The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-08
Dangers Of Recognition.

|
| Of prominent senators who think that it is
/ expedient at this time to acknowledge the
! independence of Cuba:
| The recognition OF the independence
/ of d new government is the recognition
| Of fact, not an expression Of sympathy.
AS General Grant said, the question is
/ one not one to be decided by sympathy
/ for or prejudice against either party.
! When nation is recognized as having
a separate and independent existence the
| recognizing nation must assume toward
/ the new power all the duties and relations
/ that 1t bears TO any other friendly power
| on the face Of the earth. II admits its
right TO govern itself and its right TO make
such alliances and treaties with other ma
/ tons it may see fit
From the days of President Jackson
to the present time every president of the
I United States who has had occasion to
consider the subject has taken this view
| OF the public law governing the recogni-
ton OF new power. During the war Of
the rebellion the Southern Confederacy
may be said to have had completely Or
gained form of governmental president,
congress, states, with separate autonomy
civil law administered by courts-yet this
government protested with the utmost
vigor against the right of other nations 10
recognize ii as separate and independ
ent nation and successfully.
mo one will pretend to say that the
status of the republic of Cuba has ever
approached anything like a condition IF
perfection in the way of government, that
the Southern Confederacy attained 1t
has no seaports; no United States consul
or consular agent has ever come in pub
lie contact with a single member CT his
government; it has not as a matter Of
fact, controlled the island of Cuba; il does
not possess authority in a single city CT
any Importance; il has no seaport nor
ship; it lacks the possession of almost
every element that is necessary to con
stitute an independent state; it lacks the
vital essential of an independent state,
that Of independence.
General Jackson refused to recognize
the independence of Texas as long as there
was doubt of such reconquest by Mey.co,
although the Mexican forces had entirely
withdrawn from its territory.
Then there is the argument of expe-
diency. Why is it necessary in order to
intervene in Cuba and bring peace and
order and good government to the Island
TO let the present so-called republic be i'm
mediately recognized? If the United States
recognizes the independence of that le-
public it confers upon il all the rights of
an independent nation. so far as we are
concerned, and requires all who have
operations in Cuba to subject themselves
to the wishes and control of the republic
and Of those who control it. 1t might be
that when all these facts are understood,
and a form of government adopted by the
Cuban republic, the nature of It's laws I'M
n ha Of tic
tanned the government OF the United
States would say it was proper and Just
to recognize its stability and independ-
ence. On the other hand it might be pos
sible that the government now alleged
to exist under the name of the republic of
Cuba is not such a government as is cap
able of bringing stability and power to the
island of Cuba, and that there ought to
be set UP another form of government
that would have the consent of the people
of Cuba, who would guarantee to the
United States the tranquility and security
which we are seeking.
eff the United States is to intervene
for the qualification of Cuba 1t should be
freehanded; it should not tie itself fast
to a form of government which afterward
may prove an impeachment to those reforms
which ought to be effected in the island.
The United States ought to be free TO in
sist upon such a government will be of
practical advantage to the United States,
not by the way of annexation, but in those
matters of commercial advantage which
from the location of the island and the
relations of this country to it we ought to
expect. If we recognize the independence
of this government now, it is free to grant
us those privileges or 10 deny them 10 US.
If it denies them when we think we are
entitled to them, we can only get them by
the assertion of force, which certainly
would be embarrassing. Looking at it
from the standpoint of our own interests
and not from the standpoint of the in
terests of those who are supporting the
Cuban republic. every argument and
every consideration favors course which
will leave this government free to deal
with the future of the island as its in
terest may dictate when the time comes
'Of course there will be independence in
the island. The retention of the Spanish
sovereignty there is not TO be thought of.
All that the people of the United States
should consider is that it should go into
the subject from the best vantage ground I
and without being handicapped AMI EN-.
barrassed by recognition which is prema-
ture and may prove embarrassing.
LAS a matter of constitutional law. the I
right of recognition of a foreign govern
ment pertains TO the executive power, who /
must receive ministers and other foreign .
agents who can make treaties and who /.
can nominate representatives OF this gov .
at foreign ports. The executive .
has it in his power at any time when the /
facts justify it and the interests OF the .
United States require it to recognize the 4
of the Cuban republic or any /
other nation which may set itself up AMI .
itself securely.
ITO acknowledge now the Independence /
Of Cuba would, as a matter of fat. alien /.
ate from US the sympathy Of every Eu- /
ropean power. The diplomats OF the gov /
Of Europe are well acquainted /
with the principles OF International law.
and know as matter of public law that {
the facts do not justify at pre- ,eat such
recognition. It is not enough to say that /
We do not care for the opinion OF their
governments. We should care for their
opinion when II convicts US of viplating
he rules Of international conduct Il is
not pleasant to be put in a cond ton where
Americans cannot justify public acts II
heir government, and yet IL TITS rec1c-
alton takes place there is not i1vy,r in
he country who has any knowledge Of
International law who can defend II.
Why do II? What is to be accomplished
~ It? whom Will It server Il VIII no,
ssist in the work OF Intervention nor in
he pacihcation OF the island nor in the
obtaining OF any Just satisfaction which /