Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-04-14

. 1 Now. MS then. annexation is not to be
thought of. II Is recognized fully that
n declaration of neutrality, by which
bellIgerency would he recognized.
would OF itself accomplish nothing
Turning to tIe question of recognize
ing Mt this time the independence OF
the present insurgent government In
Cuba we find safe precedents In our
own history from an early day. They
are well summed up In President
Jackson's message to Congress. De-
cember 81, 1896. on the subject OF the
recognition Of the independence OF
Texas. He said:
''In 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 separ;i-
ton of the American possessions of
both from the European governments,
and out of the numerous and constant
ly occurring struggles for dominion In
Spanish America. so wisely consistent
with our Just principles has been the
action of our government that we have
under the most critical circumstances
avoided all censure ana encountered no
other evil than that produced by
transient rc-esirangement OF good will
In those against whom we have been
by force of evidence compelled
10 decide. 1t has thus been
made known to the world that the
uniform policy and practice of the
United States is to avoid all interfer-
ence In disputes which merely relate
TO the international government of
other nations and eventually to rccog-
niZe the authority of the prevailing
| party without reference to our partic-
| ular interests and views or to the mer-
/ lis nf fha nriujurs r.,snfrnvprSv Ruf in
this. as in every other occasion safety
- to be found In II rigid adherence to
principle.
"In the contest between Spain and
the revolving colonies we stood aloof
and waited not only until the ability of
the new states to protect themselves
was fully established. bu; until the dan
ger OF their being ngain subjugated
had passed away. Then and not until
then We're they recognized. Such was
our course in regard to Mexico herself.
ut is true that with regard to Texas
the civil authority of Mexico had been
expelled. its invading army defeated.
the chief of the republic himself cap
tured and all present power to control
| the newly organized government of
Texas annihilated within Its confines.
Bur. on the other hnG;l. there IL In np-
pearance, ut least. nj immense dispari-
ty of physical force on the side OF Tex
us. The Mexican republic under an
executive is aliying Its forces under
new leader and menacing fresh invn-
sion to recover its lost domain.
Upon the issue Of this threatened
invasion the independence of Texas
may be considered as suspended. and
were there nothing peculiar In the sit
! uation of the United States and Texas.
our ACCOMPLISHMENTS of It's lndepen-
dence mt such crisis could scarcely be
| regarded as consistent with that pru-
dent reserve with which we have hith-
crtO held ourselves bound to treat all
similar questions"
| Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceed
ed TO consider the risk that there might
be imputed TO the United States mo-
| tives of selfish interests in view Of the
former claim on our part to the terri
tory of Texas and of the avowcd pur-
pose of the Texans in seeking recogni-
tion of independence as an incident TO
| the incorporation of Texas in the Un-
| ion, concluding thus:
| prudence, therefore. seems to die
tate that we should stand aloos and
maintain our present attitude. If not
until Mexico itself. or one of the great
foreign powers shall recognize the indie
pendence OF the new government. at
| lciSt vi tiHt IN tut
course of events shall have proved be-
yond cavil or dispute the ability of the
people of that country 10 maintain their
separate sovereignty and to uphold the
| government constituted by them.
| Neither of the contending parties can
| justly complain of this course. BY pur-
suing It, we are carrying out the long
established policy of our government,
Il policy which has secured to us re-
spect and influence abroad and in
spired confidence at home"
| These are the words of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evil
dence that the United States, in addi-
tion to the test imposed by public law
as the condition of the recognition of
independence by n neutral state. to-
wit: that the revolted state shall "con-
stitute in fact body polite. having
government in substance as well rs in
name, possessed of the elements of
stability" and forming de facto, "if left
TO itself. n state among the nations,
reasonably capable of discharging the
duties of state''-hns imposed for its
own governance in dealing with cases
like these the further condition that
recognition of independent statehood is
not due to n revolted dependency until
the danger of its being again subju-
| gated by the parent state has entirely
passed away. This extreme test was,
in fact, applied in the case of Texas.
The Congress to whom President Jack
son referred the question as zone prob
ably leading to war;" and therefore
proper subject for IL previous under
standing with that body by whom war
alone can be declared, and by whom all
the provisions for sustaining Its periIs
must be furnished" left the matter of
recognition of Texas to the discretion
of the executive, providing merely for
the sending of IL diplomatic agent when
the President should be satisfied that
the republic of Texas had become ian
independent state" 1t was SO recog-
nized by President Van Buren,, who
commissioned n charge d'affaires
| March Z. 1897, after Mexico had aban-
! lonnl II nttnmnt to nnnuunr tln trnY-