Sherman County observer., December 08, 1897, Image 7

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th e m a t p a r w i t h g o ld . W e s u r e ly c a n n o t
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t h o r i t y n o w g iv e n , i t w ill c o n tin u e to do.
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use d to p a y th e exp enses o f th e g o v e rn ­
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t o m a in ta in th e g o ld re s e rv e .
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th e g o v e rn m e n t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s te s ­
tifie d Its g r a v e c o n c e rn a n d o ffe re d Its a id
to p u t a n en d to b lo o d s h e d lid C 'u b a . T h e
. o v e r tu r e s m a d e b y G e n e ra l G r a n t w e re
re fu s e d , a n d th e w a r d ra g g e d on. e n t a il­
in g g r e a t lo ss o f li f e a n d tre a s u r e , a n d
( In c re a s e d I n ju r y to A m e r ic a n In te re s ts ,
j be sid es th r o w in g e n h a n c e d b u rd e n s o f
n e u t r a lit y u p o n th is g o v e rn m e n t. In 1878.
peace w a s b r o u g h t a b o u t b y th e tru c e
o f Z a n jo n . o b ta in e d b y n e g o tia tio n s b e ­
tw e e n th e S p a n is h c o m m a n d e r. M a r tin e z
de C * m p o t. a n d th e in s u r g e n t le a d e rs .
C iv ilis e d lo d e o f W a r D ls r e s a r d e d .
T h e p re s e n t In s u r r e c tio n b r o k e o u t In
F e b r u a r y . 1935. I t Is n o t m y p u rp o s e , n t
th is tim e , to re c a ll Its r e m a r k a b le l r . r e a s e
o r to c h a r a c te r is e it s te n a c io u s re s is ta n c e
a g a in s t th e
e n o rm o u s
fo rc e s
m assed
a g a in s t I t b y S p a in . T h e r e v o lt a n d th e
e ff o r ts to su b d u e It c a r r ie d d e s tr u c tio n to
e v e ry q u a r t e r o f th e Is la n d , d e v e lo p in g
w id e p r o p o r tio n s a n d d e fy in g th e e ffo r ts
o f S p a in f o r Its s u p p re s s io n . T h e «iv iiiz - d
cod e o f w a r h a s been d is re g a rd e d , no
less so b y th e S p a n ia rd s th a n b y th e
C u b a n s . T h e e x is tin g c o n d itio n s c a n n o t
b u t f i l l th ia g o v e rn m e n t a n d th e A m e r i­
c a n p e o p le w it h th e g ra v e s t a p p re h e n ­
s io n . T h e re ts n o d e s ire o n th e p a r t o f
o u r p e o p le to p r o fit b y th e m is fo r tu n e s
o f S p a in .
W e h a v e o n ly th e d e s ire to
see th e C u b a n s p ro s p e ro u s a n d c o n te n te d ,
e n jo y in g t h a t m e a s u re
of
s e lf- c o n tr o l
w h ic h Is th e in a lie n a b le r i g h t o f m a n .
p r o te c te d In t h e ir r ig h t to re a p th e b e ne­
f i t o f th e e x h a u s t less tre a s u re s o f th e ir
c o u n tr y .
T h e o ff e r m a d e b y m y p re d e c e s s o r. In
A p r il. 1(96. te n d e r in g th e f r ie n d ly o ffic e s
o f th ia g o v e rn m e n t, fa ile d , a n d m e d ia ­
tio n o n o u r p a r t w a s n o t a c c e p te d .
In
b r ie f, th e a n s w e r re a d ; T h e re is n o e f ­
fe c t u a l w a y to p a c if y C u b a , u n le s s i t b e ­
g in s w it h th e a c tu a l s u b m is s io n o f th e
re b e ls to th e m o th e r c o u n tr y . T h e n o n ly
c a n S p a in a c t In th e p ro m is e d d ir e c tio n
o f h e r o w n m o tio n a n d a f t e r h e r o w n
p la n s .
I
C o n c e n t ra tio n
Is
E v t e r n il n a t I o n .
T h e c r u e l p o lic y o f c o n c e n tr a tio n w a s
In it ia t e d F e b r u a r y 1«. 1896. T h e p r o d u c ­
t iv e d ls tr ic t a c o n tr o lle d b y th e S p a n is h
a r m ie s w e re d e p o p u la te d a n d th e a g r i­
c u lt u r a l In h a b ita n ts w e re h e rd e d In a n d
a b o u t th e g a r r is o n to w n s , t h e ir la n d s la id
w a s te a n d t h e ir d w e llin g s d e s tro y e d . T h is
p o lic y th e la te c a b in e t o f S p a in J u s tifie d
as a n e c e s s a ry m «-asure o f w a r a n d as a
m e a n s o f c u t t in g o ff s u p p lie s fr o m th e
In s u rg e n ts .
I t h a s u t t e r l y fa ile d as a w a r m e a s u re .
I t w a s n o t c iv iliz e d w a r f a r e . I t w a s e x ­
t e r m in a t io n .
A g a in s t t h is ab u se o f th e r ig h t s o f w a r
I h a v e f e lt c o n s tra in e d , o n re p e a te d o c ­
c a s io n s . to e n te r th e fir m a n d e a rn e s t p r o ­
te s t o f th is g o v e rn m e n t. T h e re w a s m u c h
o f p u b lic c o n d e m n a tio n o f th e tr e a tm e n t
o f A m e r ic a n c ltl« e n s b y a lle g e d Ille g a l a r -
T h e i n s t r u c t i o n s g iv e n to o u r n ew m in -
i s t e r to S p a in , b e f o re h is d< p a r t u r e f o r
h is p o s t, «lire* tc«l h im to I m p re s s u p o n
t h a t g o v e r n m e n t th e s in c e r e w ish o f th«»
I nit« «! S t a t e s to le n d its a id to w a r d e n d ­
in g t h e w a r In C u b a , by r e a c h in g a p e a c e ­
f u l a n d la s ti n g r e s u l t , j u s t a n d h o n o r ­
a b le a lik e to S p a in a n d tin- C u b a n p eo p le.
