The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

of the recognition of independence by
neutral state to wit, that the revolted state
shall constitute in fact a body polite, hav
ing a government in substance as well as in
name possessed of the elements of stabil-
ity," and forming de facto, il left to itself,
a state among the nations reasonably capa-
BILE of discharging the duties of a state, has
imposed for its own governance in dealing
with cases like these the further condition
that recognition of independent statehood
is nos due to a revolted dependency until
the danger Of its being again subjugated
by the parent state has entirely passed
away This extreme test was in fact APP
piled in the case of Texas.
The Congress to which President Jackson
referred the question as one probably lead
ing to war;" and therefore a proper subject
| for "a previous understanding with that
| body by which war can alone be declared,
and by which all the provisions for sustain
| ing its perils must be furnished left the
matter of the recognition of Texas to the
| discretion of the executive, providing merely
| for the sending of a diplomatic agent when
| the President should be satisfied that the
republic of Texas had become IAN indie
pendent state" 1t was so recognized by
President Van Buren,, who commissioned a
|
| leo had abandoned an attempt to reconquer
! the Texas territory, and when there was at
the time no bona fide contest going on be-
! tween the insurgent province and its
| former sovereign.
said in my message of December last:
| 'It is to be seriously considered whether
| the Cuban Instruction possesses beyond
| dispute the attributes of statehood, which
| alone can demand the recognition of bel
| ligerency in it's favor The same require
ment must certainly be no less seriously
| considered when the graver issue of recog-
| nizing 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 conse-
| quences of the struggle upon the internal
| policy of the recognizing state, which form
| important factors where the recognition of
| belligerency is concerned, are secondary. if
not rightly eliminable factors wnen the real
| question Is whether the community claim
| ing recognition is or is not Independent be-
| yond peradventure.
Nor from the standpoint of experience do
think it would be wise or prudent for this
government to recognize at the present time
| the independence of the so-called Cuban
republic Such recognition is not necessary
III 10 eQdDI6 the OHlJSQ 0IdlSS 10 III
tervene and pacify the island To commit
this country now to the recognition of any
particular government in Cuba might sub
ject US to embarrassing conditions of inter-
national obligations towards the organiza-
ton so recognized. In case of intervention
our conduct would be subject to the APP
prevail or disapproval of such government.
We would be required to submit to its direc-
ton and to assume to it the mere relation
of a friendly ally. When it shall appear
hereafter that there Is within the island d
government capable of performing the
duties and discharging the functions of a
separate nation and having as a matter of
fact the proper forms and attributes of ma
tionality, such government can be prompt
ly and readily recognized and the relations
and interests of the United States with
such nation adjusted.