Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-04-11

| people to return to their farms and the
needy to be relieved with provisions
aud supplies from the United States
co operating with Spanish authorities
SO as to afford full relief.
| The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the 3lst ult. 1t offers as a
means to bring about peace in Cuba, to
confine the preparation thereof TO the
insular department, in as much as a
concurrence Of that body would be me-
cessary to reach the final result. 1t
being, however, understood that the
powers reserved by the constitution to
the central government are not iessened
or diminished. As the Cuban par
lament does not meet until the 4th of
May next, the Spanish government
would not object for its part 10 accept
at once suspension of hostlIities, if
asked for by the insurgents from the
general in chief, to whom it would
pertain, in such case, TO determine the
duration aud conditions of the armls-
tice. with this last overture in the
direction of immediate peace and its
disappointing reception by Spain, the
Executive was brought to an
end of his effort" The
President quotes from his message Of
December last, statement that "of un-
tried measures there remain the recOg-
milton of the insurgents belligerency,
the independence of Cuba, interven-
tion to end war by imposing national
compromise between the contestants,
and Intervention in favor of one or the
other party" and proceeds to discuss
the subject of recognizing at this time
the Independence of the present insur-
gent government of Cuba. He says
precedents are well summed up in
PRESIDENT JAoKsoN's MESSAGE
to Congress, December 81, 1886. which
he quotes, adding: "lnesc are the
words Of the resOlute and patriotic
jackson. They are evidence to the
United States, in addition TO the test
imposed by public law as condition
of recognition of independence, by a
neutral state, to wit, that the revolted
state shall constitute in fact a body
polite, having government in sub
stance as well us in name,
possessed of the elements of stability
and forming defacto, If left to Itself, a
state among nations, reasonably capa-
BILE OF discllarging the duties of state.
1t is further imposed in dealing with
cases like this that the recognition of
independent statehood is not due to a
reyolted dependency until the danger
of its being again subjugated by the
parent state has entirely passed away.
The same requirement must certainly
be no less seriously considered when
the graver issue Of recognizing inde-
pendence is in question. 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 TIE SO-CALLED
CUBAN REPUBLIC.
To commit this country now to a
recognition of any particular govern
ment in Cuba, might subject us to
conditions of interna-
tional obligation toward the organ
ization SO recognized. When
it shall appear hereafter that
there Is within the island a
government capable of performing the
duties and discharging the functions of
a separate nation, and having as a
matter of fact, proper forms and attri-
butes of nationality. such government
can be promptly and readily recognized,
and relations and interests of the United
States with such nation can be
adjusted The forcible intervention of
the United States as neutral nation to
stop the war, according to the large
dictates of humanity, and following
many historical precedents, where
states have interfered to
check a hopeless sacrifice of life by
in conflicts beyond their
borders, is justifiable on national
grounds. 1t involves, however, hostile
constraint upon both parties to the
contest, as we'll to enforce the truce as
to guide in the eventual settlement
The grounds for such an intervention
may be briefly summarized as follows:
First, In the cause of humanity and to
put ar end to barbarities, blood
shed, starvation and horrible n mis-
cries now existing there, and
which the parties to the conflict are
either unable or unwilling to stop or
Second: We owe it to our
citizens in Cuba to afford them that
protraction and indemnity for life and
property which no government can or
will afford, and to that end to terminate
the conditions that deprive them of
legal protection. Third: The right to
intervene may be justified by very
serious injury to commerce, trade and
business of our people. and by wanton
destruction of property and devastation
of the island. Fourth: And, which is
of utmost Importance, the present con
dition of affairs in Cuba is constant
menace to our peace and entails upon
this government enormous expense.
These
ELEMENTS OF DANGER AND DISORDER
have been strikingly illustrated by
q tragic event which has deeply
and Justly moved the American
people. Ihave already transmitted to
Congress the report of the naval court
OF inqiry on the destruction ofzthe
battleship "Maine," in the harbef9 of |
Havana, during the night of the 18th |
of February. The destruction of that
noble vessel has filled the nation nal
heart with inexpressible horror. Two
hundred and fifty eight sailors and
marines, and two officers OF olr navy, /
reposlng in the fancied security Of a |
friendly harbpr were hurled to death, |
grief and want brought to their homes.
and sorrow to the nation. That naval
court ofinquiry, which it is needless to
say commands the unqualified copfd.
ence of the government, was unan-
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