T h e s e in s tr u c tio n s re c ite d th e c h a r a c te r
a n d d u r a tio n o f th e c o n te s t, th e w id e ­
s p r e a d losses It e n ta il» , th«- b u n l« ns a n d
r, s t r a ln t I t Im p o s t s u p o n us. w it h c o n ­
s ta n t d is tu rb a n c e o f n a tio n a l in te r e s ts
a n d th e i n j u r y r « s u ltin g fr o m a n Ind» fin ite
c o n tin u a n c e o f th is s ta te o f th in g s . I t
w a s s ta te d t h a t a t th is J u n c tu re <»ur g o v ­
e r n m e n t w a s c o n s tra in e d to s e r io u s ly In ­
q u ir e I f th«* tim e w as n o t r t jw w h e n S p a in ,
o f h e r o w n v o litio n , m o v 'd b y h e r o w n In ­
te r- s ts a n d e v e ry s e n tim e n t o f h u m a n ity ,
s h o u ld p u t a s to p to th is d e s tr u c tiv e w a r
a n d m a k e p ro p o s a ls o f s e ttle m e n t h o n o r-
abb* lo h e r s e lf a n d ju s t to h e r ‘ ' . r a n
c o lo n y . I t w as u rg e d t h a t, as a n « ig h -
b o r in g n a tio n w it h la r g e in te re s ts tri
C u b a , w e c o u td be re q u ire d to w a it o n ly
a re a s o n a b le tim e f o r th e m o th e r c o u n ­
t r y to e s ta b lis h I ts a u t h o r it y a n d re s to re
p a r e a n d o r d e r w it h in th e b o r d e r s o f th e
is la n d ; th a t w e c o u ld n o t c o n te m p la te an
In d e fin ite p e rio d f o r th e a c c o m p lis h m e n t
o f th e se re s u lts .
N o s o lu tio n w a s p ro p o s e d to w h ic h th e
s lig h t« st id« a o f h u m ilia t io n to S p a in
c o u ld a tt a c h . A U t h a t w a s a sk e d o r e x ­
p e c te d w a s t h a t s o m e s a fe w a y m ig h t be
s p e e d ily p ro v id e d a r.d p e rm a n e n t peace
« s to re d . I t so c h a n c e d th a t th e c o n s id ­
e r a tio n o f th is «»ffer. a d d rts s e d to th e
S p a n s-ti a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , w h h h a d <i- -
c m ed th e te n d e rs o f m y predecessor a n d
w h is k f o r m o re th in tw o y e a rs h a d p«»u*ed
m o re tre a s u r e In t o C u b a in th«- fr u itle s s
e f f o r t to s u p p re s s th e r e v o lt, f e l l to o t h ­
ers. B « tw e e n th e d e p a r tu r e o f G e n e ra l
\ \ o o d fo rd . th e ne w e n v o y , a n d h is a r r i v a l
in S p a in , th e s ta te s m a n w h o h a d sh a p e d
th e p o lic y o f h i» c o u n tr y f e ll b y th e h a n d
o f a n a s -a s s in . a n d a lth o u g h th e c a b in e t
o f th e la te p r .-m le r s t i l l h«-ld o ffic e a n d re ­
c e iv e d fr o m o u r e n v o y th e p ro i*o a a ls he
b o re , th a t c a b in e t g a v e p la ce , w it h in a
fe w d a y s th e r e a fte r , to a n e w a d m in is t r a ­
tio n u n d e r th e le a d e rs h ip o f S a g a s ta .
o p s i n 's F r i e n d l y R e p l y .
T h e re p ly to o u r n o te w a s re c e iv e d on
th e i i d d a y o f (K 'lo b e r, I t Is In th e d ir e c ­
t io n u f a b e tte r u n d e rs ta n d in g . I t a p p re ­
c ia te s th e f r ie n d ly p ro p o s a ls o f th is g o v ­
e r n m e n t. I t a d m its t h a t o u r c o u n tr y is
de« p iv aff«*cted b y th e w a r In C u b a a n d
t h a t o u r d e s ire s fo r peace a re J u s t, i t d e -
c la re a t h a t th e x»re»ent S p a n is h g o v e r n ­
m e n t is b o u n d b y e v e ry c o n s id e ra tio n to a
c h a n g e o f p o lic y t h a t s h o u ld s a tis fy th e
U n ite d S ta te s a n d p a c ify t'u b a w it h in a
re a s o n a b le tim e . T o th is en d. S p a in ha s
d e c id e d to p u t In t o *ff«~ct th e p o lit ic a l re ­
fo r m s h e r e to fo r e a d v o c a te d b y th e p r e s ­
e n t p r e m ie r, w it h o u t h a lt in g f o r a n y c o n ­
s id e r a tio n tn th e p a th w h ic h . In it s Ju«lg-
R itT .t. le a d s to peace.
T h e m i l i t a r y o p e ra tio n s . I t Is s a id w i l l
c o n tin u e , b u t w i l l be h u m a n e a n d c o n ­
d u c te d w it h a ll r e g a r d f o r p r iv a te r ig h ts ,
b e in g a c c o m t*a n te d b y p o lit ic a l a c tio n
le a d in g to th e a u to n o m y o f C u b a , w h ile
g u a r d in g S p a n is h s o v e re ig n ty . T h is , i t is
c la im e d , w i l l r e s u lt In in v e s t in g C u b a w it h
a d t s lln c t p e r s o n a lity , th e Is la n d to be
g o v e rn e d b y a n e x e c u tiv e a n d b y a lo c a l
c o u n c il o r c h a m b e r re s e rv in g to S p a in
th e c o n tr o l o f th e fo r e ig n r e la tio n s th e
a r m y a n d n a v y a n d th e J u d ic ia l a d m m ts -
tr a tio n a
T o a c c o m p lis h th is th e p re s e n t g o v e r n ­
m e n t p ro p o s e s to m o d ify e x i s ti n g le g is ­
la tio n b y de cree, le a v in g th e S p a n is h
c o rte s . w it h th e a id o f C u b a n s e n a to rs
a n d d e p u iie s . to s o lv e tb e e c o n o m ic p r o b ­
le m » a n d p r o p e r ly d is t r ib u t e th e e x is tin g
deb«
G iv e
S p a la
a
C kauee.
I n th e a b sence o f a d e c la r a tio n o f th e
m e a s u re s th a t th is g o v e rn m e n t pro p o se s
to ta k e in c a r r y in g o u t it s p r o ffe r o f g o od
o f fli-e e It s u g g e s ts t h a t S p a m be le f t fre e
to c o n d u c t m i l i t a r y o p e ra lio n s a n d g r a n t
p o lit ic a l re fo rm s , w h ile th e U n ite d S ta te « ,
f o r Its p a r t, s h a ll e n fo rc e Its n e u tr a l o b li­
g a tio n s . a n d c u t o ff th e a s s is ta n c e w h ic h ,
i t is a s s e rte d , tb e in s u r g e n ts re c e iv e fr o m
t h is c o u n tr y . T h e s u p p o s itio n o f a n In ­
d e fin ite p r o lo n g a tio n o f tb e w a r Is d e ­
n ie d . I t ta a s s e rte d t h a t th e W e s te rn
p r o v in c e s
a re
a lr e a d y
w e il- n tg h
re ­
c la im e d . th a t th e p la n tin g o f ca n e a n d
to b a c c o th e r e in h a s b«en re s u m e d , a n d
t h a t b y fo r c e o f a rm s a n d new und a m p le
r e fo r m s v e r y e a r ly a n d c o m p le te p a c if i­
c a tio n Is h«q«ed fo r .
