River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-04-14

Thousands OF .tes have already been
saved. The necessity for a change in the
condition OF the reconcentrados is recog-
nized By the Spanish government. Within
few days past the orders Of General Wey-
Ter have been revoked. the reconcentra-
dos are. Il is said. to be permitted to re-
turn to their homes and aided TO resume
the seif-supporting pursuits of peace: pub
lie works have been ordered to give them
employment, and a sum of $500 900 has been
appropriated for their relief
Can See No End.
The war In Cuba is of such a nature that
short Of subJugation or determination a
f1nal military victory for either side seems
impractical bic. The alternative lies in the
physical exhaustion of the one or the other
which In effect ended the ten years war
by the truce of Zenjon. The prospect of
such protraction and conclusion of the
present strife IS contingency hardly to
be contemplated with equanimity by the
civilized world. and least of all by the
United States. affected and injured as we
are. deeply and intimately. by its very ex-
Asked for an Armistice.
Realizing this. II appeared to be my duty,
in a spirit of true friendliness, no less to
Spain than to the Cubans who have so
much to lose by the prolongation of the
| date termination of the war. TO this end.
| submitted on the 9th ultimo, as re-
suit of much representation and CORE
[
| lister at Madrid. propositions to the Span
| ish government looking TO an armistice I'M
til October / for the negotiation of peace
! with the good offices of the president.
In addition l asked the immediate revoca-
| ton of the order of Recommendation. so as
| farms and the needy to be relieved with
| provisions and supplies from the United
States. cooperating with the Spanish au-
thorities so as to afford full relief.
The Reply of Spain.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 3lst ult. II
offers, as the means to bring about peace
! in Cuba to confide the preparation thereof
to the insular department, inasmuch as the
concurrence of that body would be neceS.
sary to reach final result, IL being, how
ever, understood that the powers reserved
the 4th of May next. the Spanish govern
ment are not lessened or diminished. AS
the Cuban parliament does not meet until
/ the 4th of May next, the Spanish govern
ment would not object, for its part, to &C,
/ cept at once a suspension of hostilitieS, II
asked for by the insurgents from the gen.
| eral in chief to whom 1t would pertain. IN
| such case, TO determine the duration and
| conditions of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by Gen
| Woodford and the reply of the Spanish
government were both in the form of brief
memoranda, the texts OF which are be-
guage above given. The function OF the
Cuban parliament in the matter of pre-
naring'' peace and the manner of its do
| ing so are not expressed in the Spanish
memorandum; but from Gen. w oodtord
explanatory reports of preliminary discus
| sions preceding the final conference it is
| understood that the Spanish government
| stands ready to give the insular congress
full powers to settle the terms Or peace
| with the insurgents, whether by direct ne
! gotiations or indirectly by means OF legiS
! lation, does not appear
End of Diplomacy.
! with this last overture in the direction OF
| Immediate peace ard its disappointing re-
| centton by Spain, the executive was brought
| TO the end of his effort.
| In my annual message of December last
"o Stfi the untried measures there remain
| Recognition of the insurgents as bellfger-
| ents, recognition of the independence OF
/ cuba neutral intervention to end the
war by imposing a rational compromise
between the contestants ana the interven-
| tion in favor of one or the other party.
| speak not of forcible annexation. for that
cannot be thought of. That by our code
of morality. would be criminal aggression. .
| in the light of President Grants measured
| words, uttered in 1873, when after seven
| years of sanguinary, destructive and cruel
| barbarites in Cuba he reached the con-
| clusion that the recognition of the indie
| pendence of Cuba was mpracticable and
| indefensible; and that the recognition OF
| belligerence was not warranted by the
| facts according to the tests of public law
| / commented especially upon the latter as
| pect OF the question, pointing out the in
conveniences and positive dangers of a
recognition of belligerency which, while
adding to the already onerous burdens OF
| neutrality within our own jurisdiction,
could not in any way extend our influence
or effective offices in the territory of hos
| tilties. Nothing has since occurred to
change my view in this regard, and recog-
ni2e as fully now as then that the issuance
| of proclamation of neutrality, by which
process the so-caled recognition of bel
| ligerence is published. could. of itself and
unattended by other action, accomplish
| nothing toward the one end for which we
| labor. the instant pacification of Cuba and
the cessation of the misery that afficts the
| island.
