The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-21

u
, be permitted to return TO their homes, and
aided to resume the self-supportipg pur
suits, of peace; public works have beer
ordered to give them employment, and a
sum OF $6O0, 900 has been appropriated fo1
their relief.
The war In Cuba is OF such nature
that short Of subjugation or extermina'
tion, final military victory for either sidd
seems impracticable.
Our Duty to Intervene.
Realizing this. it appeared to be my duty.
in q spirit Of true friendliness no less &c
Spain than to the Cubans, who have sc
much to lose by the pzolongation OF the
struggle, to seek to bring about an imme.
diate termination OF the war. TO this enc.
I submitted on the 9th ultimo, as result
of much representation and correspond.
ence through the United States Minister al
Madrid. propositions to the Spanish govern.
ment looking to an armistice until October
l for the negotiation OF peace with the
rood offices OF the President. In addition.
I asked the immediate revocation Of the
order Of RECOMMENDATION, 80 as to permit
the people to return to their farms, and
the needy to be relieved With provisions ant
supplies from the United States, co-operat
afford full relief.
spain's Reply 70 Our suggostious.
The reply OF the Spanish Cabinet was re
ceived on the night OF the 81st ulto. II
offers, as the means to bring about Peace
in Cuba, TO connie iae preparation -rnere.
of to the insular Parliament, inasmuch q.
tho concurrence OF that body would be nec'
essary to reach fnal result, It being.
however. understood that the powers re-
served by the constitution to the central
government are not lessene6 or diminished.
As the Cuban Parliament does not meet un.
til tho 4th Of May next, the Spanish Gov
ernment would not object. for its part. to
accept at once q suspension OF hostilities
II asked for by the insurgents from the
General-tn- Chief, to whom 1t would per-
tain in such case to determine the duration
and conditions OF tho armistice.
The propositions submitted by General
Woodford, and reply OF the Spanish Gov
ernment, were both in the form OF brief
memoranda, tho texts Of which are before
me, and are substantially in the language
above given. The function Of the Cuban
Parliament In the matter Of preparing"
peace. and the manner Of its doing so, are
not expressed in the Spanish memoran-
dunn; but from General Woodford's ex-
planstory reports OF preliminary discus
sions preceding the final conference It is
understood that the Spanish Government
stands ready to give the tnsular Congress
full powers to settle the terms OF peace
With the insurgents-whether by direct ne
rotation or indirectly by means Of legisla-
don does not appear.
With this last overture In the objection
II immediate peace and its disappointing
reception by Spain, the Executive was
brought to the end OF his effort.
The President continues his message by
making liberal extracts from bis commu-
aication to. Congress last December show
ng the consistent stand he has taken: he
also refers to the position taken by Presi-
lent Grant In 1875 as being in line with
The present Executives policy.
The President then points out "the In
convenience and positive danger OF rec
ignition Of belligerence, which. while
adding to the already onerous burdens Of
aeutrality within our own Jurisdiction,
sould not in any way extend our influence or
sfrective ofaces In the territory Of hostili-
ies."
Recognition Not Wise.
Nothing has since occurred, continues
the President, to change my view In this
sogard-and recognize as fully now as
then that the issuance OF Q proclamation
of neutrality, by which process the So
called recognition Of belligerence is pub
lished, could, Of itself, and unattended
by other action, accomplish nothing to-
ward the one end for which we labor: the
Instant Dscifoation Of Cuba and the ces-
sstion OF the misery that afliicts :he island.
Turning to the question Of recognizing
ut this time tho independence Of the pres
snt irsurgent government In Cuba, we find
safe precedents In our history from an early
day. They are well summed up In Presi-
dent Jackson's message to Congress, De-
sember 81, 1886, on the subject Of the re-
cognition OF the independence OF Texas.
After quoting this document In full the
President resumes:
Nor from the standpoint OF expedience
do think 1t would be wise or prudent for
this government to recognize at the pres
ent time the independence OF the so-cailed
Cuban republic.
Such recognition is not necessary In Or
der to enable the United States to inter-
vene and pacify the island. To commit
this country now to the recognition OF any
particular government In Cuba might sub
iect US to embarrassing conditions OF
International obligation towards the
organization SO recognized. In case
of Intervention, our conduct would
be subject to tho approval or disap-
proval Of such government; We would be
required to submit to its direction: and to
assume to 1t the mere relation OF q friendly
ally. When 1t shall appear hereafter that
there Is within the island a government,
capable Of performing the duties and dis
charging the functions Of q separate na-
ton, 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.
Intervention.
There remain the alternative forms OF
Intervention to end the war, either as IN
impartial neutral by imposing a rational
compromise between the contestants or as
tho active ally OF the one party or the
other. AS TO the nrst, 1t is not to be for
gotten 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 exertlon Of potential in
duence towards an ultimate pacific result
lust and honorable to all interests con-
:erned.
Forcible Intervention Justified.
The forcible interv sntion Of the United
States as q neutral, to stop the war, &C.,
,osding to the large dictates OF humanity
snd following many historical precedentsi
where neighborinc States have interferedl
to check the hopeless sacrifices Of life by
internecine conflicts beyond their borders,
IS justltlable on rational grounds. 1t In
wolves, however, hostile co3straint upon
s,oth The parties to the contest, al we'll rs
to enforce truce as to guide the eventual
settlement.