T h e im m e d ia te a m e lio r a tio n o f e x is tin g
c o n d itio n s u n d e r tb e n» w a d m in ts tr a i o n
o f C u b a n a ff a ir s ts p r e d ic t 'd , a n d th e re ­
w it h a l th e d is tu rb a n c e a n d a ll o c c a s io n
f o r a n y c h a n c e o f a t t it u d e o n th e p a r t o f
th«- Uni?«*d S ta te s .
D is c u s s io n o f th e q u e s tio n o f in t e r n a ­
t io n a l d u d e s a n d re s p o n s ib ilitie s o f th e
U n ite d S ta te s as S p a in u n d e rs ta n d s th e m .
Is (« re s e n ttd w it h a n a p p a re n t d is p o s itio n
to c h a rg e us w it h f a ilu r e in th ia re g a rd .
T h is c h a rg e Is w it h o u t a n y b a s is in fa c t.
I t c o u ld n o t h a ve been m a d e i f S jia ln h a d
t««-»-n c o g n iz a n t o f th e c o n s ta n t e ff o r t th is
g « » v e rrm e n t ha s m a de, a t th e co st o f m i l ­
lio n s a n d b y th e e m p lo y m e n t o f th e a d ­
m in is t r a t iv e m a c h in e r y a t th e n a tio n a l
c o m m a n d , to p e r fo r m Its f u l l d u ty accor«!-
in g to th e la w o f n a tio n s . T h a t i t ha s
s u c c e s s fu lly p re v e n te d th e d e p a r tu r e o f a
s. n g le m i l i t a r y e x p e d itio n o r a rm e d vessel
fr o m o u r s h o re s In v io la tio n o f o u r la w s
w o u ld se-em to be a s u ffic ie n t a n s w e r.
B u t o n t h is aspe« t o f th e S p a n is h n o te it
is n o t n e c e s s a ry to st*eak f u r t h e r n o w .
F ir m In the- c o n v ic tio n o f a w h o lly p e r­
fo r m e d o b lig a tio n , d u e resp«-»nse to th is
c h a rg e ha s been m a d e in d ip lo m a tic Is ­
sues. T h r o u g h o u t a ll th«-»e h o r r o r s an«l
d a n g e r? *.o o u r o w n p e s ,* . th is g o v e r n ­
m e n t ha s n e v e r tn a n y w a y a b ro g a te d Its
s o v e re ig n p r e r o g a tiv e o f re s e rv in g to I t ­
s e lf th e d e te r m in a tio n o f its p o lic y a n d
c o u rs e , a c c o rd in g to Its o w n h ig h sense o f
r ig h t a n d in c o n s o n a n c e w ith th e d e a re s t
In te re s ts a n d c o n v ic tio n s o f o u r o w n peo­
p le . s h o u ld th e p r o lo n g a tio n o f th e s t r if e
so d e m a n d .
O f th e u n tr ie d m e a s u re s th e re r e m a in
o n ly ;
’ R e c o g n itio n o f th e In s u rg e n ts as b e llig ­
e r e n ts ; re c < jg n ltio n o f th e In d e p e n d e n c e o f
C u h a ; n e u tr a l In te r v e n tio n to e n d th e w a r
b y Im p o s in g a r a t io n a l c o m p ro m is e l»e-
tw e e n th e c o n te s ta n ts , a n d In t e r v e n tio n
In f a v o r o f on e o r th e o th e r p a t t y . ”
M o t n Q u e s tio n
of
Is n e titlliiN .
1 s p e a k n o t o f fo r c ib le a n n e x a tio n , f o r
t h a t c a n n o t be th o u g h t o f. T h a t, b y o u r
code o f m o r a lit y , w o u ld be c r im in a l a g ­
g re s s io n . R e c o g n itio n o f th e b e llig e re n c y
o f th e C u b a n In s u rg e n ts ha s o fte n b«*en
c a n v a s s e d a s a ;>oss1ble I f n o t in e v ita b le
ste p , b o th In r«-gard to th e p r e v io u s 10
y e a rs ' s tr u g g le a n d d u r in g th e p re s e n t
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e x p re s s e d th e o p in io n , by c o n c u rre n t re s o ­
lu tio n . th a t a c o n d itio n o f p u b lic w a r • x -
is te d r e q u ir in g o r j u s t i f y i n g th e re c o g n i­
tio n o f a s ta te o f b e llig e re n c y In C u lm ,
a n d d u r in g th e e x tr a session th e se n a te
v o te d a J o in t r e s o lu tio n o f lik e im p o r t,
w h ic h , h o w e v e r, w a s n o t b r o u g h t to a
v o te in th e ho use. In th e prea«*nce o f
th e s e s ig n ific a n t e x p re s s io n s o f th e s e n ti­
m e n t o f th e le g is la tiv e b tw n c h . It b e hoove s
th e e x e c u tiv e s o b e rly to c o n s id e r th e c o n ­
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a lo n e c .u i d e m a n d th e r< -<xgnitlon o f 1« l-
llg e r e n c y in i t s f a v o r. I’osM -ssion s h o r t
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e ig n ty b y th e in s u r g e n ts , a n d t h e c o n d u i t
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f a c t o r s to w a r d t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f th e
p ro b le m o f b e llig e r e n c y th .iri a r e th e in -
tlu e n c e s a n d c o n s« i|u et« ces o f t h e s tr u g g l e
u p o n th e I n t e r n a l p o .lc y o f th e r e c o g n iz ­
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a r e s ig n a lly r e le v a n t to th«- p r e s e n t s i t u a ­
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n o w to r e c a ll th e m .
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s e r i o u s c o n flic t h a d f o r s e v e n y e a r s w a s t« d
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o r il« .
A t th a t J u n c tu re G e n e ra l G r a n t u tte re d
th e s e w o rd s , w h ic h n o w , as th e n , s u m up
tn«- d e m e n ts o f th e p ro b le m :
“ A re c o g n itio n o f th e in d e p e n d e n ce o f
C u b a b e in g in m y o p in io n im p r a c tic a b le
a n d In d e fe n s ib le , tb e q u e s tio n w h ic h n e x t
p r . - e n t s ; t - - I f is »hat or th e re c o g n itio n
o f b e llig e re n t r ig h t s in th e p a rtie s to th e
c o n te n t, i n a f o r m e r m e ssage to c o n g re s s
I h a d o c t a s to n to c o n s id e r th is qu« s tio n
a n d re a t hed th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t th e c o n -
fin t in C u b u . d r e a d f u l e n d d e v a s ta tin g as
w e re its in c id e n ts , d id n o t r is e to th e
f w . i
* * • I t |g pos­
s ib le t h a t th e a c ts o f fo r e ig n p o w e rs a n d
e v e n a c ts o f S p a in h- re« I f o f th is v e r y
n a tm e m ig h t be po in t« <1 to in d e fe n s e o f
s u c h re c o g n itio n ,
B - it n o w . as In Its
p a s t h is to r y , th«- U n ite d S;at«-s s h o u ld
c a r e f u lly a v o id th e fa ls e lig h ts w h ic h
m ig h t le a d It In to th e rr.ax>*s o f d o u b t­
f u l la w a n d o f q u < *stlo n a b ls p r o p r i - t y
a n d a d h e re to th e r u le w h ic h h a s been
Its g u id e , of d o in g o n ly th a t w h ic h Is
r ig h t a n d h o n e s t a n d o * g o o d re p o rt.
