The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-12

piled in the State of Texas. the Congress
to which President jackson referred tht
question as one probably leading to war
and therefore a proper subject for pre-
Vlous unoelssahuihg with the body by
| whom war can alone be daclorad and nv
whom all the provisions for snstsinin1
| its porilS must be furnished Loft the mat.
ter of The recognition of Iexas To tha dis
erection to the executive. providing ,nere-
| ly for the sending of a dlnlomatie agent
when the President should be satisfied
that the republic of Texas had become
nized by President Van Buren,. who com
missioned charge d'affairs March +.
| 1887, after Mexico had abandoned an AT
! tempt to re-conquer the Texan TERRITORY
| and when there was at the time no bona
| fide contest going on between the insur-
gent province and it's former sovereign.
| said in my message of December last
cit is to Re seri ,usiy considered whether
tho Cuban instruction possesses beyond
dispute the attributes OF statehood which
alone can demand tho recognition of bel
Iiqerepcy in it's favor. The same re-
ol1irenent must certainly be no les,
seriously considered when the grayer issue
of recognizing independence is in cues
ton, for no less positive test can be APP
plied to the greater act than to the lesser
while on the other hand the influence and
ternal policy of the recognizing state,
which form important factors when the
recognition of belligerenoy is concerned.
are secondary, if not rightly, eliminable
factors when the real question is whether
the community claiming recognition is or
Is not independent beyond peradventure.
Nor from the standpoint OF expedience do
l think it would re wise or prudent for
this government to recognize at the
present time the independence OF the So
called Cuban republic. Such recognition
is not necessary in order to enable the
United States to intervene and pacify the
island. 10 commit this country now to
the recognition of any particular govern
ment in Cuba might subject us to EN- bar
RAISING conditions OF international obliga-
tions.towards the organization to be recog-
nized. In case of intervention our con.
duct would be subject to the approval or
disapproval of such governments, we
would be required to submit to its direc-
ton and to assume to it the mere relation
of friendly ally. Wien it shall appear
hereafter that there is within the island q
government capable of performing the
duties and discnarging the functions of
separate nation, and having, as matter
of fact the proper forms and attributes of
nationality, such government can be
promptly and readily recognized, and the
relations and interests of the United
States with such nation adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms of
Intervention to end the war, either as an
impartial neutral by imposing ration
al compromise between the contestants,
or as the active ally of the one party or
the other.
AS to the first, it is not forgotten that
during the last few months the relation
of the United States has virtually been
one of friendly intervention in many
ways, each Of itself conclusive. but all
tending to the exertion of a political in
just and honorable to all interests con-
cerned. The spirit of all our acts hith-
erto has been an earnest, unselfish desire
for peace and prosperity in Cuba, I'M
furnished by differences between us and
Spain and unstained by the blood of
American citizens. The forcible inter
vention of the United States as neutral
to stop the war. according to the large
dictates of humanity and following
many historical presidents where neigh
boring states have interfered to check the
hapless sacrifices of life by internecine
conflicts beyond their borders, is justi-
fable on rational grounds. 1t involves,
however, constraint upon both the par
ties to the contest, as well as to force a
truce so as to guide the eventual settle-
ment. The grounds for such Interyen-
ton may be briefly, summarized as fol-
lows: ze 8y
First-In the cause of humanity and
to put an end to the barbarities. blood
she'd starvation and horrible miseries
now existing there, and which the par
ties to the conflict are either unable or
unwilling to stup or mitigate. 1t is no
answer to say this Is all in another coun-
try belonging to another nation and
theref IRE none of our business. 1t is
specially our duty,ssfor il. is right at our
door.
second-We . owe itFto our citizens in
Cuba to afford them that protection,
and indemnity for life and property which
no government there can or will afford,
and TO that end to terminate the condit-
ions that deprive them of legal protec-
ton.
Third--The right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to
the commerce, trade and business of our
people and by the wanton destruction
of property and devastation lef the ISL
and. s6isgl t% ..*
Fourth--And which is of the utmost
important. The present conditions of
affairs of Cuba is O. constant menace to
our peace and entails upon this govern
lnent an enormous expense. With such q
conflict waged for years on an island
SO near! us and which our people have
such trade and business relations-when
the lives and liberty OF our citizens arc
in constant danger and their property
and themselves ruined-where our trad
ing vessels are liable to seizure and are
seized at our very door by warships OF
the TO- ei IN nation. the expeditions OF
filibusterlag that we are powerless alto
gether to prevent, and the irritating
Questions and eptanglements thus arising
all these and others that l need not
mention with the resulting strained rela-
lions are constant menace to our peace
and compel us to keep on a semi-war
footing with nation with which we are
at peace.
These elements of danger and disorder
already pointed out have been striking
ly illustrated by tragic event which has
deeply and justly moved the people of
America. have already transmitted to
Congress the report of the naval court
of inquiry on the destruction of the bat
tIeship Maine in the harbor of Havana
during the night of the 10Th of February.
The destruction of that noble vessel has
filled the national heart with inexpres-
sable horror. Two hundred and fifty
eight trave sailors and marines and two
officers of our navy, reposed in the fan
cied secured Of friendly harbor have
been hurled to death, grief and want
brought to their homes and sorrow to the
nation