Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-12

'ThereupOn Andrew Jackson proceeded
TO consider the risk that there would De
imputed TO the United States motives OF
selfish interest, in view of the FORMER
claim OF our part to the territory Oh
Texas. 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:
prudence. therefore. seems to dictate
that we should still stand aloof and main
tain our present attitude, II not until
Mexico itself or one OF the great foreign
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 ability of the people Of that country
to maintain their separate sovereignty
and 10 uphold the government consti-
tuted by them. Neither of the contending
parties can justly complain of this
course. BY pursuing 1t, we are but carry
ing out the long established policy OF
our government, a policy which has Sc
cured to us respect and influence abroad
and inspired confidence at home.
OUR RULE.
"These are the words of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evidence
that the United States. I'm addition 10 the
test imposed by public law. as the cOndi-
ton of the recognition of independence
by neutral State-to wit. that the re-
volted State shall constitute in fact n
body polite, having government in sub
stance as well as i'm name, possessed Of
the elements Of stability, and forming
"de facto." if left to itself. a State among
the nations reasonably capable of dis
charging the duties Of a State has i'm
fpr
with cases like these the further condi-
ton that recognition Of independent
statehood is not due to a revolted de-
tendency until the danger of its being
again subjugated 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
Jackson referred the question, as one
probably leading to war and, therefore,
a proper subject for "A previous under
standing with that body. by whom war
can alone be declared, and by whom all
the provisions for sustaining its perils
must be furnished left the matter of the
recognition Of Texas 10 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 inde-
pendent State Ii was so recognized by
President Van Duran, who commissioned
a Charge d'Affaires. March I. 1881, after
Mexico had abandoned an attempt TO re-
conquer the Texan Territory and when
there was at the time no bona-ide con-
test going on between the insurgent pro-
vince and its former sovereign.
II said in my message Of December last
1T is to be seriously considered whether
the Cuban insurgents possess beyond dis
pute the attributes of statehood, which
alone can demand the recognition of bel
ligerency in its favor The same re-
quirement must certainly be no less Sc
riously considered when the graver issue
of recognizing independence is in ques-
ton, for no less positive test can be APP
piled to the greater act than TO the
lesser; while, on the other hand, the in
fuences and consequences of the strug-
gle upon the internal policy of the recog-
nizing State. which form important fac
tors when the recognition of belligerency
is concerned. are secondary. If not rightly
eiminable from the factors, when the
question is whether community claim
ing recognition is or is not Independent
beyond peradventure.
RECOGNITION INEXPEDIENT.
"Nor from the standpoint of expedience
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 in order TO enable the
United States to intervene and pacify the
island TO commit this country now TO
the recognition Of any particular gov
eminent in Cuba might subject us TO
embarrassing conditions of international
obligation toward the organization so
recognized. In case of intervention, our
I Il 4.
prevail or disapproval Of such govern
ment; we would be required to submit
TO its direction. and to assume to 1t the
mere relation Of a friendly ally. When it
shall appear hereafter that there is with
in the island a 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 nationality, such
government can be promptly and readily
recognized and the relations and inte-
rests of the United States with such
nation adjusted.
INTERVENTION TO END THE WAR
There remain the alternative form OF
| Intervention to end the war. either as an
impartial, neutral body, imposing a COM
premise retween the contestants. or as
thc active ally of the one party or the
other.
LAS to the first. II is not TO be
forgotten that during the last few
months the relation of the United States
has virtually been one of friendly inter
vention in many ways. each not of itself
conclusive. but all tending TO the eXertion
Of a potential influence toward an ulti-
mate pacific result, just ana honorable
TO all interests concerned. The spirit OF
all our acts hitherto has been an earnest,
unselhsh desire for peace and prosperity
in Cuba, untarnshed by differences be-
tween us and Spain, and unstained by the
blood of American citizens.
THE forcible Intervention of the United
States as a neutral 10 stop the war, ac-
cording TO the large dictates of humanity,
and following many historical presidents,
in which neighboring States have inter-
fered TO check the hopeless sacrifice Of
life by intenecine conflicts beyond their
borders, is justifiable on rational grounds
II involves however hostile constraint
upon both parties to the contest. as well
to enforce a truce as TO guide the event
TO a settlement.
GROUNDS FOR INTERVENTION.
THE grounds for intervention may be
briefly summarized as follows:
"First-In the cause of humanity,
and 10 put an end to the barbara
ties, bIOodshed, starvation. and hOr-
ribIe miseries now existing there,
and which the parties to the con-
Hict are either unable or unwilling
10 stop committing or to mitigate.
1t IL no answer to say THIS Is all in
another country, belonging to an
other nation. and is. therefore. none