" T h e q u e s tio n o f a c c o rd in g o r o f w i t h ­
h o ld in g r ig h t s o f b e llig e re n c y m u s t be
Jud ged In e v e ry ca se m v ie w o f th e p a r ­
t i c u l a r a tte n d in g fa c ts .
U n le s s J u s tifie d
b y n e c e s s ity , i t is a lw a y s a n d j u s t l y , re ­
g a rd e d as a n u n f r ie n d ly a c t a n d as a
g r a tu ito u s d e m o r i- tr a tio /i o f m o ra l s u p ­
p o r t to th e re b e llio n . I t is n e c e s s a ry a n d
I t ts re q u ire d w h e n th e In te re s ts a n d
r ig h t s o f a n o th e r g o v e rn m e n t, o r it s p e o ­
ple. a re so f a r a ffe . t« d b y p e n d in g c i v i l
c o n flic t as to re q u ire a d e fin itio n o f its
r e la tio n s to th e p a r tie s th e re to . B u t th is
c o n flic t m u s t be one whl«-h w ill be re c o g ­
n iz e d In th e seft>e «rf in te r n a t io n a l la w as
w a r.
“ B e llig e re n c y , to o . Is a f a d . T h e m e re
e x is te n c e o f c o n te n d in g a rm « d bo d ie s a n d
t h e ir o c c a s io n a l c o n flic ts d o n o t c o n s ti­
tu t e w a r In th« »<*nse r e f e r r e d to . A p p ly ­
in g to th e e x is tin g c o n d itio n o f a ffa ir » In
C u b a th e te s ta re c o g n iz e d b y p u b lic i- t s
a n d w r ite r » o n I n t e r n a tio n a l la w
and
w h ic h h a v e been o b s e rv e d b y n a tio n s o f
d ig n ity , h o n e s ty a n d p««wer w h e n fre e
fr o m s e n s itiv e o r seln--h a n d u n w o r th y
m o tiv e * . 1 f a i l to fin d In th e in s u r r e c tio n
th e e x is te n c e o f *u< h a s u b s ta n tia l p o li t ­
ic a l o r g a n iz a tio n , re a l. p .tip a b !e a n d m a n i­
fe s t to th e w o rld , as b a r in g th e fo r m s
a n d c a p a b le o f o r g a n iz a tio n , th e f u n c tio n *
o f o r d in a r y g o v e rn m e n t to w a r d Its o w n
p e o p le a n d to o th e r s ta te * w it h c o u r ts
f o r th e a d m in is tr a tio n u f Ju s tic e , w it h a
lo c a l h a b ita tio n , possessing s u c h o rg a a lz a -
tlo n o f fo rc e su< h m a te r ia l, s u c h o c c u p a ­
t io n o f t e r r i t o r y as jo ta k e th e c o n te s t
o u t o f th e c a te g o r y o f a m e re re b e llio u s
In s u rre c tio n , o r s e c s » : o n a l «-kirm iab es. a n d
p la c e It o n th e t e r r ib le fo o tin g o f w a r,
to w h ic h a re c o g n itio n o f Peiiig»rency
w o u ld a tm to e l * ' .tie it .
“ T h e c o n te s t
m o re o v e r, is s o le ly on
la n d ; th e In s u r r e c tio n has n o t possessed
Its e lf o f a s in g le » e » ; - » r t w h e n c e i t m a y
send fo r t h I t * fla g , n o r has i t a n y m e a n s
o f c o m m u n ic a tio n w i* h fo r e ig n p o w e rs ,
e x c e p t th r o u g h th e m i l i t a r y lin e * o f its
a « i\e r - a r 'e s . N o a p p re h e n s io n o f a n y o f
th e se su d d e n a n d d if f ic u lt c o m p ilc a tlo n s
w h ic h a w a r u p o n th e oce a n is a p t to p r e ­
c ip it a t e u p o n th e vesse ls, b o th c o m m e r­
c ia l a n d n a v a l, a n d u p o n th e c o n s u la r
offi< e rs o f o th e r p o w e rs , c a lls f o r th e
d e fin itio n o f t h e ir r e la tio n s to th e p a rtie s
to th e c o n te s t. C o n s id e re d as a q u e s tio n
o f e x p e d ie n c y . 1 r e g a rd th e a c c o rd a n c e o f
b e liig e r e n i r ig h ts » t ill to Ge as u n ­
d i d p r e m a tu r e as 1 re g a rd I t to be. a t
p re s e n t. In d e fe n s ib le as a m e a s u re o f
r-ght.
" S o r b r e c o g n itio n e n ta ils u p o n th e c o u n ­
t r y a c c o rd in g th e r ig h ts d if f ic u lt a n d c o m -
p ’ ic a te d d u tie s , a n d re q u ire s th e * x a « 'tio n
fr o m th e c o n te n d in g p a rtie s o f th e s t r ic t
o b s e rv a n c e o f t h e i r r ig h t s a n d o b lig a ­
tio n s .
I t c o n fe rs ih e r ig h t o f s e a rc h u p ­
o n th e h ig h sens b y v e .--e |* o f b o th p a r ­
tie s i t w o u ld s u b je c t th e c a r r y in g o f a rm «
a n d m u n itio n s o f w a r w h ic h n o w m a y be
tr a n s p o r te d fr e e ly a n d w ith o u t I n t e r r u p ­
tio n In vesse ls o f th
U rsi’ - d S ta te « to
d e te n tio n a n d p o s s ib le « e tz u re ; It w o u ld
g iv e ris e to c o u n tle s s v e x a tio u s q u e s tio n s ;
it w o u ld re lie v e th e p t v s m t » « iv e m m m t o f
r e s p o n s ib ility f o r a c t» dene b v th e tn a u r -
g - n ts . a n d w o u ld In v e s t S p a in w it h th e
r i g h t to e x e rc is e th e s u p e rv is io n re c o g -
n ix< d b y o u r t r e a t y o f 179S o v e r o u r c o m ­
m e rc e on th e h ig h seas, a v e r y la rg e
p a r t o f w h ic h . In it» t r a f f ic b e tw e e n th e
A t la n t ic a n d th e G u lf s ta te s a n d b e tw e e n
a ll o f th * m a n d th e s ta le s o n th e P a c ific ,
passes th r o u g h th e w a te r s w h ic h w a s h
th e sh o re s o f C u b a . T h e e x e rc is e o f th is
s u p e rv is io n c o u ld s c a rc e f a l l to le a d . I f
n o t t o ab uses c e r t a in ly to c o llis io n s , p e r ­
ilo u s to th e p e a c e fu l r e la tio n s o f th e tw o
s ta te s . T h e re c a n be l i t t l e d o u b t as to
W h a t re s u lt su ch s u p e rv is io n w o u b l b e ­
fo r e lo n g d r a w th is n a tio n .