Precedents from History.
| Turning to the question of recognizing
| at this time the independence of the pres
ent insurSent government in Cuba. we find
safe precedents in our history from ar
| carly day. They are well summed up in
President Jacksons message to congress
December q, 1886, on the subject of the
recognition of the independence of Texas
lie said I'm all the contests that have
arisen out of the revolutions of France
| out of the disputes relating to the crews
| of Portugal and Spain, out of the separa-
! ton of the American possessions of both
| from the European governments, and out
| of the numerous and constantly OCCURRING
| struggles for dominion in Spanish Amer
| lea. so wisely consistent with our just
principles has been the action of our gov
eminent that we have. under the most
critical circumstances; avoided all cen
sure, and encountered no other evil than
that produced by transient estrange-
ment of good will in those against whom
we have been by force of evidence COM
PEELED to decide.
Our Established Policy.
ct was thus made known to the world
that the uniform policy and practice of the
| United States is to avoid all interference
in disputes which merely relate to the in
| ternal government of other nations. and
! the prevailing party without reference &c
! our particular interests and views or tC
the merits of the original controversy.
But on this. as on every other trying oc-
| casion, safety is to he found in "A rigid
| adherence TO principle.
In the contest between Spain and the re-
VOltp6 colonies stood 9lOOf
not only until the ability of the new states
| to protect themselves was fully estab-
| again SubiuGated had entirely passed
away. Then, and not until then were they
recognized. Such was our course in regard
to Mexico herself.
The Texns Case.
"It is true that with regard to Texas the
civil authority of Mexico has been expelled,
its invading army defeated. the chief of the
republic himself captured, ard all present
power to control the newly-orga niZed gov
eminent of to-day annihilated within its
confines. But on the other hand there is. in
appearance at least, an immense disparity
of physical force on the side of Texas
The Mexican republic under another eXecu-
tive is rallyinE its forces under a new
leader, and menacinG a fresh invasion to
recover it's lost dominion.
Upon the issue of this threatened in
vasiOn the independence of Texas NAV be
considered as suspended; and were there
nothing peculiar in the situation of the
United States and Texas, our acknowledge
ment OF ITS independence at Shcn 4 crlSls
could scarcely be regarded as consistent
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 i'm
putod to the United States of motives OF
selfish interests in view of the former claim
on our part to the territory of Texas and of
the avowed purpose Of the texans IN seek
ing recognition of Independence as an in
cident TO the Incorporation of Texas in
the union, concluding thus;
Words of Jackson.
prudence. therefore. seems to dictate
that we should still stand aloot and main
tain our present attitude, If not until Mex
icoitself, or one of the great foreign powers,
shall recognize the independence OF the
new government, at least until the lapse OF
time or the course of events ShaH nave
proved beyond caVil or dispute the abllity
of the people of that country 70 MAINTAIN
their separate sovereignty and to unhold
Neither of the conteuding parties can gust
Nv complain of this course. 10y pursuing
it, we are but carrying out the long eSlan D.
lishcd policy Of our government. poaaGy
which has secured to us respect ana lhHu,
ence abroad ard inspired commence az
home"
conditions for Recognition.
These are the words of the reso1ute and
patriotic Jackson. they are s. eVldeh &c
he test imposed by public law as the
condition OF the recognition Of independ-
cucc by a neutral state to VIII. that IN"
revolted states shall constitute in fact a
body polite, having government in sub
stance as well 5 in name. possessed or the
clements Of stability. ana forming dc
facto, "if left to itself. a state among the
tho duties of a stated has imposed for its
own government in dealing with cases like
these the further condition that reCognl-
tion Of jnSlepeuslent statehood is not due
1.ava~ mt EaF n