Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-16

uIItA
erency. the recognition OF lnuepenu-
ence. or a neutral Intervention and I'M,
nosition of force on contestants ahu
the Intervention In favor OF one party
or other, leaving annexation u OF III.
question us q criminal aggression
He saws he then held h recognition
of beliigerency or independence couiu
not he justified in the light OF prece-
dents in our history, nor could either
bring relief 10 the situation. lie says
events since then have not caused MN
10 change his mind. He quotes from
President Jackson's message on the
recognit;on of the independence
of Texas, laying down the law that
n revolving government must staolls
itself so firmly as not TO appear 10 be IN
danger Of being re-conquored by the
former sovereign.
Jackson did not believe Texas bad
reached a condition of stability and 1T
was not until March, 1887, that inde-
nendence was recognized by Van
Buren, sending n representative OF the
United States, and after Mexico had
abandoned an attempt TO reconquer
the Texans territory and when there
was ut that time no bona fde contest
going on between the insurgent prov
ince and the former sovereign.
| said in my message OF December
last: at is TO be seriously considered
whether the Cuban insurrection pos.
sesses beyond dispute the attributes OF
statehood which alone can demand re
ignition of belligerency in its favor.
The same requirement must certain
w be no less seriously considered when
the grayer issue of recognizing indie
pendence is i'm question. for no less pos
tive a test can be applied to the great
err act than to the lesser, while on the
other hand the influences and conse-
uuences of the struggle form impor-
amt factors when the recognition OF
belligerencv is concerned, are second
ary. il not rightly, eliminated factors
when the real question is whether a
community claiming recognition IL or
is not independent beyond ~pcradven-
turc.
Nor. from the standpoint OF expert
ence. do ] think il would be wise or
prudent for this government TO recog-
niZe at present the independence OF
the 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 10 rec
ognition OF any particular government
i'm Cuba might subject us TO embar-
RAISING conditions of international OBJ
legation towards the organization so
recognized. In case of Intervention
our conduct would he subject To APP
prevail or disapproval by such govern
- .,I1 a. r,,t,frn1 IN
submit to its direction and to assume
TO il a mere relation of a friendly ally
When il shall appear hereafter that
there is within the island a government
capable of performing the duties OF
discharging the functions of a separate
nation, and having as a matter OF tact
the proper forms and attributes OF a
nationality, such government can be
promptly and readily recognized and
the relations and interests of the Unit
ed States with such nation adjusted.
Forcible Intervention.
The president said there remained
intervention TO end war as a neutral
or as the active ally Of one or the other
party. AS TO former, he pointed out
we have been practically exercising
friendly intervention for some months
although the acts were tending toward
the exertion Of a potential influence TO
ward an ultimate peace with a result
lust and honorable TO all concerned
An earnest desire has been for peace
and prosperity for Cuba, ~untarnishec
B RXAlr ai~ffffsEsnS6 s. he 4Ss9Ybs iS9u Us Or and nm sfRsinnr
citizens.
The president then points out tina
forcible Intervention as q neutral e
stop war on the dictates Of humanity
has many historical presidents and i,
justifiable on a rational ground. III
involves n hostile constraint on boil
parties to the contest as well as enfor
ces a truce, as a guide TO an eventua.
settlement. The grounds for interven
ton are summarized as follows: First
the cause Of humanity; second the pro
lection of our citizens in Cuba; thirc
the serious injury 10 of ouI
people.
Fourth, and which is of the most i'm
%portance, the present condition of af'
fairs in Cuba. The constant menace
to our peace entails on this government
an enormous expense. With conflict
waged for four years in the island neal
Us, with which our people have such
trade relations-when the lives and the
liberty of our citizens are in constant
danger, their property destroyed
themselves ruined, where our trading
vessels are liable TO seizure and are
seized at u very door by the warsbips
Of a foreign nation, the expeditions OF
flibustering that we are powerless u
prevent altogether, and the Irritating
questions and entanglements thus arts.
ing-all these and others | need not
mention, with the resulting strained
relations and constant menace TO ouT
people, keep them on a constant semi
war footing with a nation with which
we are at peace.
speaks of the Maine.
The president then says: These ele-
ments OF danger and disorder are strik-
ingly illustrated by the tragic event
which has deeply moved the American
people" lie says this event was tn,
destruction OF the Maine, the report al
the naval court of inquiry on which he
has already sent To congress, says:
The destruction of that noble vesse
has filled the national heart with in
eXpressibie horror"
The message says the report of tho
Maine court says the vessel was de
stroyed by a mine and leaves the re
sponsibility to be fixed, but holds, IL
any event, that the 'the destruction O
the Maine, by whatever exterior cause
is patent and impressive proof that tht
state of things in Cuba is intolerable,'
since Spain cannot assure the safety O
n vessel of the American navy in he
waters on a friendly mission even
Concerning the differences between the