Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-04-14

rnree members representing the American
National Red Cross and the religious and
business elements of the community. The
| efforts of that committee have been UNI
| firing and accomplished much. Nearly
$500 900 I'm money and supplies has already
reached the sufferers and more is forth
! coming. Thousands of lives have already
been saved. The necessity for change
| is recognized by the Sjanish gov
eminent. Within a few days past
the orders OF Gen. Weyler have
been revoked. the reconcentrados
are, 1t is said, TO be permitted TO return
10 their homes. and aided to resume the
self-supporting pursuits OF peace; public
works have been ordered TO give them
employment, and a sum OF 100000 has
4 been appropriated for their relief.
1.-THE war in Cuba is OF such a nature
| that short OF subjugation or extermna-
ton, final military victory for either side
seems impracticable. The alternative lies
| in the physical exhaustion of the one or
the other party, or perhaps OF both-a
condition which in effect ended the ten
| years war by the truce of Zanjon. The
prospect of such a protraction and con-
clusion of the present strife is a con-
| tingency 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 inti-
mately, by its very existence.
"Realizing this. it appeared to be my du-
| ty, in spirit OF true friendliness. no less
! TO Spain than TO the Cubans who have
! so much TO lose by the premulgation Of
the struggle, to seek 10 bring about an
! immediate termination of the war. To
! this end l submitted on The 9th utimo..
as a result Of much representation and
! correspondence through the United States
minister at Madrid propositions to the
! Spanish government looking to an arms-
! tice until oct. ]. for the negotiation Of
peace with the good offices of the presi-
dent.
1.-THE reply of the Spanish authorities
was received on the night OF the 3lst
ultimo. 1t offers, as the means to bring
about peace in Cuba to confide the prep
aration thereof to the insular department.
inasmuch as the concurrence OF that body
would be necessary TO reach a final result.
1t being, however, understood that the
powers reserved by that constitution TO
the central government are not lessened
or diminished. AS the Cuban parliament
does not meet until the fourth of May
next the Spanish government would not
object for it's part, to accept at once n
suspension OF hostilities, If asked for by
| the insurgents from tie general-in-chief.
to whom il would pertain, in such case.
to determine the duration and conditions
OF the armistlce. From Gen. Woodford 8
explanatory reports of preliminary discus
sions preceding the final conference II is
understood that tie Spanish government
stands ready to & re the insular congress
full powers TO sc tie the terms Of peace
with the insurgents. whether by direct
negotiations or indirectly by means Of Leg
islat!on does not appear.
with the last overture In the direction
of immediate peace and its disappointing
reception by Spain. the executive was
brought to the end of his effort.
IN my annual message of December
last | said:
" OF the untried measures there remain:
Recognition Of the insurgents as belliger-
ents, recognition of the independence OF
Cuba, neutral Intervention TO end the war
by imposing a rational compromise be-
tween the contestants and Intervention in
favor Of one or the other party. | speak
not Of forcible annexation. for that can
not be thought Of. That. by our code of
morality, would be criminal aggression.
"Thereupon ! reviewed these alterna-
tives, in the light of President Grants
measured words uttered in 1915 when
after seven years Of sanguinary, destruc-
tive and cruel barbarsies in Cuba he
reached the conclusion that the recogni-
tion of the independence of Cuba was inn
practicable and indefensible, and that the
recognition of bellgerence was not war
J ranted by the facts according to the tests
OF public law. / commented especially up
on the latter aspect of the question. point
| ing out the inconvenience. and positive
dangers of a recognition of belligerency
which. while adding to the already oner-
Gus burdens of neutrality within our own
jurisdiction, could not in any way extend
our influence or effective offices in the ter
ritory Of hostiities. Nothing has since
occurred to change my view in this re-
! garland recognize as fully now as then
that the issuance of a proclamation of
! neutrality. by which process the so-called
| recognition Of belligerence is published.
| could of hxy or ar
action, accomplish nothing toward the one
! end for which we labor the instant paci-
! fcation OF Cuba and the cessation Of the
misery that afiiicts the island.
Turning to the question Of recognition
! at this time of the independence of the
present nsurgent 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, Dec. q. 1896. on the subject OF the
recognition Of the independence OF Texas.
! He said: 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 nations.
| and eventually to recognize the authority
| of the prevailing party without reference
| to our particular interests and views, or
| TO the merits Of the original controversy.
But on this. as on every other trying
! occasion. safety is to be found in a rigid
adherence to principle. BY pursuing 1t.
we are but carrying out the long-estab-
| lished policy of our government a policy
which has secured TO us respect and influ-
ence abroad and inspired confidence at
home "
The president continues:
81 do not think il would be wise or pru-
dent for this government to recognize at
the present time the independence of the
so-called Cuban republic. To commit this
| country now to the recognition of any par
tcular government in Cuba might subject
| us to embarrassing conditions of internal
| tional obligation toward the organization
so recognized. When IL shall appear here
! after that there is within the island a gov
eminent capable of performing the du-
ties and dscharging the functions OF a
separate nation, and having as a matter
OF fact, the proper forms and attributes
| OF nationality, such government can be
promptly and readily recognized, and the
| relations and interests of the United
| States with such nation adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms OF
Intervention to end the war, either as an
! impartial neutral by imposing a rational
/ compromise between the contestants or
as the active ally of the one party or the
other.
THE forcihle Intervention OF the United
| States as neutral, to stop the war, ac-
cording to the large dictates OF humanity,
! and following by many historical prece-
dents where neighboring states have in