Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-04-14

which form important factors when
the recognition of belligerency is con
cerned, are secondary, if not rightly
eliminated factors when the real ques-
ton is whether the community
claiming recognition is or is not indie
pendent beyond peradventure Nor
from the standpoint of expediency do
think il would be wise or prudent
for this government to recognize at the
present time the independence of the
so-callod Cuban republic. Such rec
ognition 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 particular government in Cuba
might subject us to embarrassing con
towards the organization SO recog-
Lized. In case of Intervention our
conduct would be subject to the APP
proyal or disapproval of such govern
ment; we would be required to submit
to its direction and to assume to II the
mere relation of friendly ally. When
1t shall appear hereafter that there is
within the island a government
capable of performing the duties and
discharging the functions of a separ-
ate nation and having as a natter of
fact proper forms and attributes of
nationality, such government can be
promptly and readily recognized, and
the relations and interests of the
United States and such nation ad
justed
There remain the alternative forms
of Intervention to end the war either
as an impartial neutral by imposing
rational compromise between the con-
tostants, or as the active ally of the
one party or the other. AS To the first
1t is not to be forgotten that during
the last few months the relation of the
United States has virtually been one
of friendly Intervention in many ways.
each not of itself conclusive, but all
tending to the eXertion of potential
influence toward an ultimate pacific re-
suit just and honorable to all interests
concerned. The spirit of all our acts
desire for peace and prosperity in
Cuba, untarnished by differences be-
tween us and Spain and unstained by
the blood of American citizens. The
forcible Intervention of the United
States as a neutral, to stop the war
according to the large dictates of hui
manity and following many historical
precedents where neighboring states
have interfered to check the hopeless
sacrifice of life by internecine con-
tiicts beyond their borders is justifiable
on rational grounds. 1t involves, how
ever hostile constraint upon both the
parties to the contest as well to en-
force a truce as to guide the eventual
settlement. The grounds for such in
teryention may be briefly summarized
as follows;
'First--In the cause of humanity
and to put an end to the barbarities
bloodshed, starvation and horrible mis-
cries now existing there, and which
the parties to the conflict are either
unable or unwilling to stop or miti-
gate 1t is no answer to say this is
all in another country, belonging to
another nation and is therefore none
of our business. 1t is specially our
duty, for it is right at our door.
"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, and to that end to termin-
ate the conditions that deprive them
of legal protection.
"Third-The right TO intervene may
be justified by the very serious injury
to commerce, trade and business of
our people and by the wanton destruc-
ton of property and devastation of the
island.
"Fourth--And which is of the ut
most importance: The present condi~
tion of affairs in Cuba is constant
menace to our peace, and entails upon
this government an enormous expense
With such a conflict waged for years
in an island so near us and with which
our people have such trade and bust
ness relations when the lives and
liberty of our citizens are in constant
danger and their property destroyed
and themselves ruined where our
trading vessels are liable to seizure
and are seized at our very doors by
warships Of other nations, the expedi-
lions OF hlibustering that we are
powerless to prevent altogether, and
the irritating questions and entangle-
ments thus arising all these and
others that | need not mention, with
the resulting strained relations, are
constant menace to our peace and i'm
pels us to keep on a semi-war footing
with nation with which we are at
peace.
These elements Of danger and dis
order already pointed out have been
strikingly illustrated by tragic event
which has deeply and Justly moved the
American people j have already trans
mitted to congress the report OF the
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