The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-04-16

ion, safety is 10 be found In a rigid adher-
ence to principles. In the contest be-
tween Spain and the revolving colonies We
stood aloof and waited not only until the
ability of the new states TO protect them
selves was fully established, but until
danger of their being again subjugated
had entirely passed away. Then and not
until then, were they recognized.
such was our course in regard 10 Mex
leo herself. 1t is true that with regard
to Texas. the civil authorities of Mexico
had been expelled. its invading army de-
feated the chief of the republic himself
captured and all present power to control
the newly organized government of Tex
as annihilated within its confinement But.
on the other hand, there is In appearance
al least. an immense disparity of physical
force on the side of Texas. The Mexican
republic under an ally is gathering its
forces under a new leader and menacing
a fresh invasion to recover its lost do
main.
Upon the issue of this threatened in
vasion the independence of Texas may be
considered as suspended and were there
nothing peculiar in the situation of the
United States and Texas our acknowledge
ment of its independence at such crisis
could scarcely be regarded as consistent
with that prudent reserve with which we
have hitherto held ourselves bound to
treat all similar questions"
lnereupOn AnuTeW JACKSON proceeded
to consider the risk that there might be
imputed to the United States motives of
selfish interests in view of the former
claim on our part to the territory of Tex
as and of the avowed purpose of the
Texans in seeking recognition of indie
pendence as an incident to the incorpora-
ton of Texas in the Union. concluding
thus:
President JaclSson's Conclusions.
that we should stand aloof and maintain
our present attitude, if not until Mexico
itself or one of the great powers shall
recognize the independence of the new
government, at least until the lapse of
time or the course of events shall have
proved. beyond cavil or dispute. the abil-
ity of that country to maintain separate
sovereignty and to uphold the govern
ment constituted by them. Neither of the
contending parties can justly complain
OF this course. BY pursuing it we are
but carrying out the long established pol
icy of our government, a policy which
| has secured to us respect and influence
abroad and inspired confidence a. home
These are the words of Andrew Jack
son. They are evidence that the United
| States, in addition to the test imposed by
/ public law as the condition of the recog-
| milton of independence by neutral state,
/ to-wit: That the revolted state shall
a government in substance as we'll as in
name, possessed of the elements of sta
bility," and forming de facto, IF left to
itself, a state among the nations, reason
ably capable of discharging the duties oil
q state" has imposed for its own govern
ance in dealing with cases like these. the
further condition that recognition of in.
dependent statehood is not due to a re-
volted dependency until the danger of il.
being again subjugated by its paren
state has entirely passed away"
This extreme test was in fact applied
in the case of Texas. The congress t
| whom President Jackson referred th'
question as 'one probably leading to war,
and therefore a proper subject for a prev
ious understanding with that body, by
whom war can alone be declared and b!
whom all the provisions for sustaining
its perls must be furnished. left the mat
ter Of recognition of Texas to the dis
erection of the executive, providing mere
ly for the sending of a diplomatic agen
when the president should be satisfied
that the republic of Texas had becom
IAN independent state"
Van Buren's Position.
1t was so recognized by President Va
Buren,, who commissioned a charge DAT
flares. March Z, 1887, after Mexico hat
abandoned an attempt to conquer tn
Texas territory and when there was a
between the insurgent province and it
former sovereign.
l said in my message of December last
1T is to be seriously considered whethe
the Cuban instruction possesses beyon
dispute the attributes of statehood whic
alone can demand the recognition of bel
ligerency in its favor"
The same requirement must be no les
seriously considered when the graver is
sue of recognizing independence is i
question, for no less positive test can b
applied to the greater act than to tn
lesser, while on the other hand the in
fiuence and consequences of the struggl
upon the international policy of the rec
ognizing states, which form importan
factors when the recognition of belligeT
ency is concerned, are secondary if no
} rightly eliminable factors when the com
munity claiming recognition is not inde
: pendent beyond peradventure.
Nor from the standpoint of expedienc
do / think it would be wise or pruden
: for this government to recognize. at tn
present time, the independence of the Sc
! called Cuban republic. Such recognitio
is not necessary in order to enable tn
United States to intervene and pacify tn
island. To commit this country now t
: the recognition of any particular govern
ment in Cuba might subject us to embai
RAISING conditions of International obi
cation toward the organization so recOg
nlZed. In case OF intervention our con
duct will be subject to the approval 0
dsapproval of such government. w
would be required to submit to it's direc
ton and to assume to it the mere relatio
; ! of a friendly ally.
When it shall appear thereafter tina
there is within the island a government
: capable of performing the duties and dis
, charging the functions of a nation an
having as a matter of fact the prope
forms and attributes of nationality sue
l government can be promptly and readil
/ recognized and the relations and inter