The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-04-19


| the texts Of which aFk before me- and are
substantially in tie language above gi9en. The
function of the Cuban parliament in the mat
| it's doing s6 aFs not expressed In the Spanish
MEMORANDUM; but from Cen. Woodfotds ex-
planatory reports. Of preliminary discussions
preeeding the fna1 conference It is understood
tlat the Spanish government stands ready to
give the insular congress fun powers to settle
| ths terms Of peace with the Insurgents wheth-
er by direct negotiation or Indirectly By means
of legislation does not appear.
With this last overture in the direction of
| immediate peace and its disappointing recep-
ton by Spain the executive was brought to
the end of his effort.
In my anrqal message of December last l
| main Recognition of the insurgents as bel
lgerants recognition of the Independence Of
by imposing a rational compromise between
the contestants and intervention in favor of
one or the other party. speak not of forcible
annexation, for that cannot be thought OF.
That, by our code of morality,
Would Be Criminal Aggression.
Thereupoh reviewed these alternatives in
uttered i'll 1875 when, after seven years of
sangunafS; destructive and cruel bafbarties
in Cuba he reached the conclusion d ,t tnat the
impracticabie and indefensibie and that the
recognition Of bel1igerence was not Warranted
by the facts; according to the test Of public
law. Commented especially ub6H the latter
aspect Of the Question, Pointing out the IN
convenience and positive dangers Of Tecognl-
already onerous burdens of neutrality within
our jurisdiction, could not in any way
extend our influence or effective offices in the
territory of hostilities. Nothing has since oc-
Cured to change my view in this regard and
1 recognize fully as then that the
issuance of a proclamation of neutrality, by
which process the so-called recognition of bel
7 ligerency is published, could of itself and un-
attended by other action, accomplish nothing
toward the one end for which we labof-tne
instant pacfcaton of Cuba and the cessation
of the misery that affcts the island. Turning
to the question of recognition at this time,
the independence of the present insurgent gov
eminent iii Cuba, we find safe preeedents IN
our history from an early day. They are wen
summed up in President Jaekson's message to
congress, Dec 21 1896, on the subject of the
said:
I'm all the contests that have arisen out of
the revolutions of France, out of the disputes
relating to the crews of Portugal and Spain,
out Of the separation of the American possess
sions Of both from the European governments,
and 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
ment that we have under the most critical
circumstances avoided all censur6, and en-
countered no other evil than that produced by
transient estrangement of good will In those
against whom have been, by force OF evil
dence, compelled to decide. 1t has thus maze
known to the world that the uniform policy
and practice of the United States is to avoid
all interference in disputes which merely re-
late to the Internal government of other ma
| tions, and eventually to recognize the autnor-
ty of the prevailing party without reference
to our particular interests or views, or TO the
merits of the original controversy.
But on this as every other trying occasion,
safety is to be found in rigid adherence TO
principle.
sIn the contest between Spain and the re-
VOTED colonies we stood aloof and waited not
only until the ability of the new states to
hrofect themselves was fully established, but
until the danger of their being again supJu--
gated had entirely passed away Ihen' ana
not until then, were they recognized. ouGn
was our course in regard to Mexico herself
1t is true that with regard to IeXas
the civil authority of Mexico has been expelleo,
its invading enemy defeated, the chief of the
republic had himself been captured, ana an
present power to control the neWly-ofsahlzeu
government of Texas annihiated WITHIN It's
Confines But on the other hand, there is IN
appearance, at least an immense disparity VI
physical force on the side OF IeXas. Inc NJ
lean republic under another executive, is rally
ing its forces under new leader, ana mehdc-
ing fresh invasion to recover It's lost 40
mnon. 4, ;,osio,
the independence of Texas may be CONSIDERED
as suspended and were there nothing peculiar
in the situation of the United States anu
Taxas our acknowledgment of it's independence
at such crisis could scarcely be regarueu ds
consistent with that prudent resTrNe bo,Ted
which we have hitherto helu oulSeANeS o
to treat all similar questions:
RecOgnitiGn of Independence
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded TO con
elder the risk that there might be imputed 70
the United States motives OF selnsh INTERESTS
in view of the former claim OF our part ~
tho territory of Texas ana OIL the dNo"e -
nose If the Texans in seeking recognition OF
indenendence as an incident to the lncorpofa-
tion of Texas in the union; concluding thus.
prudence, therefore, seems 10 ulc.dee n,,r
we should still stand aloof and MAINTAIN our
present attitude, if not until Mexico ISL
or one of the great foreign powers shan recos
nize the independence OF the new Az Course
at least until the lapse OF time OF Tue co ~,
Of events shall have proved pey oilu V1Nil W
DISPUTE the ability of the people Oh tnat coua 5
try to maintain their separate sovereign 49,,
70 UNFOLD the government constituted by tbeIn
Neither of the contending parties can justly
complain of this course. BY pursuing IT, We
are but carrying out the aous mich has
policy of government, pohcy Whiea a nas
secured to us respect and influence ABROAD ana
inspired confidence at home
these are the words of the resolute anu
,o+riotio jackson. They are evidence that the
United States in addition to the test lm-loseu
bv nublic law as the condition Of the recog-
milton of the independence by neul l4itt
to-wit: that the revolted state shall constitute
in fact a body polite, having government ~
suhstarc &c as we'll as in name, composed OF the
elements of stability and forming dc lacCo
sif loft to itself a state among the nations
reasonably capable of discharging the duties
of a state" has imposed for its own goveranoe
in dealing with cases like these Iu5aner c
dition that the recognition of Independent STATE
HOOD is not due to a revolted dependency
until the danger Of its being again supJusalea
nv tie parent state has entirely passed aWoy-
Tho extreme test was in fact applied IN the
case of. Texas The congress to whom Fresloeht
jackson referred the question as one pulTi'
SPureIy Leading to War"
ord therefore proper subject for previous
| understanding with that body by Whom Wal
can alone be declared and by wnom an ne
provisions for sustaining it's perils must De
furnished" left the matter of the recognition
of Texas to the decision Of the executive, pro
viding merely for the sending OF olplondt.lc
agreement when the president shoulu pe satiS
6ed that the Republic of Texas had become
IAN independent state" 1t was SO recosnlz z
by President Van Buren, VINO coii f4a Ufeico