Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-04-16
CUBAN MESSAGE.
CONTINUED from page / J

the reVolted colonies we stood alOot,
and waited not only until the ability Of
the new states to protect themselves
was fully established. but until the
danger of their being again subjugated
had entirely passed away. Then. and
not until then, were they recognized
Such was our course in regard to Mex
leo herself.
ut is true that with regard to Texas,
the civil authority of Mexico has been
expelled, its invading army defeated
the chief of the republic himself cap
tured, and all present power to control
the newly organized government II
Texas annihilated within It's confines.
But. on the other hand, there is, in APP
pearance at least, an immense dispar-
ity of physical force on the side Of
Texas. The Mexican republic, under
another executive, is ralying its forces
under a new leader, and menacing a
fresh invasion to recover it's lost do
minion.
Quotes jackson on Recognition.
upon the issue OF this threatened
invasion the independence of Texas
may be considered as suspended; and
were there nothing peculiar in the rela-
tive situation of the United States and
Texas our acknowledgment of its in
dependence at such a crisis could
scarcely be regarded as consistent with
that prudent reserve with which we
have hitherto held themselves bound to
treat all similar questions"
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceed
ed to consider the risk that there might
be imputed to the United States mo-
tives of selfish iterest in view of the
former claim on our part to the terri
tory of Texas, and of the avowed pur
pose of the Texans in seeking recOg-
milton of independence as an incident to
the incorporation of Texas in the Union,
concluding thus:
Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate
that we should still stand aloof and
maintain our present attitude, If not
until Mexico itself or one of the great
foreign powers shall recognize the in
dependence of the new government, at
least until the lapse of time or the
course of events shall have proved be
yond cavil or dispute the ability of The
people of that country to maintain thee
separate sovereignty and to uphold the
government constituted by them
Neither of the contending parties can
justly complain of this course. BY
pursuing 1t we are but carrying out
the long established policy of our gov
eminent a policy which has secured to
us respect and influence abroad and in
spired confidence at home"
Independence of Texas.
These are the words of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson They are evil
dence that the United States. in ad-
dition to the test imposed by public law
as the condition of the recognition of
independence by a neutral state, to wit,
that the revolted state shall 'consti-
tute in fact d body polite, having a
government in substance as well as in
name, possessed of the elements Of
stability" and forming de facto IF
left to itself, a state among the ma
tons, reasonably capable of discharg-
ing the duties of a state" has imposed
for its own government in dealing with
cases like these the further condi-
ton that recognition of independent
statehood is not due to revolted de-
tendency until the danger of its being
again subjugated by the parent state
has entirely passed away. This extreme
test was in fact applied in the case of
Texas.
Inc COnRTCSS 10 NIOIl IItSiOtIl
Jackson referred the question as one
probably leading to war" and there
fore a proper subject for a previous
understanding with that body by
whom war can alone be declared, and
by whom all the provisions for sustain
ing It's perils must be furnished" left
the matter of the recognition of Texas
to the discretion of the executive, pro-
e. 10 s,f1 s4fr
lomatic agent when the president
should be satisfied that the republic
of Texas had become IAN independent
state" 1t was so recognized by Presi-
dent VanBuren, who commissioned a
charge d'affaires March 7, 1887. after
Mexico had abandoned an attempt to
reconquer the Texan territory and
when there was at the time no bona
fide contest going on between the in
surgent province and it's former SOW
ereign.
I said in my message of December
last: 1T Is to be seriously consider
ed whether the Cuban insurrection pos
sesses beyond dispute the attributes of
statehood, which alone can demand the
recognition of belligerency in its IA
vor." The same requirement must GER
Ldlnly De no less SSilOuSlg tbHSluEIEu
when the graver issue Of recognizing
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 the influences and con-
sequences OF the struggle upon the
internal policy of the recognizing state,
which form important factors when the
recognition of belligerency is concern
ed, are secondary, If not rightly elimi-
nable factors when the real question is
whether the community claiming rec
ognition is or is not independent be-
yond peradventure.
Opposed to Recognition.
Nor from the standpoint of ex-
pedience do l think it would be wise
or prudent for this government TO rec
ognize at the present time the indie
pendence OF the so-called Cuban re-
public Such recognition is not neces-
5ary in order to enable the United