The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-10-31

tried TO nlde themselves Denlnd LnlS
as q precedent when the plain dictates
of humanity demanded the proclaiming
of broader principle-nay, worse than
that, they failed to find one that had
already been proclaimed and accept
ed by the great powers of Europe
a principle in harmony with our
Declaration of Independence 1t is
worthy of note, too, 's that 1t originated
in the same great brain and was
prompted by the same warm heart as
the Monroe doctrine, and enunciated
only year or two later.
In 1926 George Canning, now regard
ed as one of the greatest of English
statesmen, recognized the belligerency
of the Greeks who had revolted against
Turkish rule. He justified the recogni-
tion by declaring that "the character
of belligerency is not so much a
principle aus a fact; a certain degree of
force and consistency acquired by any
mass of population engaged in war
entities that population to be treated
as a belligerent, even IL their title
were questionable" He added, by way
of explanation, that a power or a
community which was at war with an
other must either be acknowledged as
a belligerent, or treated as an out
law. Canning admitted that he based
his declaration on the doctrine of the
universal right of self-government, and
the right of each nation to act for it
self This was the reverse of the Doc
trine of the Holy Alliance, adopted by
the International congress at Vienna
in 1915, according to which the nations
were to help each other in suppressing
uprisings of the people. Our govern
ment seems to have adopted this mon
archial doctrine, instead of that of
Jefferson, Washington, Canning and
Monroe.
On the 9Th of May 1861, when the
Confederate States of America had not
yet given to the British government
any official evidence of war, and when
this power or community" had not
ship at sea and scarcely an army on
land, before it had fought a battle, fol-
the attack and capture of an isolated
| and neglected garrison in time OF
peace is not battle-Lord John Rus
sell, her Majestys chief Secretary OF
State in speech in the House of Com
| mons, quoted this declaration of George
Canning's as his sole and sufficient
justification of the action that he anC
his colleagues had decided upon
namely: The recognition OF what
| they called officially the Southern
Confederacy of America" They didn
even know the right name.
simultaneously France adopted thu
same action, declaring that it concur
red entirely in the views of he
majesty's government. This accept
ance of Canning's broad princi
pie by Great Britain and France with
out protest by any other power wa
an acknowledgement of it's justice b.
the powers Of Europe, and an acquies
cence in it: practice.
1t should be remembered here tha
Spain followed the example set b!
Great Britain and France, and recog
nized the Southern Confederacy only
few days later. Our refusal to return
that little courtesy was not returnin,
good for evil, for it resulted in create
humiliation to Spain and in terribl
injustice and in humanity to the poo
Cubans.
Some may think that the Alabami
Claims decision annulled Canning
humane principle, but it did not. TIL
award against Great Britain was be
cause she had violated the law o
nutrality. Let us see what is rea
neutrality in such cases.
Lorimer, in his Law of Nations,
says, "by recognizing bellingeren
rights, neutral powers pronounce n
judgment whatever, either on tn
merits of the claim, or the probabilit
of it's ultimate vindication." Now, som
of my hearers will remember that tn
hn n1 ai,ofc ct,.af ffnY
pretending to be oracles on interna
tional law, contended that we woul
become responsible for the success O
the insurgents, and for their good con
duct, If we recognized their belliger
ency.
Lorimer goes on further. Belligeren
recognition is mere declaration @
impartiality. To withhold from tn
claimant for recognition the rights G
delinquency, while we extend them t
the parent state, would be plainly, t
take part in the war on the part of tn
parent state" Before the administra
tion was month old a proclamatio
was issued providing for the effectua
blockade of our ports to prevent yes
sells from carrying arms and ammuni
ton to the insurgents.
InlS was called enforcing tn
Neutrality Laws" although Spain wa
contending all along that there was nc
"a state of war" in Cuba. There
no need of neutrality where there
no war. Pomeroy, in his Information
al Law" makes this very plain, say
ing: ITO refuse such recognition (tha
of belligerency) might, under certai
circumstances, have the direct effec
of causing the state so refusing to TAX
the part of the mother country agains
the rebels. AS consequence, If anothe
power would remain strictly neutral I
the contest, that very attitude must in
; volve the recognition of the insurgent
as belligerents. Unless another powe
desires to take active part in tn
hostilities and throw the weight Of II
influence and, under some circum
stances, the positive aid of it's ex
ecutive powers in favor of the mothe
country, 1t must treat the rebels a
belligerents."
From the foregoing it will be see
that our senator from Ohio, was reall
unreasonable when he said he had IN
patience" with president Mckinley