The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-13


nations and eventually to recopnize the
authorlty OF the prevailing party with
out reference TO our particular interests
ana views, or to the merits of the orig.
inal controversy.
But on TINS, as on every other trying
occasion, safety is to be found in a rigid
adherence to principle.
In the contest between Spain and the
revolted colonies, we stood aloof and
waited not only until the ability of the
new states to protect themselves was
fully established, but until the danger
or their being again subjugateJ had en-
tlrely passed away. Then and not until
then, were they recognized. Such was
our course in regard to Mexico herself.
1t Is true that with regard to Texaa
the civil authority of Mexico has been
expelled, its invading army defeated, the
chief of the republic himself captured
and all present power to control the
newly organized government of Texas
annihiated within it's confines. But. on
the other hand, there is, in appearance
at least an immense disparity of physi-
cal force on the side of Texas. The Next
can republic. under another executive
Is ralying its forces under a new leader
and menacing a fresh invasion to re-
cover it's lost dominion.
Upon the issue of this threatened in
vasion, the independence of Texas NAV
be considered as suspended: and were
their nothing peculiar i'm the relative
situation of the United States and Texas.
our acknow ledgment of its independence
at such crisis could scarcely be regard.
ed as consistent with that prudent re-
serve with which we have hitherto held
ourselves bound to treat all similar
questions"
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceed
ed to consider the risk that there might
be imputed to the United States motives
OF selfish interest, in view of the former
claim on our part to the territory of Tex
as, and of the avowed purpose of tho
Texans in seeking recognition of indie
pendence as an incident to the ncorpor-
alton of Texas in the Union, concluding
thus: Prudence, therefore, seems to
dictate that we should still stand aloof
ana maintain our present attitude If not
until Mexico itself. or one of the great
foreign powers. shall recognize the in
dependence of the new government, at
least until the lapse of time or the course
of events shall have proved beyond cavil
or dispute the ability of the people Of
that country to maintain their separate
sovereignty and to uphold the govern
ment constituted by them. Neither Of
the contending parties can Justly COM
pain of this course. BY pursuing it we
are but carr. ing ut the long established
policy of our government. a policy which
mas secured to us respect and influence
abroad and inspired confidence at
home"
These are the words of the reso-
iute and patriotic Jackson They are
evidence that the United States, in ad-
oition to the test imposed by public law
as the condition of the recognition of in
dependence by neutral state Ito wit.
that the revolted state) constitute in
fact body polite, having government
in substance as well as in name, pos
sessed of the elements of stability" and
forming, de facto, IF left to itself.
state among nations, reasonably capable
or discharging tho duties of a state"
has imposed for its own governance in
dealing with cases like these the further
condition that recognition of independ-
ent statehood is not due to reVolted
dependency until the danger of it's be-
Ing again subjugated by the parent state
mas entirely passed away. This extreme
test was. in fact, applied In the state of
Texas, the congress. to which President
jackson referred the question, as one
probably leading to war, and, therefore,
proper subject for "a previous under
stand with that body, by whom war can
alone be declared and by whom all the
provisions for sustaining it's perils must
be furnished" left the matter of the
recognition of Texas to the discretion of
the executive, providing merely for the
sending of diplomatic agent when the
president should be satisfied that the
republic of Texas had become IAN indie
pendent state" 1t was so recognized
by President Van Buren,, who commits
stoned charge d'affaires March 7, 1897,
after Mexico had abandoned an attempt
to reconquer the Texan territory and
when there was at the time no bona fide
contest going on between the insurgent
province and it's former sovereign.
said in my message of December last:
1t Is to be seriously considered wheth-
er the cuban insurrection possesses be-
yond dispute the attributes of statehood
which alone can demand the recognition
of belligerency in it's favor" The same
requirement must certainly be no less
seriously considered when the graver is
sue of recognizing independence 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 in
nuence and consequences of the struggle
upon the internal policy of the recogniz-
ing state, which form important factors
when the recognition of belligerency is
concerned, are secondary, If not rightly
factors when the real ques-
ton Is whether the community claiming
recognition is. or is not, independent be-
yond peradventure.
Nor from the standpoint Of expediencs
do think 1t would be wise or prudent
for this government to recognize at the
present time the independence of the So
called Cuban republic. Such recogni-
Iinn Is not nacessary in nrdar "a