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

dOQlllOn.
revocation of the order OF reconcentra-
ion. so as to permit the people 10 return
to their farms. and the needy to be re-
Hevcd with provisions and supplies from
the United States. cooperating with the
Spanish authorities so as to afford full
relief.
SPANS REPLY.
THE reply Of the Spanish Cabinet was
received on the night OF the 3lst ultimo.
II offers. as the means to bring about
peace in Cuba, TO confide the preparation
thereof to the insular parliament, mas
mucr as the concurrence of that body
would be- necessary to reach final re-
suit il being, however, understood that
the powers reserved by the Constitution
TO the central government are not les
scned or diminished. AS the Cuban Par
lament does not meet until the 4th OF
May next. the Spanish Government could
not object for its part TO accept at once
q suspension of hOstilities II asked Tor
hy the insurgents from the general-in-
chief. TO whom it would pertain, in such
case TO determine the duration and con-
ditions of the armstice.
The propositions submitted by General
Woodford, and the reply OF the Spanish
Government, were both in the form OF
brief memoranda-the texts OF which are
belore me-and are substantially IN the
language above given. The junction OF
the Cuban Parliament in the matter OF
preparing peace, and the manner of its
doing so, are not explained in the
Spanish memoranda but from Gene
1al WoodfOrd's explanatory reports
of preliminary discussions preced-
ing the final conference it is under
,f-F, :
ready TO give the insular Congress full
power to settle the terms of peace with
the Observation-Disclosures by direct nego-
tiation or indirectly. by means OF legisla-
ton. does not appear.
EXECUTIVE AT END OF EFFORT.
with this last overture in the direc-
ton of immediate peace, and its disap-
pointing reception by Spain, the EXecu-
tive was brought 10 the end of his effort.
In my annual message Of December
last. | said: OF the untried measures
there remain only recognition Of the
insurgents as belligerents; recognition OF
the independence of Cuba; neutral inter
yention TO end the war by imposing a
rational compromise between the con-
testants. and Intervention in favor OF
one or the other party. L speak not OF
forcible annexation. for that cannot be
thought Of. That, by our code of morali-
". would be criminal aggression.
"Thereupon l reviewed these alterna-
tives in the light Of President Grant S
measured words, uttered in 1879, when,
after seven years of sanguinary destruc-
tive. and cruel hostilities in Cuba. he
reached the conclusion that the recogni-
ton of the independence of Cuba was
impracticable and indefensible, and that
the recognition of belligerency was not
warranted by the facts, according to the
test of public law. l commented espe-
cially upon the latter as part OF the
question. pointing out the inconvenience
and positive dangers of recognition OF
belligerency, which, by adding 10 the al
ready onerous burdens of neutrality
within our own jurisdiction. could not III
any way extend our influence or effective
offices in the territory of hostilities. No
thing has since occurred to change my
view in this regard, and l recognize as
fully now as then that the issuance or a
proclamation Of neutrality, by which pro-
cess the so-called recognition of bellige-
rencv is published, could of itself, and
unattended by other action. accomplish
nothing toward the one end for which we
labor. the instant pacification OF Cuba
and the cessation of the misery that af-
hicts the island.
RECOGNITION NOW.
"Turning to the question of recognizing
at this time the independence of the in
surgent experiment in Cuba, we find
safe precedents in our history from an
early day They are well summed up In
President Jackson's message to Con-
gress, December q, 1896, on the subject
Of the recognition of the independence
OF Texas. He said:
I'm all the contests that have arisen
out Of the revolutions Of France out OF
the disputes relating to the crowns OF
Portugal and Spain, out of the separa-
ton of the American possessions OF both
from the European governments, and
out of the numerous and constantly oc-
curing struggles for domination In spa
nish America, so wisely consistent with
our just principles has been the action
of our government that we have under
the most critical circumstances avoided
all censure and encountered no other
evil than that produced by a transient
estrangvment Of good will in those
against whom we have been by force OF
evidence compelled To decide.
1T has thus made known 10 the
world that the uniform policy and prac-
tce OF the United States are to avoid all
interference in disputes which merely
relate TO the internal government OF
other nations, and eventually To recog-
nlze the authority Of the prevailing party
without reference TO our particular in
terests and views. or TO the merits Of
the original controversy.
ADHERENCE TO PRINCIPLE.
but on this, as on every other trying
occasion. safety is 10 be found In
rigid adherence to principle.
In the contest between Spain and the re-
volted Colonies we stood aloof and wait
ed, not only until the ability OF the DC "
states to protect themselves was fully
established. but until the danger of their
being again subjugated had entirely pass
ed away. Then. and not until then. were
they recognized. Such was our course In
regard 10 Mexico herself.
"'i' - trua that with rsssrd tn Texas