Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-11

The Maine incident figures promi
nently In the message. The president
argues that the wreck of the Maine in
the Havana harbor shows that Spain is
not able to guarantee security to foreign
vessels. Spain has disavowed any con.
nection with that disaster and offered tC
submit to arbitration all differences
which may have arisen from that affair
The president reviews his negotiations
with Spain for the amelioration of the
conditions in Cuba and the efforts made
for the relief of the reconcentrados,
following up the successful efforts on
their behalf by Americans in the island
saving that thousands of lives have been
saved. He says:
Subjugation Impossible.
''The war in Cuba is OF such a nature
that the sport of subjugation or exter-
mination Is carried on in a manner that
final military victory for either side
seems impracticable. The prospect OF
such protraction and conclusion of the
present strife Is a contingency hardly to
be contemplated with equanimity by the
civilized world, and least Of all by the
United States, affected and injured as
we are, deeply and intimately by its
very existence. Realizing this, it ap-
peared to be my duty, in spirit of true
friendliness, no less to Spain than to
the Cubans who have so much to lose by
the prolongation of the struggle, to seek
to bring about an immediate termination
Of the war.
10 this end | submitted, on the 17th
ultimo, as a result of much representa-
| tion and correspondence, through the
United States minister at Madrid, propo-
sitions to the Spanish government, look
| ing to an armstice until October l, for
the negotiating of peace with the good
offices of the president. In addition, [
asked the immediate revocation of the
order of Recommendation, SO as to per-
NIT the people to return to their farms,
and the needy to be relieved with pro-
visions and supplies from the United
States, cooperating with the Spanish
authorities, so as to afford full relief.
Result of Diplomatic Measures.
''The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 3lst ultimo.
1t offers, as means to bring about peace
in Cuba, to confide the preparation
thereof to the insular department, in as
much as the concurrence of that body
would be necessary to reach final re-
suit, it being, however, understood that
the powers reserved by the constitution
to the central government are not les
sened or diminished. As the Cuban
parliament does not meet until the 4th
of May next, the Spanish government
would not object for its part, to accept
at once suspension of hostilities, If
asked for by the insurgents from the
general-in-chief, to whom it would per-
tain, in such case, to determine the
duration and condition OF the armistice
''With this last overture in the direc-
tiOn of immediate peace, and its disap-
pointing reception by Spain, the execu
tive was brought to the end of his
effort.
The president quotes from his mes
sage Of December last the statement
that "of the untried measures there re-
main: The recognition OF the insnr-
gents as belligerents, the recognition OF
Cuba and Intervention to end the war
by imposing rational compromise be-
tween the contestants, and Intervention
in favor of one or the other party and
proceeds to discuss these on the subject
of recognizing the independence of the
present insurgent government, the Gu
ban, saying the precedents are we'll
summed up in President Jacksons mes
sage to congress, December 2l, 1896,
which he quotes, adding:
President Jackson's Words.
''These are the words of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evi.
dence that the United States. in addi-
tion to the test imposed by public law as
a condition of recognition of independ-
ence by a neutral state, to wit: That |
the revolted state shall constitute body |
polite, having government in SUBJ
stance as well as In name. possessed of |
the elements of stability and forming de
facto, If left to itself, a state among ma
tions, reasonably capable of discharging
the duties of state, has imposed for its |
own governance in dealing with cases
like these the further condition that
recognition Of independent statehood is
not due to the revolted dependency until
all danger of its being again subjugatcd
by the parent state has entirely passed
away" The same requirement must cer-
tainly be no less seriously considered
when the graver issue of recognizing
independence is in question. Nor, from
the standpoint of expedience do think
it would be wise or prudent for this gov
ernment to recognize at the present time
the independence OF the so-called Cuban |
republic. To commit this country now
to the recognition Of any particular gov
ernment in Cuba might subject us to |
embarrassing conditions of international
obligation toward the organization so
recognized.
When it shall appear, thereafter,
there is within the island government
capable of performing its duties and dis
charging the functions of a separate ma
tion, and having as matter Of fact, the
proper forms and attributes of national
ity, such government can be promptly
and readily recognized. and the reIa-