Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-12


Suanee OF a proclamation of neu,rali-
". Dy which process the so-called rec
osnition Of the belligerency is publish
eu; could, OF itself and unattended by
"'ner action. accomplish nothing to-
ward the one emf for which we labor.
lne cessation of the misery that at
llictS the island
RECOGNITION OF CUBA.
turning to the question of recog-
hlzliis at this time the Independence
~ the present lnsurgent government
our history from an early aay. They
are Well summed up in President
Jackson's message to Congress- De-
celnber II, 1895. on the subject OF the
recognition OF the independence Of
Texas. He said:
" In all the contests that have ,r;,
en- out of the revolutions Of France
out or the disputes relating to the
crowns OF Portugal and Spain, out o,
the separation OF the American pos
sessions OF both from the European
governments, and out Of the numerous
ana constantly occurring struggles for
dominion in SpanishAmerica, so wise
~ consistent with our just principles
has been the action of our govern
ment that we have, under the most
critical circumstances. avoided all cen
sures and encountered no other evil
. eiite'i 'ii'te liOuuteu Oy Il transient
estrangelnent of good will in those
against whom we have been by force
OF evidence compelled to decide.
1t has thus made known to the
world that the uniform policy and
practice or the United States is to
avoid all interference in disputes
which merely relate to the Internal
government of other nations ard
eventually to recognize the authorit.
Of the prevailing party without refer
ence to our particular interests and
Views or to the merits OF the cri.il,a!
controversy.
But on this. as every other trying
occasion, safety is TO ne Found in u
rigid adherence To principle
PRECEDENrS FOR ACTION.
ID ake contest between Spain and
the reSolted colonies we stood ;ilocf
and waited not only until the ability
of the new states to protect then
selves was fully established. hut until
the danger of their icing again sub
jugated had entirely passed away
Then and not until tlinn. We're they
recognized. SUCH whs our course in
regard to Mexico herself. it Is truc
that with regard II Texas the civil
authority OF Mexico has seen expelled.
its invading army defeated. the chief
of the republic. lliu,:sclf captured, and
all present poWa.' 10 control the newly
organized Eovernn:ent nf Texas ami
hilated within lis confines. IiGt. on tie
other hand. there is N appearance, at
least, an immense disparity OF physi.>-
al force on the side ~ FcNas The
Mexican rcpupl!c. under another eS-
ecutiHe Is rallE!ng It's forces under II
new leader and lIenacing q fresh in
vasion to recorr" its lost dominion.
Upon the issue of this threatened
invasion The Independence CT Texts
may be considered as suspended, and
were there nothing peculiar in the rel
;ltive situation OF tho United States
and Texas. our ACKNOWLEDGMENT CT
its Independence at such. a crisis coul5
be scarcely regarded as consistent
with that prudent reserve with which
we have hitherto held ourselves bound
to treat all similar questions a.,
"ThercuGon Andrew jackson pro-
ceeded 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 avoweG
purpose of the Texans in seeking rec
oGlition of Independence as an Incl
dent to the Incorporation of Texas ir
the Union concluding thus:
Prudence. therefore. seems to die
tate that we should still stand alooi
and maintain our present attitude il
not until Mexico itself. or one OF the
great foreign powers shall recognize
the independence Of the new govern
mcnt. at least, until tie lapse of time
or the course OF events shall have
proved beyond cavil or dispute the
ability of the people of that country tC
maintain their separate sovereignty
and to uphold the government consti-
tuted 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. a policy
which has secured for us respect and
influence abroad and inspired conf
dence at home
THE CAST, OF TEXAS.
These are the words Of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evil
dence that the United States. in addi-
ton to the test imposed by public law
as the condition OF the recognition OF
independence by q neutral state. to-
wit: that the revolted state shall
constitute in fact a body polite. hay
ing u government In substance as vel
as in name, possessed OF the element:
of stability and forming de facto, i:
left to itself, q state among nations
reasonably capable OF discharging tn,
duties OF 4 state, has imposed for it:
own governance IN dealing With case:
| like these the further condition tina
recognition OF independent statehood
! is not due to revolted dependence,
subjugated by the parent state ha:
| entirely passed away. This extreme
| test was in fact applied in the case o.
| Texas. The Congress to whom Presi-
dent Jackson referred the question a.
one probably leading to war. ane
therefore q proper subject for q pre-
vious understanding with that bod.
| by whom war can alone be declared
! and by whom all the provisions 70
sustaining its perils must be furnish
| ed left the matter of the reconcila
ton of Texas to the discretion of tn
executive. providing merely for tn
sending of 4 diplomatic agent whe,
the President should be satisfied tina
the republic of Texas had become a;
| independent state 1t was so recog
nizrd by President Van Buren,. VIII
commissioned & charge dafaires
March :. 1887. after Mexico had aban
doned an attempt to reconquer til
| Texas territory ard VIXEN there was a
the time no bona fide contest going OF
between the insurgcnt province an,
its former sovereign
FORMER MESSAGE. QUOTED.
II said in my message of Decembe
last: 1T is to be seriously considers
whether the Cuban insurrtction pos
sesses beyond dispute the attribute
of statehood which alone can deman
| the recognition of the belligerency i