ia to be serioualy considered
| whether the Cuban insnrrertion passes
beyond dispute the attributes of state
hood which alone can demand tho
recognition OF belligerency in ita
favor. - The same requirement must
certainly be no less seriously considered
when the graver issue of recognizing
| Independence ia in question, for no less
positive test can he applied to the
greater act than to the esser while
on the other hand the inf and
consequences Of the struggle upon the
internal policy of the recognizing
State, which form important factors
when the recognition OF heligcrency
is concerned, are secondary. If not
| rightly, eliminable factors when tina
real question ia whetter the com
munity claiming recognition is on is
not Independent beyond peratlventure.
WOULD NOT BE WISE or PRUDENT TO
RECOGNIZE CUBAN INDEPENDENCE.
Nor from the standpoint Of expeii-
ence do / think it would be wide or
prudent for this government to recognize
at tine present time the indensnlence
of tho so called Cuban republic. Such
recognition is not necessary in order to
enable the United States to intervene
and pacify the island. To commit this
country now to the recognition of any
particular government in Cuba might
subject us to embarrassing conditions
OF international obligation toward the
organization 80 recognized. In case of
intervention, our conduct would be sub
ject to tho approval or disapprova of
such government; We would be required
to submit to it's direction and 10 as
sumo to il the mere relation of
friendly ally. When it shall Bppear
hereafter that there is within the island
a government capable of performing tho
duties and discharging the functions of
o separate nation, and having no
matter Of fact the proper forms and at
tributes OF nationality, such govern
tnent can be promptly and readily
recognized. and the relations and in
terests Of the United States with such
nation adjusted.
PEACEFUL INTERVENTION.
There remain the alternative forms of
intervention to end the war, either as
an impartial neutral by imposing a
rational compromise between the con
testants. or as the active ally of the one
marty or the other.
AS TO the first, it is not TO be for
gotten that during the last few months
the relation of the United States has
virtually been one of friendly inter-
vention in many ways, each not of
itself conclusive, but all tending to tho
exertion of potential influence toward
an ultimate pacific result, just and
honorable to all interests concernad.
The spirit Of ell our acts hitherto has
heen an earnest, unseliish desire for
peace and prosperity in Cuba, unfair
nished by differences between the
United States and Spain, and unstained
by the blooi Of American citizons.
The forcible intervention of the United
States, as q neutral, to stop the war,
according to the large dictates of
humanity and following many histori-
cal presidents where neighboring States
have interfered to check the hopeless
Hacrifices of life by internecine conflicts
beyond their borders, is jnstitiable on
rational grounds. IL involves, however.
hostile constraint upon both the parties
10 the contest, as we'll 10 enforce truce
MS to guido the eventual settlement.
The grounds for such intervention
may he briefly summarized as followH:
First. In the cause of humanity and |
TO put an end to the harbarities, hlood- |
shed, starvation and horrible miseries |
now existing there, and which the |
parties TO the conflict are either unable |
or unwilling tn stop or mitigate. 1t is |
country helougine to another nation,
and is therefore none of our business.
1t is specially our duty, for it ia right
at our door.
Second. Wc owe ii to our citizens in
Cuba to afford them that protection and
indemnify for life and property which
no government there can or will afford,
and to that end tU terminate the condi-
tions that deprive them of local pro-
lection.
Third. Tho right 20 intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury TO
the commerce, trade and business of
our people. and by tho wanton de
struction of property and devastation of
the island.
Fourth. lid which ia Of tho utmost
Importance. The present condition uf
Affairs in Cuba is constant menace to
1ur peace, and entails upon this govern
nent an enormous expense. With such
! conflict waged for years in an island
10 near US, and with which our people
nave such trade ana business relations
when the lives and liberty of our citi-
sens are in constant danger and their
property destroy ed and themselves
'uined- where our trading vessels are
liable to seizure and are seized at our
'ery door by warships of a foreign
ration, the expeditions of tilibustering
hat we are powerless altogether to pre-
'ent, anu the irritating questions and I
thus Rrising-all these ,
md others that | need not mention,
With the resulting strained relations.
re constant menace TO our peace and ,
ompel us to keep on semi-wa footing ,
With nation with which we are at
Ieace. ,
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE. I
These eloments of danger and dis.
Fdsr Hlready pointed out have hoen .