I t w o u ld
be u n w o r th y o f th e U n ite d S ta te s to In ­
a u g u r a te th e p o s s ib ilit y o f s u c h r e s u lt b y
a m e a s u re o f q u e s tio n a b le r ig h t o r e x ­
p e d ie n c y . o r b y a n y In d is c re tio n .""
\o l
a T im e
fo r
K e c o n n l t Io n .
T u r n in g to th e p ra c ti« -a l a s p e c ts o f a
r« '» ig n itio n o f b e llig e re n c y a n d re v ie w in g
Its In c o n v e n ie n c e * a n d p o s s ib le d a n g e r,
f u r t h e r p e r tin e n t c o n s id e ra tio n s a p p e a r.
I n th e cod e o f n a tio n s , th e re is n o s u v n
th in g as a n a k e d r e c o g n itio n o f b e llig e r ­
e n c y u n a c c o m p a n l« d b y th e a s s u m p tio n
o f n a tio n a l n e u t r a lit y . S u ch re c o g n itio n
w it h o u t n « * u tra iity w ill n o t c o n fe r u p o n
e ith e r p a r t y to a d o m e s tic c o n flic t a s ta tu s
n o t theref«»re a c tu a lly possessed, o r a f -
fe« t th e r e la tio n o f e ith e r p a r ty to o th e r
s ta te s .
T h e a c t o f e e c o g n ltio n u s u a lly
ta k e s th e fo r m o f a s o le m n p r o c la m a tio n
o f n e u t r a lit y w h ic h re c ite s th e de fa c to
c o n d itio n o f b e llig e re n c y as Its m o tiv e . I t
announ«-es a d«>m«*»tic la w o f n e u t r a lit y
In th e d e c la r in g s ta te . I t a ssu m e s th e In ­
te r n a tio n a l o b lig a tio n o f a n e u tr a l in th e
p re se n ce o f a p u b lic s ta te o f w a r.
It
w a r n * a ll cltts«*ns a n d o th e rs w it h in th e
J u r is d ic tio n c f th e c la im a n t th a t th e y v io ­
la te th o s e r ig o r o u s o b lig a tio n s a t t h e ir
o w n p e r il a n d c a n n o t e x p e c t S o b e s h ie ld ­
ed fr o m th e con se q u e n ce . T h e r ig h t o f
v is it a n d s e a rc h a n d s e lx u re o f vesse ls
a m t c a rg o e s a n d c o n tr u tw n d o f w a r u n ­
d e r a d m ir a lt y la w m u s t u n d e r in te r n a ­
tio n a l law be a d m itte d as a le g itim a te
c o n se q u e n ce o f a p r iv la m a t io n o f b e llig e r ­
e n cy.
W h ile a c c o rd in g «*qual b e llig e re n t
r ig h t» d e fin e d b y p u b lic la w . to ea ch p a r ­
t y in o u r p o rts , d is fa v o r w o u ld be im p o s ­
s ib le to b o th , w h ic h , w hile n o m in a lly
e q u a f. w o u ld w e ig h h e a v ily In b e h a lf o f
S p a in h e rs e lf.
P osse ssin g a n a v y a n d
d a tr> tln g th e p o r ts o f C u b a , h e r m a r itim e
r ig h ts c o u ld be a sse rte d , n o t o n ly t o r
th e m i l i t a r y In v e s tm e n t o f th e is la n d ,
b u t u p to th e m a r g in o f o u r o w n t e r r i ­
t o r ia l w a te rs , a n d a c o n d itio n o f th in g s
w o u ld e x is t f o r w h ic h th e C u b a n s c o u ld n o t
h o p e to c re a te a p a r a lle l; w h ile a id fr o m
w it h in o u r d o m a in w o u ld be eve n m o re
Im p o s s ib le th a n n o w , w it h th e a d d itio n a l
o b lig a tio n
of
in te r n a t io n a l
n e u t r a lit y
W h ic h w«- w o u ld p e rfo rc e assu m e.
T h e e n fo rc e m e n t o f th is e n la rg e d a n d
o n e ro u s cod e <>f n e u t r a lit y w o u ld o n ly be
infill« n tia l w ithin o u r ow n J u ris d h -tio n
o f la n d arid sea a n d a p p lic a b le b y o u r
o w n In s t r u m e n ta litie s .
I t c o u ld Im p a r t
to th«- U n llc d S ta te s no ju r is d ic t io n be-
tw«-«qi K p a ln a n d th e In s u rg e n ts . I t w o u ld
r.v« tlie U n ite d H ta ie s no t i g h t o f Ini« r-
V e iu io n to e n fo rc e th e c o n d u c t o f th e
s t r i f e w ith in th e p a ra m o u n t a u t h o r it y o f
S p a in a c c o rd in g to th e in te r n a t io n a l code
c f w a r.
F o r the se re a s o n s , I re g a rd th e re c o g ­
n itio n o f tin - bi-Illg« r -n cy o f th e C u b a n
in s u r g e n t s u a n o w u n w is e a m i th e r e fo r e
in a d m is s ib le . S h o u ld th a t w tep h e r e a fte r
b e d«-em»d w ise , as a m e a s u re o f r .g h t
a n d d u ty , th e e x e c u tiv e w i l l ta k e It.
I n t e r v i- n tio n ui«on h u m a n e g r o u m ls ha s
b«-en fr e q u e n tly s u g g e ste d , a n d it ha s n o t
fa ib il to r«-< e lv e m y m o s t a n x io u s a n d
• a r m s t c o n s id e ra tio n .
B u t s h o u ld s u c h
a s t e p b*- n o w ta k e n w h e n It Is a p p a re n t
th a t a h o p e fu l c h a n g e has suj»e rven «d In
tlie p o lic y o f S p a in to w a r d C u b a ?
P le ilg « -*
of
th e
M ew
< • « » 'm i m e n t .
A n e w g o v e rn m e n t ha s ta k e n office in
th> m o th e r c o u n tr y . I t is p le d g e d in a d -
van« e to th e d e c la ra tio n th a t a ll th e e f ­
f o r t In th e w o rld c a n n o t s u ffic e to m a in ­
ta in pea«— in C u b a b y th e b a > o n e t; t h a t
v a g u e p ro m is e s o f n fo r m a f t e r s u b ju g a ­
tio n a ffo r d no s o lu tio n o f th e In s u la r
p r o b le m ; th a t w ith a s u b s titu tio n o f lo m -
m .:rid e rs m u s t c o m e a c h a n g e o t th e p a s t
f>stc-m o f w a r f a r e f o r one In h a rm o n y
w « th a n e w p o lic y w h ic h s h a ll n o lo n g e r
a im to d r iv e th e C u b a n s " t o th e h o m b le
a lt e r n a t . ve o f t a k in g to t h * th ic k e t o r
»u< « u n ib in g in m is e r y ; " th a t r e fo rm s m u s t
be in s titu te d in a c c o rd a n c e w it h th e needs
a n d c ir e :m stan< e» o f th e tim e , a n d t h a t
th e s e re t ■rms, w h ile d« s ig n e d to g iv e f u ll
a u to n o m y to th e c o lo n y a n d to c re a te a
v i r t u a l e n t it y a n d s e tf- c o n tr o ile d a d m in ­
is t r a t io n . s h a ll y e t c o n s e rv e a n d a ff ir m
th e s o v e re ig n ty o f S p a m b y a Ju st d i s t r i ­
b u tio n o f p o w e rs a n d b u rd *-n s u p o n a
b a s is o f m u tu a l in te r e s t u n ta in te d b y
m é th o d e o f s e lfis h e x p e d i-n c y .
