The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-04-14

produced by transient estrangement of
good will in those against whom we have
been by force of evidence compelled to de-
eide
ut has thus made known to the world
that the uniform policy and practice of
the United States is to avoid all interior
ence in disputes which merely relate to
the internal government of other nations
and eventually to recognize the authority
OF the prevailing party without reference
to our particular interests or views, or to
the merits of the original controversy.
- But on this, as on every other
trying occasion, safety must be found in
rigid adherence to principle.
Must BE Able to Protect Themselves
I'm the contest between Spain and the
feyOlted 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 OF
their being again subjugated had entirely
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
Texas, the civil authority of Mexico
has been expelled, it's invading army de-
feated, the chief of the republic has HIM
self been captur ed and all present power
to control the newly organized govern
ment of Texas annihilated within it's con-
fines. But, on the other hand, there is,
in appearance at least, an immense dis
parity of physical force on the side of
Texas. The Mexican republic. under an
other executive, is rallying it's forces I'M
der a new leader and menacing fresh
invasion to recover it's lost dominion.
upon the issue of this threatened in
vasiOn the independence Of Texas may be
considered as suspended, and were there
nothing peculiar in the situation of the
United States and Texas, our acknOwl-
edgmeat of it's independence at such
crisis could scarcely be regarded as con-
sistent with that prudent reserve with
which we have hitherto held ourselves
bound to treat all similar questions"
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded
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 Texas
and of the avowed purpose of the Texans
in seeking recognition of independence as
an incident to the incorporation of Texas
in the Union; concluding thus:
Qualifications for Self-Government.
prudence therefore, seems to dictate
that we should still stand aloof and main
tain our present attitude, if not until
Mexico itself, or one of the great foreign
powers shall recognize the independ-
ence of the new government, at
least until the lapse of time or the
81 hal
cavil or dispute the ability of the people
of that country to maintain their separate
sovereignty and to uphold the government
constituted by them. Neither of the con-
tending parties can justly complain OF
this course. BY pursuing it, we are but
carrying out the long established policy OF
our government, policy which has Sc
cured to us respect and influence abroad
and inspired confidence at home"
These are the words of the resOlute and
patriotic jackson. They are evidence
that the United States, in addition to the
test imposed by public law as the condi-
ton of the recognition of independence by
neutral state to-wit: That
the revolted state shall con-
stitute in fact body polite
having a government in substance as well
stability and forming de facto ''if left to
itself, IL state among the nations reason
ably capable of discharging the duties of
of "A state" has imposed for its own gov
erance in dealing with cases like these
further condition that the recognition of
independent statehood is not due to re-
volted dependency until the danger of its
being again subjugated by the parent
or, fr.ny, a
test was. in fact, applied in the case of
Texas.
Left 1t to the Executive.
The congress to whom President Jack
son referred the question as one purely
leading to war;" and therefore a proper
subject for previous understanding with
that body, by whom war can alone be de-
clared, and by whom all the provisions
for sustaining its perils must be fur
nished," left the matter of the recognition
of Texas to the executive, providing
merely for the sending of diplomatic
agreement when the president should be
satisfied that the Republic of Texas had
become IAN independent state" 1t was
so recognized by President Van Buren,,
who commissioned a charge d'affaires
March Z, 1887. after Mexico had
abandoned an attempt to recon-
quer the Texan territory, and when
there was at the time no bonafide
contest going on between the insurgent
province and it's former sovereign,
said in my message of December last: cit
is to be seriously considered whether the
Cuban insurrectiOn possesses beyond dis
pute the attributes of statehood which
alone can demand the recognition of bel
ligerency in it's favor The same re-
quirement must certainly be no less Sc
riously considered when the graver issue
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 influences and
consequences of the struggle upon
the internal policy of the recog-
nizing state, which form i'm
portant factors when the recognition