The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-04-15

this time, the independence of the present In
surgent government in Cuba We lind safe pre-
cedents In our history from an early day They
are well summed up in President Jackson's
message to congress, December 81, 1885 on the
subject OF recognition OF the Independence OF
One OF the Precedents.
In all OF the contests that have arisen od;
OF the revolutions OF France, out of the dis
putes relating to the crews of Portugal and
Spain, out OF the separation OF the American
possessions OF both from the European govern
nnna,s men,s, sn,,a and out OF the numerous and
minion in Spanish America, so wisely
consistent with our just principles
has been the action of our government that we
have, under the most critical circumstances,
avoided all censure and encountered no other
evll than that produced by transient re-
arrangement of good will in those against
whom we have been by force of evidence com
PEELED to decide.
1T has thus made known to thew orldt hat the
States is to avoid all interference in disputes
which merely relate TO the internal govern
ment OF other nations and eventually to rec
| ognize the authority OF the prevailing party
without reference to our particular interests
ana views, or to the merits OF the original con-
troversy. But on this, as on every other occa
| sion, SAFETY Is to be found in q rigid adherence
| to principle.
Our Former Action Recited.
| In the contest between Spain and the re-
| volted colonies we stood aloof and waited not
only until the ability OF the new states to pro-
tect themselves was fully established but until
the danger OF their being again subjugated had
| entlrely 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 its in
yading army defeated, the chief OF the republic
| himself captured. and all present power to con-
troll the newly recoganized government of Texas
annlnllated within Its confines. But on the
other hand. there is. in appearance
at least, an immense disparity Of physical
S, force on the side OF Texas. The Mexican re-
pubic. under another executive, is rallying its
| FORCES under new leader, and menacing
ire, n invasion to recover its lost domain
| upon the issue of this threatened invasion
| the independence of Texas may be considered
as suspended; and were there nothing peculiar
In the situation of the United States and Tex
as our acknowledgment of its independence at
| such crisis could scarcely be regarded as con-
sistent with that prudent reserve with which
we nave hitherto held ourselves bound to treat
| all similar questions"
| President jackson Considered the Risk
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded to
| consider the risk that there might be imputed
| to the United states a motive OF selfish inter-
| est In view of the former claim on our part to
| the territory of Texas and OF the ayowed pur-
| pose OF the Texans in seeking recognition of
independence as an incident to the incorpora-
| tion of Texas in the Union, concluding:
| prudence, therefore, seems to dictate that
We should stand aloof and maintain our pres
ent attitude, 4 not until Mexico itself
or one OF the great foreign powers
shall recognize the independence OF the new
governmental lest until the lapse of time or the
course of events should have proved beyond cayil
| 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 contending 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
secure to US respect and influence abroad and
| inspired confidence at home"
Condition Imposed by the Government
Upon Itself.
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 condition of the recogni-
ton OF independence by a neutral state to-wit
that the revolted state shall constitute in fact
a body polite, having government in sub
stance as well as in name, possessed of the ele-
ments OF stability" and forming de facto, .'if
LETT to itself, state among the nations reason-
| ably capable OF discharging the du-
Ties OF . state, has imposed for
| like those the further contention that recogni-
tion OF independent statehood is not due TO a
revolted dependency until the danger of its be-
4 entirely passed awav" This extreme test was
| in fact, applied in the case of Texas. The con-
gress to whom President jackson referred the
| question as one probably leading to war; and
| therefore, proper subject for "a previous un-
| derstanding with that body by whom war can
| aione be declared and by whom all the proyis-
ions forsustaining its perils must be furnished -
| left the matter OF the recognition OF Texas to
the discretion OF the executive. providing
|
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 reconquer the Texan territory and
then and there was at the time no bona tide
| contest going on between the insurgent prov
/ ince and its former sovereign.
| Former Message Reverted To.
l said In my message of December last: sit
| is to be considered whether the Cuban insur-
| hpVnpH ism tn fha ttrib
| OF statehood. which alone can demand the rec
| ognition of belligerency in its favor"
| The same requirement must certainly be no
less considered when the graver issue OF recog-
| nizipg 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
| influences of and consequences of the struggle
| upon the inte nal policy OF the recognizing
state which form important factors when the
| secondary il not rightly eliminable fac
| tors, when the real question Is whether
the community claiming recognition is or
| not independent beyond peradventure.
| Present Recognition Inexpedient.
| Nor from the standpoint of expedience do
| think it would be wise or prudent for this gov
ernment to recognize at the present time the
! Independence of the so-called Cuban republic.
Such recognition is not necessary in order TO
! enable the United States to intervene and
| try now to the recognition of
any particular government in Cuba
might subject US to embarrassing conditions
| zation so recognized. In case of intervention
| our conduct would be subject to the approval
or disapproyal OF such government: we would
| be required To submit TO its direction and TO
assume to 1t the mere relation of friendly
| ally. When it shall appear hereafter that there
| is within the island government capable of
| p rforming the duties and diSchargng the
functions OF a separate nation, and having, as a
| matter of fact the proper forms and attri-
| butes OF nationality. such government can be
| promptly and readily recognized. and the rela-
| ticns and interests OF the United States with
| such nation adjusted
Alternative Forms of Intervention.
| There remain the alternative forms of inter-
vention to end the war. either as an impartial
| neutral by imposing rational compromise be-
| tween the contestants. or the active ally of
4 the one party the other
At To the first, il is not to be forgotten that
during the last few months the relation OF the
| United States has virtually been one of friend
| ly intervention in many ways. each
| not of itself conclusive. but all
| tending to the exertion of potential
| influence toward an ultimate pacific result just
| and honorable to all interests concerned. The
spirit of all our acts hitherto has been an earn
| est, unselhsh desire for peace and prosperity In
| Cuba, untarnished by differences between us
| and Spain and unstained by the blood OF Ameri-
can citizens.