The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-04-15


! last overture in the direction of immedf-
ate peace and it's disappointing reception
| by Spain, the executive was brought to
| the end of his efforts.
Recognition Not Warranted.
In my annual message of December last
I said:
"Of the untried measures there remain
| Recognition of the insurgents as bellig-
erents, recognition of the independence of
| Cuba and Intervention to end the war by
| imposing a rational compromise between
the contestants, or Intervention In favor of
one or the other party. 1 speak not of
| forcfble annexation, for that cannot be
thought of. That, by our code of NOR
ality, would be criminal aggression.
! Thereupon 1 reviewed these alternatives
in the light of President Grants message
in the words uttered in 1875, when after
several years of sanguinary, destructive
and cruel barbarities in Cuba, he reached
the conclusion that the recognition of the
| independence of Cuba was impracticable
! and indefensible, and that the recognition
| of belligerence was not warranted by the
| facts according to the texts of public law.
1 commented especially upon that phase
| of the question, pointing out the incon-
| veniences and positive dangers of recogni-
| tion of belligerence, which, while adding
| to the already onerous burdens of neu-
i trality without our own Jurisdiction, could
not in any way extend our influence or
! effective offices in the territory of hostili-
! ties.
Nothing has since occurred to change
my view in this regard, and 1 recognize
| as fully now as then that the issuance of
| a proclamation of neutrality, by which
| process the so-called recognition of bellig-
|
| 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 aftiicts
| the island.
| A Precedent Cited.
Turning to the question of recognizing
! at this time the independence of the pres
| ent inSurgent government in Cuba we
| find safe precedentS in our history from
| an early day. They are well summed up
| in President Jackson's message to con-
| gress December q, 1886, on the subject of
the recognition Of the independence Of
Texas. He said:
| I'm all the contests that have arisen
| out of the revolutions of France, out of
| the disputes relating to Portugal and
Spain, out of the separation of the Amer
lean possessions of both from the Eu-
| ropean governments, and out of the nu-
merouS and constantly recurring Strug-
| gies for dominion in Spanish-American
| countries, SO wisely consistent with
| just principles has been the action of our
| government that we have under the most
critical circumstances avoided all censure
| and encountered no other evil than that
produced by a transient estrangement
of good will in those against whom we
have been, by force Of evidence, COM
PEELED to decide.
TT has thus been made known to the
world that the uniform policy and practice
Of the United States is to avoid all inter-
ference in disputes which merely relate
to the internal government of other ma
tionS, and eventually to recognize the au-
thority OF, the prevailing party without ref
erence to our particular interests and
views or to the merits of the original
controversy. But in this, as in every
other occasion, safety is to be found in a
rigid adherence to these principles In
| tsss.>1 test between Spain and the revolt
ing colonies we stood aloof and waited
not only until the ability Of the new states
to protect themselves was fully estab-
lished, but until the chance 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 authorities
of Mexico had been expelled, its invading
army defeated, the chief of the republic
himself captured, and all present power
to control the newly organized govern
ment of Texas annihilated within its con-
fines But, on the other hand, there is in
appearance at least an immense dispar-
ity of physical force on the side of Texas.
The Mexican republic again IS rallying its
forces under new leader and menacing
a fresh invasion to recover its lost do
main.
.Upon the issue of this threatened in
vasion, the independence of Texas may
be considered suspended, and were
there nothing peculiar in the relations be-
tween the United States and Texas, our
acknowledgment of it's independence at
such a crisis could scarcely be regarded
as consistent with the prudent reserve
with which we have hitherto held our
| selves bound to treat all similar ques-
tions."
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded
to consider the risk-that there might be
imputed to the United States 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 seeking recognition of inde-
pendence an incident to the incorpora-
tion of Texas in the Union, concluding
thus:
Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate
that we should stand aloof and maintain
our present attitude, If not until Mexico
itself or one of the great powers shall
recognize the Independence of the new
government, at least until the lapse of
time or the course of events shall have
proved beyond 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 contending parties can
justly complain of this course. By pur-
suing it we are but carrying out the long
established policy of our government, a
policy which has secured to us respect
and influence abroad and inspired conf
dence at home"
These are the words of Andrew Jackson
They are evidence that the United States,
in addition to the test imposed by pub
lie law as the condition of the recognition
of the independence of a neutral state, :
to wit, that the revolted state shall ''con-
stitute in fact a body polite, having a
government in substance as well as in
name, possessed of the elements of sta
bility," and forming de facto eff left to
itself a state among the nations, rea-
sonably capable of discharging the duties
of state, has imposed for it's own gov
/ ernance in dealing with cases like these.
the further condition that recognition of
an independent state is not due to re-
volted dependency until the danger Of
Its being again subjugated by the parent
state has entirely passed away" This ex-
treme test was, in fact, applied In the
case of Texas.
The congress to whom President Jack
son referred the question as one probably
leading TO war, and therefore an appropri-
ate subject for previous understanding
with that body by whom war can alone
be declared. and by whom all the provis-
ions for sustaining It's perils must be fur
nished, left the matter of recognition of
Texas to the. discretion of the executive,
providing merely for the sending of dfplo-
matte agents when the president should
be satisfied that the republic of Texas had
become an independent state.''
1t was SO recognized by President Van
Buren, who commissioned charge daf-
faires March Z, 1887, after Mexico had
abandoned an attempt to conquer the
Texas territory, sand then there was at the