The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-04-21
be SO clear as to command the support and
approval of the civilized world"
ReCOynitiOu Not Necessary.

be 80 clear ns to command the support and
approval of the civilized world"
Recognition Not Necessary.
sit is to be seriously considered whether
the Cuban insurrection possesses beyond dis
pute the attributes Of statehood which alone
can demand the recognition of belligerency
IN its favor" The same requirement must
certainly be no less seriously considered
when the gr8ver issue of recognizing indie
pendence Is In question. for no less positive
test can be applied to the greater act than
to the lesser. while on the other hand, the
influence and consequences of the struggle
upon the internal policy Of the recognizing
state, which fo:m important factors when
the recognition of belligercncy Is concerned,
are secondary, II not rightly eliminable fac.
tors when the real question is whether ths
community claiming recognition Is or Is not
independent beyond pcradventure.
Nor from the standpoint of eXpediency do
think 1t would be wise or prudent for this
government to recognize at the present time
the independence Of the so-called Cuban re-
public. Such recognition Is not necessary in
order to enable the United I;tates TO inter
vene and paclfy the island. To commit this
country now to recognition of any partic-
ular government In Cuba might subject us
TO embarrassing conditions of international
obligation toward the organization rec
ogniZed. In case Of Intervention our con-
duct would be subject to the approval or
disapproval of such governments; we would
be required to submit to Its direction and
to assume to 1t the mere relation of n friend
ly ally. When 1t shall appear hereafter that
there Is within the island government capa-
BILE Of performing the duties and discharging
the functions of n separate nation, and hav-
ing 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 nations adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms of In
terventiOn to end the war. either s an i'm
partial neutral, by imposing a rational COM
promise between the contestants or as the
active ally of the one party or the other.
As to the first, 1t is not to be forgotten that
during the last few months the relations
Of the United States have virtually been one
of friendly Intervention In many ways, each
not Of itself conclusive. but all tending to the
exertiOn Of a potential influence toward an
ultimate pacific result, just and honorable
to all interests concerned. The spirit of all
our acts hitherto has been an earnest, un-
selfish desire for peace and prosperity In
Cuba, untarnished by differences between
us and Spain and unstained by the blood of
American citizens
Grounds for Intervention.
The forcibe Intervention of the United
States AS a neutral 10 stop the war. accord
Ing to the large dictates of humanity and
following many historical precedents where
neighboring states have interfered to check
the hopeless sacrifice of life by internecine
conflicts beyond their borders Is justifiable
on rational grounds. 1t involves. however
hostile constraint upon both the parties to
the contest as well to enforce a truce as 10
guide the eventful settlement.
The grounds for such Intervention may be
briefly summarized as follows:
1. In the cause of humanity and to put an
end to the barbarites, bloodshed, starya-
there and which the parties to the confiics
are either unable or unwilling to stop ef
mitigate. 1t Is no answer to say this IS sM
In another country. belonging to another
nation, and is, therefore, none of our hus:-
ness. 1t is specially our duty. for it Is right
at our door.
.. 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.
8. The right to intervene may be justified
by the very serious injury to the commerce,
trade and business Of our people and by the
wanton destruction of property and devasta-
ton OF the island.
Fourth.-And which Is Of the utmost i'm
portance. The present condition Of affairs
In Cuba Is n constant menace 10 our people,
and entails upon this government an enor-
nous expense. With such a conflict, waged
for years in an island so near us. and with
which our people have such trade and busl-
ness relations-when the lives and liberty Of
their property destroyed and themselves
ruined-where our trading vessels are liable
TO seizure and are seized at our very door. Dy
war ships of a foreign nation. the expedl-
tions of flibustering that we are poweriess
to prevent altogether. and the irritating
questions and entanglements thus arising
all those. and others that | need not men
ton, with the resulting strained relations,
are constant menace TO our peace and com
pei us to keep on 4 semi-war footing with
n tvith wi " a n n
Destruction of the Maine.
These elements or danger and disorder al
ready pointed out have been strikingly Illus
trated by a tragic event which has deeply
and justly moved the American people. l
have already transmitted to Congress the
report of the naval court OF inquiry on the
destruction of the battle ship Maine In the
harbor of Havana during the night OF the
18th of February. The destruction OF that
noble vessel has filled the national heart with
inexpressble horror. Two hundred and hfty-
eight brave sailors and marines and two
officers OF our navy, reposing In the fancl2d
security OF friendly harbor, have been
hurled to death-gr!ef and want brought to
their homes and sorrow to the nation.
The naval court OF inquiry which, 1t is
needless to say; commands the unquannea
confidence of the government, was unani-
nous In Its conclusion that the destruction
OF tie Maine was caused by an exterior eX-
ploslon, that of a submarine mine IL did not
assume to place the responsibility. lint re-
mains to be fixed.
In any event the destruction Of the Maine,
by whatever exterior cause, Is patent
and impressive proof OF state OF Things
in Cuba that Is intolerable. That CONDITION
Is thus shown to be such that the Spanlsn
government cannot assure safety ana Sc
curity to n vessel of the American navy In
the harbor of Havana on a mission of peace
and rightfully there.
Further referring in this connection to re-
don htST.n n
from our minister 10 Spain of the 26th ultimo
contained the statement that the spanish
minister for foreign affairs assured MIN pos
itively that Spain will do all that the highest
honor and justice require in the matter OF
the Maine. The reply above referred TO or
the 3lst ultimo also contained an expression
Of the readiness of Spain to submit to an
arbitration of all the differences which can
arise in this matter, which is subsequently
explained by the note of the Spanish minis
ter at washington OF tue Ioth ihsl'' as io'-
lows:
"As TO the question of fact which springs
from the diversity of views between the re-
mort of the American and Spanish boarus,
Spain proposes that the fact De ascer.aaneu
by an Impartial investigation by experts;
which decision Spain accepts In advance
To this have made no reply
The long trial has proved that the opJect
for which Spain has waged the war cannot
he obtained The fire of insurrection may
flame or NAV smoder with varying seasons.
but II has not been and 1t is plain that II
cannot be extinguished by present methods.
The only hope of relief and repose from a
condition which cannot longer be endured Is
the enforced pacltication of Cuba. In the
name Of humanity In the name OF civlliza'
tion. in behalf of endangered American IN
terests which give us the right and the duty
10 speak and to act, the war in Cuba must
stop.
Asks Authority t, Use Force.
In view of these facts and these considera'
tions. | ask Congress to authorize and en-
mower the President TO take measures TO Sc
cure n full and final termination or nos
tilities between the government or SPAN
and the people of Cuba. and to secure In the
island the establishment of stable gov,
ernment capable OF maintaining order ana
observing It's International obligations, In
surfing peace and tranquility and the security
of lis citizens as well as our own. and To
use the military and naval forces or the
United States as may be necessary for these
purposes.
And in the interest Of humanity and to aid
In preserving the lives of the starving people
of the island, | recommend that the distri-
button of food supplies be continued and
that an appropriation be made out OF the
public treasury to supplement the charity OF
our citizens.
50 ,ny- with tho CnuprpSS It Is