Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-14

recognition OF belligerenee was not warranted
~ ehe iacts, according to the test OF public
AW 4 commented especially upon the latter
aspect OF the question. pointing out the in
convenience and positive dangers OF a recogni-
tion Oh Deiligerency which, while adding TO the
aueaoy onerous burdens of neutrality within
~ own jurisdiction. could not In any way
sAtehu our influence or effective offices in the
territory OF hostilities. Nothing has since oc-
Gurreo 10 change my view in this regard. and
recognize as fully now as then that the
issuance of a proclamation OF neutrality. by
whieh process the so-called recognition of bel
hssrency Is published. could OF itself and UNI
attended by other action, accomplish nothing
somaru the one end for which we iabor-the
instant paciication of Cuba and the cessation
ot the misery that aftiicts the island. Turning
" tue question OF recognition at this time,
TIE independence Of the present insurgent gov
eminent In Cuba, we find safe presidents in
our history from an early day. They are well
summed up In President Jackson message TO
congress. Dec. 81, lS36. on the subject of the
said:
In all the contests that have arisen out OF
the revolutions OF France. out of the disputes
relating 10 the crews of Portugal and Spain.
Out OF the separation OF the American possess
s'ohs OF both from the European governments.
ahd OUT OF the numerous and constantly oc-
curing struggles for dominion in Spanish
America so wisely consistent with our just
principles has been the action of our govern
merit that We have under the most critical
NOAiC oil AElShtt III tA-
countered 10 other evil than that produced by
a transient estrangement on good win in those
against whom we have been. by force OF evil
dence, compelled TO decide. II has thus made
known to the world that the uniform policy
aud practice of the United States is to avoid
all interference in disputes which merely re-
late to the internal government Of other ma
tons, and eventually 10 recognize the author
ity OF the prevailing party without reference
TO our particular interests or views, or TO the
merits os the original controversy,
Bnf on this az ayarW nfhar fryinU nCca sion
safety is TO be found In a rigid adherence TO
principle.
I'm the contest between Spain and the re-
yxted colonies we stood aloof and waited not
only until the ability OF the new states 10
protect themselves was fully established, but
until the danger OF their being again subJu-
gated had entirely passed away. Then, ana
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 invading enemy defeated. the chief OF the
republic had himself been captured. and all
present power to control the newly-organized
government OF Texas annihilated within its
confines. But, on the other hand. there is In
appearance. at least, an immense disparity OF
physical force on the side of Texas. The Mex
lean republic, under another executive, Is rainy
ing its forces under a new leader. and menace
ing a fresh invasion to recover It's lost 90
minion.
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 ana
Texas. our acknowledgment OF its Independence
at such a crisis could scarcely be regarded as
consistent with that prudent reserve with
which we have hitherto held ourselves pouiu
to treat all similar questions.
Recognition of Independence.
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded 70 con-
slider the risk that there might be imputed 20
the United States motives of selfish interests
in view of the former claim of our part 10
the territory of Texas and Of the avowed pur-
800 80 tha Taxanz in seeking recOkflltOn OL
Independence as an incident 10 the lhcorpora-
ton of Texas in the union; concluding thus.
Prudence, therefore. Seems 10 olctale tnas
we should still stand aloof and maintain our
preseat attitude. IL not until Mexico ITSELF
or one Of the great foreign powers shau recos-
nize the independence OF the new government,
at least until the lapse of time or tne course
oT events shall have proved beyond caVl or
dispute the ability of the people OF tnat couh-
try TO maintain their separate sovereignty anu
20 uphold the government constituted py tbem.
Naitber OF the contending parties can justly
complain of this course. BY pursuing ~ We
are but carrying out the long est@n.iSne
policy Of our government, a policy when mas
secured 10 us respect and influence aoF'Au anu
Inspired confidence at home.
These are the words OF the resolnte anu
patriotic Jackson. They are evidence tnal th1
United States in addition TO the test imooSeo
by public law as the condition OF the recog-
milton of the Independence by a neutrai stats,
to-wit: that the revolted state snal cohslitu.e
in fact a body polite, having a goverr.nen. ~
substar &c as we'll as In name. composed oI tne
clements of stability and forming ue laclo
'if left to itself a state among the NATIONS
reasonably capable of discharging the uutie'
of a state" has imposed for its own soVeraico
in dealing with cases like these further con-
dition that the recognition OF independent state
hood Is not due to a revoited ueoehdeucy
until the danger OF its being again suoJusatee
no ire parent state has entirely passed awoy.
The extreme test was in fact applied In the
case OF Texas. The congress TO whom rres'oene
Jackson referred the question as one purely
aPureIy Leading to War;
md therefore a proper subject for previous
understanding with that body py whom war
can alone be declared and by whom all the
nrovisions for sustaining its perils must be
furnished left the matter or the recognition
of Texas to the decision OF the executive. pro-
vlding merely for the sending Oh q aipionlas.c
agreement when the president should be salts
hed that the Republic of Texas had become
s'an independent state" 1t was 50 recognized
by President Van Buren,. who commissioned q
charge d,anaires March Z, 1887. after Mexico
had abandoned an attempt to reconquer the
Texan territory and when there was at the
time no bona hde contest going on between
the insurgent province and It's former sose..
eign. l said in my message of December last:
eft L. to be seriously considered whether tne
Cuban Instruction possesses beyond olspu.s
the attributes OF statehood wnlcn atone can
demand the recognition OF beiligerency In its
fayor.'' The sam requirement must certainly
he no less seriously considered when the gray
err issue of recognizing independence IS IN
question Tor no less po5ltiFS lcS 70"
piled to the greater act than to the lesser:
while on the other hand the Influences ana
consequences OF the struggle upon the Internal
policy OF the recognizing a Stale, which form
important factors when the recognition cf
nelligerency IL concerned are secondary Is
not rightly eliininabie factors when the real
question Is whether the community claiming
recognition Is or Is not independent beyond
peradyenture. Nor from he standpoint OF ex-
pedience do I think 1t would lie wise or pru-
dent for this government 20 recos 1i1e az the
present time the nd spe,pi,, re The
SO-CalIed Cuban Government.
Such recognition Is not necessary In ORDER
q enable the United States to intervene ana
nacify the island. To commit this country
row TO the recognition cf any part secular gov
eminent in Cuba might subject us TO embar-
RAISING conditions of international obligation
towards the organization so recognized. In
case of Intervention our conduct would De SUD
,ect 10 the approval or disapprovai OF such
government; we would be required to submit
TO its direction and 70 assume to u the mere
relation Of a friendly ally. When I shall APP
near hereafter that there Is within the island
q government capable of performing the duties
ana discharging the functions OF O separate
nation, and having. as a matter OF dact. me
proper forms and attributes OF nationanty. sucn
government can be promptly and readily rec
ognAzed, and the relation OF ana interests Oh
the United States with such nation adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms OF inter-
vention to end the war. either as an Impartial
neutral by imposing a rational compromise De-
tween the contestants or as the active ally ci
the one party OF the other.
A. 20 the first II Is not to be Forgotten tnat
during the last few months the relation OF .se