T h e f ir s t a c ts o f th e n e w g o v e rn m e n t
l.e In th e s e h o n o ra b le p a th s . T h e policy
■ i • ru« 1 m p ta s ar.d e x te r m in a tio n , t h a t
so lo n g s h o c k e d th e u n iv e r s a l s e n tim e n t
o f h u m a n ity , h a s been re v e rs e d . U n d e r
th e n e w m i l i t a r y
co m m a n d « r. a b ro a d
c le m e n c y is p ro ffe re d . M e a s u re s h a v e a l-
r a d y be en s e t o n fo o t to re lie v e th e h o r-
r o r * o f s ta r v a tio n . T h e p o w e r o f th e
S p a n is h a rm ie s . Jt is a s s e rte d .
to be
used, n o t to s p re a d r u in a n d « le s o la tlo n .
b u t to p r o te c t th e r e s u m p tio n o f p*-a e fu l
a g r ic u lt u r a l p u r s u its a n d p r o d u c tiv e in -
dustrlesi. T h a t p a s t m e th o d » w er-* f u t il e
to fo rc e a peace b y s u b ju g a tio n . Is fre e ­
ly a d m itte d , a n d r u in w ith o u t c o n c ilia ­
i t n m u s t in e v ita b ly f a ll to w in fo r S p a in
th e f id e lit y o f a d is c o n te n te d d p e n d e n c y .
Ill« -
R e fo rm »
fo r t w ba.
D '« e s In a p p lic a ti r
tr.e f >resbad-
o w « d r e fo r m s h a v e a lre a d y been p r o ­
m u lg a te d . T h e f u l l te x t o f th e se decrees
h a s r.o t been re c e iv e d , b u t as fu r n is h e d in
a te»« g r a p h ic s u m m a ry fr o m o u r m in is te r ,
th e r e fo r m s a r e :
A i l c i v i l a n d e le c to ra l r ig h t s o f pen n -
s u ia r S p a n 'a rd s a re b y v ir t u e c f th e ex s t ­
in g
c o r .* t: tu t o n a l u s s e m b !}
fo rtn w .th
e x te n d e d to c o lo n ia l S p a n ia rd s A sche m e
o f a u to n o m y has be-en p r o c la im e d b y d e ­
cre e to becom e e ffe c t ve u p on r a t i f l c a t l n
b y tb e c e rte s I t c re a te s a C u b a n p a r lia ­
m e n t. w h ic h , w it h th e in s u la r e x e c u tiv e ,
c a n c o n s id e r a n d v o te u p o n a ll s u b je c ts
a ffe c tin g lo c a l o r d e r a n d in te re s ts , pos­
s e s s in g un im ite d p o w e ra save as to m a t­
te r s o f s ta te , w a r a n d th e n a v y , as to
w h ic h th e g o v e rn o r-g e n e ra ! a c ts b y h is
o w n a u th » rt'y a.- th e d e le g a te o f th e c e n ­
t r a l g o v e rn m e n t.
T h is p a r lia m e n t re -
e e lv e s th e o a th o f th e g o v e rn o r-g e n e ra l
to p re s e rx , f.. t h f u l l y th e lib e r tie s a n d
p r iv ile g e s o f th e c o lo n y , a n d to I t th e
c-i- r i a l s e c re ta rie s a re re s p o r s .b l- . I t has
th e r ig h t to p ro p o s e to th e c e n tr a l g o v ­
e r n m e n t. th r o u g h th e g o v e rn o r-g e n e ra l,
tn- lit. ..'.i : .-» o f a c h a r t - r an d to i n v i t e
new p r o je c ts o f la w o r e x e c u tiv e m e a s-
u re e tn th e In te re s t o f th e c o lo n y
Be-
s des its lo c a l p o w e rs , i t ts c o m p e te n t—
fir s t, to r« g u « a te e le c to ra l r e g is tr a t io n a n d
p ro c e d u re a n d p re s c rib e th e q u a lific a tio n s
o f e le c to rs a n d th e m a n n e r o f e x e rc s la g
s u ffr a g e , second, to o rg a n is e c o u rts o f
ju s tic e w it h n a tiv e ju d g e s fr o m m e m b e rs
o f th e lo c a l b a r ; th ir d , to f r a r f e th e in ­
s u la r b u d g e t, b o th as to e x p e n d itu re s a n d
re v e n u e s to m eet th e C u b a n s h a re o f th e
n a t.o n a l b u d g e t, w h ic h l a t t e r w i l l be v o te d
b y th e n a tio n a l c o n e s w it h th e a s s is t-
an«re. o f C u b a n s e n a to rs a n d d e p u tie s ;
f o u r t h , to in i t i a t e o r ta k e p a r t in th e ne­
g o tia tio n s o f th e n a tio n a l gov-, rn m e r.t
f o r «< m m e rc .a l tre a tie s w h ic h m a y a ffe c t
C u b a n l.ip -r e s * s ; f if t h , to a c c e p t o r re ­
je c t c o a u n e r c la l tr e a tie s w h ic h th e n a tio n ­
a l g« \e r r .m e n t tr.a y h a v e c o n c lu d e d w i t h ­
o u t th e p a r tic ip a tio n o f th e C u b a n g o v e r n ­
m e n t. s ix th , to fr a m e th e c o 'o m a l t a r i f f ,
a c tin g in a c c o rd w ; . h th e p e n in s u la r g o v ­
e r n m e n t in s c h e d u lin g a r tic le s o f m q u a )
c--rr.m e rce b e tw e e n th e m o th e r c o u n tr y
a n d th e c o lo n ie s
B e fo re in tr o d u c in g o r
v e tir .g u p o n a b ill th e C u b a n gov ra m e n t
o r th e c h a m b e rs w i l l la y th e p r o ie c t be­
fo re th e c e n tr a l g «»v « r a m e n t a n d h e a r Us
o p ir on th e r« o n . a ll th e c o rre s p o n d e n c e
tn s u c h r « g a rd b e in g m a d e p u b lic . F i ­
n a lly . a ll c o n flic t s o f ju r ia d lc t i. n a r is . r g
b e tw e e n th e d ’ ffe re rft m u n ic ip a l, p r o v n -
c ta l a n d in s u la r a s s e m b l es. o r b « tw e n
th e l a t t e r a r d th e in s u la r e x e c u tiv e p o w ­
e r ar.d w h ic h , fr o m t h e ir n a tu re , m a y
n o t be r e fe ra b le to th e c e n tr a l g o v e r n ­
m e n t f o r d e c is io n , s h a ll be s u b m itte d to
th e c o u rt* .
