Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-04-15
THREE UNTRlED MEANS.
President Would Intervene without
Recognition Of Insurgents.

President Would Intervene without
Recognition Of Insurgents.
In my annual message Of December
last l said: "Of the untried measures
there remain: Recognition of the insur.
gents as belligerents, recognition OF the
independence of Cuba, neutral interven.
ton, to end the war by imposing "a
tional compromise between the contest
ants and intervention in favor Of one or
the other party. speak not OF forcible
annexation, for that cannot be thought Of.
That, by our code of morality, would be
criminal aggression.
Thereupon l reviewed these alterna-
tives in, the light Of President Grants
treasured words, uttered In 1875, when,
alter seven years Of sanguine, destructive
and cruel barbarities in Cuba he reached
the conclusion that the recognition of the
independence of Cuba was impracticable
and indefensible, and that the recognition
of belligerency was not warranted by tho
facts, according to the test Of public law.
Bslligsrsnoy Out Of the Question!
commented especially upon the latter
aspect of tho question, pointing out the
Inconvenience and positive dangers of
recognition of belligerency which, while
adding to the already onerous burdens OF
neutrality within our own jurisdiction.
could not in any way extend our influence
or effective offices in the territory Of hos
tilities Nothing has since occurred to
change my view in this regard, and rec
ognize as fully now as then that the is.
suance of proclamation of neutrality, by
which process the so-called recognition of
belligerency is published, could of itself
and unattended by other action, accom-
plish nothing toward the one end for
which we labor the instant qualification
of Luba and the cessation of the misery
that aft1icts the island
Recognition Of Independence.
Turning to the question of recognition
at this time, of the independence of tho
present insurgent government In Cuba,
we find safe precedents in our history
from an early day. They are we'll sum-
med up in President Jackson's message
to congress Dec. II, 1886, on the subject OF
the recognition Of the independence OF
Texas.
lin all the contests that have arisen out
of the revolutions of France, out Of the
disputes relating to the crowns Of Portu-
gal and Spain, out of tho separation OF
the American possessions OF both from
the European governments, and out OF
the numerous and constantly occurring
struggles for dominion in Spanish Amer
lea so wisely consistent with our. just
principles has been the action Of our gov
eminent that we have, under the most
critical circumstances, avoided all censure
and encountered no other evil than that
produced by transient strangement of
good will in those against whom we have
been by force of evidence compelled to de-
eide.
1T has thus made known to the world
that the uniform policy and practice Of
the United States is to avoid all interior
ence in disputes which merely relate to
the internal government of other nations
and eventually to recognize the authority
Of the prevailing party without reference
to our particular interests or views, or to
the merits of the original controversy.
But on this, as on every other
trying occasion, safety must be found in 9
rigid adherence to principle.
Must Be Able to Protect Thsmsslvss.
I'm the contest between Spain and tho
Sevolted colonies we stood aloof and
waited not only until the ability Of the
new states to protect themselves was
fully established, but until the danger Of
their being again subjugated had entirely
passed away. Then, and not until then,
were they recognized. Such was our
course in regard to Mexico herself.
1t is true that with regard to
Texas, the civil authority Of Mexico
has been expelled, it's invading army de-
feated, the chief of the republic has him
self been captured and all present power
to control the newly organized govern
ment of Texas annihilated within its con-
fines. But, on the other hand, there is,
in appearance ut least. an immense dis
parity Of physical force on the side OF