The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mr.. FREDERIC r. coupERT GIVES
-iS VIEWS ABOUT IT

Spain Could search Our Shfps-Commerce
Would he Subjected to Much Harsssing
Intsrferencs-say War Is n Great Foe to
Reason, Justice and Equity.
Mr.. Frederic r. Coudert, who Is a rec
ognized authority on international law,
said to me recently when i asked him
what, In his opinion, would be the result
of recognition by the United States Of the
Cuban insurgents:
at presume that by recognition is
meant recognition OF a state of belliger-
ency, which would give Cuban insurgents
a status as belligerent power. do not
think Ii Is intended, however, by that ex-
preston TO intimate that the president
will recognize the Cuban republic as an
independent and established power. It
does not seem to me that 1t has yet reached
the stage, Notwithstanding its stubborn
fight for freedom during the last three
years, where we can rank it among the
states that are entitled to diplomatic inter
course.
Assuming that the president will rec
ognize that there is "a state of war in the
island and that there are two parties TO
the war-namely, Spain on one hand and
Cuban insurgents on the other-the effect
will be farreaching. Whether il will aid
the instruction as much as is expected by
its many friends is doubtful. It would
certainly subject the United States to some
inconvenience. Heretofore we have re-
quired that the Cuban sympathizers should
not fit out expeditions against Spain,
which is a friendly power. We have only
recognized one authority in the island,
Spofr boNinU IN her rafnsaA m
admit that there was a war in Cuba, could
not exact from us what she might exact
from neutrals.
after the recognition OF state of bel
ligerency we become neutrals and are for
hidden to give aid or comfort TO either Of
the powers. Our ships will be liable to
search and our commerce TO much harass-
ing and annoying interference. Possibly
the new position of Cuba may enable it TO
raise funds. Whether this will be so or
not is matter of con jecture. 1t will GER
tainly increase the moral force of the in
surgents and give them a status which
they do not now possess.
"This will not of itself justify Spain in
taking offense. We simply recognize a
fact, and we are the sole judges OF the ex-
istence Of that fact. Three years is a long
time for an Instruction to last unless 1t Is
one of great power and one very difficult
to subdue. President Cleveland stated
two years ago that the state of affairs then
existing in Cuba must be stopped within
q reasonable time. President Mckinley
has stated the same thing. The question
Of reasonable time is one for Us To de-
termine and for no one else.
1.-THE president in acknowledging a con-
dition of belligerency, will be acting strict
ly within his right and, have no doubt,
will be supported by the country. Our cit
liens generally have entire faith in his in
telligence, his sense and his patriotism.
Whatever he decides will, / believe, find
general acceptance.
"What effect, If any, would recognition
by the United States have upon Spain S
right to treat as pirates the officers and
crew of any insurgent vessel they captured
on the high seasY This is question which
would depend very much upon the view
that Spain would take. We cannot change
the situation as between Spain and Cuba
by a mere declaration of our opinion as to
the existence of a certain fact. We declare
that fact exists. Spain denies it. AS
there is no court and jury to decide, each
nation must act upon what it deems proper
and expedient under the circumstances.
"Spain Is not bound to treat her rebel
lious subjects as belligerents because we
declare that they are entitled to that desig-
nation. AT the same time she must be
consistent, or ought to be, and II In her
dealings with us she acts on tho assump-
tion that there is a state of war and she
invokes the benefit of that theory as
against the neutral it is difficult to see
how she can in the same breath declare
privateers to be pirates and to treat them
rs such.
"Wo must remember that she was not
one Of the powers that joined In the decla-
ration Of 1856 against privateering and
therefore could not avail herself Of the
treaty Of Paris TO declare privateers of any
nation to be pirates. At the same time we
must not forget that war is great foe to
considerations based on reason, justice and
the equity Of men and things. The object
OF war is merely to establish the right Of
the stronger or the strongest to have his
own way. If he fails, he is proved to be In
the wrong; If no succeeds, then he has
demonstrated the correctness Of his posi-