The silver lance., 1898-04-15

I duty. My message of last December
reviewed the situation and narrated
steps taken to open the way for some
form of honorable settlement
| The assassination of the prime min
lister, Senior Canovas. led to a change
OF government in Spain. The former
administration, pledged to subjugation
without concession, gave place to that
of more liberal party, committed
| long in advance to policy of reform
involving the wider principle of home
rule Of Cuba and Porto Rico, the over
lures of this government, although not
/ accepted to the extent of admitted
| mediation in any shape. We're met by
assurances that home rule, in an ad-
vanced phase, would be forthwith Of
| fered to Cuba. without waiting for the
war to end. and that more humane
methods should thenceforth prevail in
the conduct of hostlities.
American citizens held under one
charge or another connected with the
insurrection We're released and by the
end of November not a single person
entitled in any way to our protection
remained in Spanish prison.
In my annual message of December
| last | said:
..Of the untried measures there re-
mains only recognition of the insur-
| gents as belligerents. recognition of
the independence of Cuba, neutral in
tervention and forcible annexation.
| Now, as then, annexation is not to be
thought of. 1t is recognized fully that
n declaration of neutrality, by which
belligerency would be recognized,
would of itself accomplish nothing"
Turning to the question of recogniZ-
| ing at this time the independence of
| q n
Cuba we find safe precedents in our
own history from an early day. They
are well summed up in President
| Jackson's message to Congress, De-
cember 81, 1886 on the subject Of the
recognition of the independence of
| Texas. He said: 1T has thus been
made known to the world that the
Uniform policy and practice of the
| United States is to avoid all interfer-
ence in disputes which merely relate
to the international government of
other nations and eventually to recog-
nize the authority of the prevailing
party without reference to our partic-
ular interests and views or to the mer-
its of the original controversy
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 of their being again subjudi-
Gated had entirely passed away. Then
and not until then were they recog-
| niZed.
Nor on the standpoint of expedience
| do l think it would be wise or pru-
dent for this government to recognize
at this time the independence of the
so-called republic. Such recognition is
not necessary in order to enable the
| United States to intervene and pacify
| the island. To commit this country
now to the recognition of any particu-
lar government in Cuba might subject
us to embarrassing conditions of inter
! national obligation towards the or
| ganizatiOn so recognized. In case of
intervention our conduct would be sub
ject to the approval or disapproval of
such government. and we would be re-
quired to submit to its direction and to
assume to it the more than relation of
friendly ally.
There remains the alternative for in
tervention to end the war. either by
impartial neutrality. imposing ra-
tional compromise between the contest
ants, or as the active ally of the one
party or the other.
As to the first ii is not to be forgot
teu tlut tle ldSl IeW
the relations of the United States has
virtually been one of friendly inter-
ventiOn in many ways, each effort of
itself being conclusive. but all tend
ing to the exertion of potential infiu-
ence toward an ultimate pacific result
just and honorable to all interests con-
cerned. The spirit of all our acts hith-
ertO has been earnest. unselfish desire
for peace and prosperity in Cuba, un-
tarnished by differences between the
United States and Spain and unstained
by the blood of American citizens.
The forcible Intervention of the
United States as n neutral nation to
stop the war. according to the larger
dictates of humanity and following
many historical precedents where
neighboring states have interfered to
check the hopeless sacrifice of life by
conflicts beyond their borders, is justi-
fable on a rational ground. 1t in
wolves. however. constraint upon both
the parties to the contest as well as to
enforce truce as to guide the event
ual settlement. The grounds for such
intervention may be briefly summar-
lied as follows:
First-In the cause of humanity and
to put an end to the barbarities, star
walton and horrible miserieS now ex-
listing there.
Second-We owe it to our citizens
in Cuba to afford them that protection
and indemnity for life and property
which no government there can or
will afford.
Third-Right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to
the commerce. trade and business of
our people and by the wanton destruc-
ton of property and devastation of the
island.
Fourth-And which is the most spe-
cific: The present condition of af-
fairs is a constant menace to our
peace and entails ,1pnn this povorp