R e v o lt
W ill
* u « in
Re
k an n a .
T h a t th e g o v e rn m e n t o f S a g a s ta ha s e n ­
te re d u p o n a c o u rs e fr o m w h ic h re ce ssio n
w it h h o n o r ts im p o s s ib le , c a n h a r d ly be
q u e s tio n e d ; th a t in th e fe w w e< k» i t has
e x is te d i t h a s m a d e e a rn e s t o f th e s in ­
c e r it y o f i t * p ro fe s s io n s is u n d e n ia b le . I
s h a ll r.o t Im p u g n Its s in c e r ity , n o r s h o u d
im p a tie n c e be s u ffe re d to e m b a rra s s i t
in th e ta s k It h x s u n d e rta k e n . I t * h o n ­
e s tly «lue to S p a in a n d to o u r f r ie n d ly
re la tio n s w it h S p a in t h a t she s h o u ld be
g iv e n a re a s o n a b le c h a n c e to re a lis e h e r
e x p e c ta tio n s a n d to p ro v e th e a s s e rte d e f­
fic ie n c y o f th e new o r d e r o f th in g s to
w h ic h she s ta n d s ir r e v o c a b ly c o m m itte d
S he ha s r» -ailed th e CMinm ar.d r
b r u t a l o r d e rs In fla m e d th e A m m o n m nd
a r« l s h o c k e d th e c l v i ’ ix«d w o r l l . She has
m o d ifie d th e h o r r ib le o r d e r o f con c«n r a ­
tio n a n d has u n d e rta k e n th e c a re o f th e
h e lp le ss, a n d p e r m its th o s e w h o d e s ire to
re s u m e th e c u lt iv a t io n o f t h e ir fie ld s io
d o so a n d a s s u re s th e m o f th e p r o te c tio n
o f th e S p a n sh g o v e rn m e n t In t h e ir la w f u l
oc« u p a tio n s . S he h a s Just re le a s e d th e
C o m p e tito r
p ris o n e rs .
h e re to fo re
se n ­
t i need t o <i«ath. a n d w h o h a v e been th e
s u b je c t o f
repcat«-d d ip lo m a tic
corae-
sp o n d e n ce d u r i r g b o th th -s a n d th e p re -
c e d ln g
s«1 m in is tr a tio n .
N ot
a
s in g le
A m e r ic a n c ltix « n is now u n d e r a r re s t o r In
c o n fin e m e n t In C u b a o f w h o m th is g o v -
tr « .m e n t ha s a n y k n o w le d g e .
T h e n e a r f u t u r e v.-ill d e m o r.s tra 'e w h e t h ­
e r th e in d is p e n s a b le c o n d itio n o f a r ig h t -
cox« peace. Just a lik e to th e C u b a n s a n d
to S p a in , as w e ll as e q u ita b le to a ll o u r
In te re s ts
so in t im a t e ly In v o lv e d in th e
w e lfa r e o f C u b a , is to be a tta in e d . I f n o t.
th e e x ig e n c y o f f u r t h e r a n d o th e r a c tio n
b y th e U n ite d S ta te s w i l l re m » n to be
ta k e n . W h e n th a t tim e c o rn e a th a t a c ­
tio n w ill be d e te rm in e d In th e lin e o f tn -
d 's p u ta b ie r ig h t a n d d u ty . I t w ill be
fa c e d w ith o u t m is g iv in g o r h e s ita n c y , n
th e lig h t o f th e o b lig a tio n th is g o v e rn m e n t
o w e s to its e lf, to th e pe o p le w h o h a v e c o n -
fid« d to It th e p r o te c tio n o f t h e ir in te re s ts
a n d h o n o r, a n d to h u m a n ity .
W ill
In te r v e n e
W hen
> e e e » » a ry .
S u re o f th e r ig h t , k e e p in g fre e fr o m a ll
o ffe n s e o u rs e lv e s , a c tu a te d o n ly b y u p -
r .g h t a n d p a t r io t ic cons, d e ra tio n s , m o v e d
n e ith e r b y p a ssio n n o r s e lfish n e ss, th e
g o v e rn m e n t w ill o m t ln u e its w a tc h fu l
c a re o v e r th e r ig h ts a n d p r o p e r ty o f
A m e r ic a n c itiz e n s a n d w i l l a b a te n o n e o f
Its e ff o r ts to b r in g a b o u t b y p e a c e fu l
a g e n c ie s a peace w h ic h s h a ll ba h o n o ra b le
a n d e n d u rin g . I f i t s h a ll h e r e a fte r be a
d u ty im p o se d b y o u r o b lig a tio n s to o u r ­
selves. to c iv ilis a t io n a n d h u m a n ity to
in te r v e n e w ith fo rc e . I t s h a ll be w it h o u t
f a u l t on o u r p a r t, a n d o n ly be cause th e
n e c e s s ity f o r s u c h a c tio n w ill be so c le a r
an io c o m m a n d th e s u p p o r t a c d a p p r o v a l
of tlie civilised w orld.
A A M -lX tT IO A
I r« e »
(b e
OF
If A W M l.
h r n a le to A c c o m p iis b
I n iu n .
Ih e
B y a s p e c ia l m essage d a te d th e IC th d a y
o f Jun«- la s t, 1 ¡a id la -fo re th e senate o f
th e U n ite d S ta te s a tre a ty , s gned th a t d a y
b y th e p le n ip o te n tia r.» -» o f th e U n ite d
K ia t- s a n d o f th e r p u b lic o f H a w a ii, h a v ­
in g f o r it s p u rp o s e th e in c o r p o r a tio n o f
th e H a w a iia n is ia n d a as an .n te g ra l p a r t
o f tn e U n ite d S t a t e s a n d und«-r Its s o v ­
e r e ig n ty .
T h e s e n a te h a v in g re m o v e d
th e in ju n c tio n o f s e c re c y , a lth o u g h th e
t r e a ty is s t i l l p e n d in g b e fo re th a t b o d y ,
th e s u b je c t m a y lx? p r o p e r ly re fe rre d to
in th is rnessag«', as th e n e c e s s a ry a c tio n
o f co n g re s s is re q u ire d so d e te rm in e b y
D g ls la tio n m a n y d e ta .is o f th e e v e n tu a l
u n io n , » h o u ld th * fa c t o f a n n e x a tio n be
a c c o m p lis h « d , as I b e lie v e i t sn o u ld be.
W h ile c o n s .s te n tly d is a v o w in g fr o m a
v e r y e a r ly p e rio d a n y a g g r e s s iv e p o lic y
o f a b s o rp tio n in re g a rd to the H a w a iia n
g ro u p , a lo n g ser.«-s o f d is c u s s io n th r o u g h
th r e e - q u a r te r s o f a c e n tu r y
baa p r o -
c la im e d th«- v ita l In te re s t o f th e U n ite d
S ta te s in th e
in d e p e n d e n t lif e o f
th e
ie .a n d s a n d th e ir in tim a te c o m m e rc ia l de-
p e n d e n c y u p o n th .s c o u n tr y . A t th e sa m e
tim e i t ha s been re p e a te d ly asse rted th a t
in no e v e n t c o u ld th e e n t it y o f H a w a iia n
s ta te h o o d cease b y th e passage o f th e is -
la n d s u n d e r th e d o m in a tio n o r in flu e n c e o f
a n o th e r p o w e r th a n th e U n ite d H tatea.
U n d e r th e se c irc u m s ta n c e s th e lo g ic o f
e v e n ts r«-quir«-d th a t a n n e x a tio n , b e fo re
o ffe re d b u t d e c lin e d , s h o u ld , in th e rip e -
r- - o f t m e
« rr»«- a out as tn e n a tu r a l
r e s u lt o f s tre n g th e n in g th e tie s th a t b in d
ns t o th o se ta ia n d s a n d be re le a s e d b y th e
fre e w i l l o f th e H a w a - ia n s ta te .
T h a t t r e a t y w a s u n a n im o u s ly r a t i fled
w -ith o u t a m e n d m e n t b y th e se n a te a n d
p r e .d e n t o f th e re p u b lic o f H a w a ii on th e
10;h o f S e p te m b e r la s t, a n d o n ly a w a its
th e fa v o ra b le a c tio n o f th e A m e r ic a n sen­
a te to e ffe c t th e c o m p le te a b s o rp tio n o f tb e
is la n d s in t o th e d o m a in s o f ta e U n ite d
S ta te s . W h a t th«- c o n d itio n s o f au~h a
u n io n s h a ll be, th e p o lit ic a l re la tio n th e r e o f
to th e U n ite d S ta te s , th e c h a ra c te r o f th e
lo c a l a d m .n '.s tr a 'io n . th e q u a lity a n d de-
gTt «• o f th e e le c tiv e fra n c h .s e o t the ln -
h a b ira n ts , th e e x te n s io n o f th e fe d e ra l
la w * to th e t e r r i t o r y o r th e e n a c tm e n t o f
s p e c ia l la w s to f i t th e pe-eui-ar c o n d itio n
th« re o f. th e r e g u la tio n an d needs o f la b o r
th e re in , th e t r e a ty ha s w is e ly re le g a te d to
co n g re ss.
I f th e tr e a ty Is c o n firm e d , as e v e ry c o n -
s .d e ra tio R o f d ig n it y a n d h o n o r re q u .re s .
th e w jd o w i o f eo ngr«irs w ill see to i t th a t,
a v o l. ln g a b r u p t ass m .la rlo n o f e le m e n ts
t« -rh a p * h a r d ly y e t fitte d to « h a re In th e
h ig h e s t fr a n c h «es o f c itix e n s h .p , a n d h a v ­
in g d u e re g a rd to th e g e o g ra p h ic a l co n ­
d itio n s . tb e ju s t p r o v is io n * f o r s e lf- r u le
in lo c a l m a tte rs w .th th e la rg e s t p o litic a l
li b e r : ; s a * a n in te g r a l p a r t o f o u r n a tio n
w ill be a c c o rd e d to th e H a w a k a n s .
N o less is d u e to a pe o p le w n o a f t e r
n e a rly fiv e y e a rs o f d e m o n s tra te d c a p a c ity
to f u l f i l l th e o tM .g a tio n s o f a e .f-g o v e rn -
;n g s ta te h o o d , com e o f t h e ir fre e w t ll to
m e rg e t h e ir d e * :in.e s m o u r b o d y p o litic .
The
IM 'p o t e
W ith
J a paw .
T h e q u e s tio n s w h ic h h a v e a ris e n b e tw e e n
J a p a n a n d H a w a .i b y r a *o n o f th e tr e a t ­
m e n t o f Ja p a n e se la b o re rs e m ig r a tin g to
th e U«ands u n d e r th e H a w a n a a -J a p a n e s e
c o n v e n t.o n o f 1S8S, a re in a s a tis fa c to r y
s ta g e o f s e ttle m e n t b y n e g o tia tio n . T h is
g o v e rn m e n t has n o t b *en L n vitad to m e d i ­
a te . a n d oc th e o th e r h a n d ha s s o u g h t n o
In te rv e n tio n in th a t m a tte r f u r t h e r th a n
t o e v in c e it s k in d lie s t d is p o s itio n to w a r d
su ch a speedy a n d d ire c t a d ju s tm e n t be­
tw e e n th e tw o s o v e re ig n s ta te s tn in te re s t
as s h a ll c o m p o rt w it h e q u ity a n d h o n o r.
I t is g r a t if y in g to le a rn t h a t th e a p p re ­
h e nsions a t fir s t d is p la y e d o c th e p a r t o f
J a p a n le s t th e c e s s a tio n wf H a w a ii’s n a ­
tio n a l lif e th r o u g h a n n e x a tio n m ig h t .m -
p a .r h e r p r iv ile g e s , to w h ic h Ja;«an p ro p ­
e r ly la d c la im , h a ve g iv e n p la c e to u p -
n g h te o u s n e s s .n th e g« > veroro*tit a n d a in -
c » r .ty o f its p u rp o s e to d e a l w it h a ll t>ow-
s .b le u lt e r io r q u e s tio n s in th e broadeac
s p ir it o f fr.e n d tin e a s .
4EATRAL
A W F .R IC A A
STA TE«.
K e p r e a e a t a t l o a *>f O w r G o v e r a a i e w t
la (b e G r e a te r R e p a b lle .
A s to th e re p re s e n ta tiv e o f th«s g o v e ra -
m> n : to N ic a ra g u a . S a lv a d o r a n d C o s ta
R ic a . 1 h a v e c o n c lu le d th a t M r. W . lia m
L . M e r r y . c«vnfirm«d a * m in is te r o f th e
U n '.ed S ta te s to th e s ta te s o f N ic a ra g u a .
S a lv a d o r a n d C o s ta R.«?a. s h a ll pro ce e d
to S an Joae. C o s ta R ic a , a n d th e re te m p o ­
r a r i l y e s ta b lis h th e h e a d q u a rte rs o f tn e
U a .te d S ta te * to th o s e th re e s ta te * . 1
to o k th is a c tio n f o r w h a t 1 re g a rd e d as th e
p a ra m o u n t in te re s t« o f th is c o u n try . I t
w as d e ve lo p e d , u p o n an in v e s tig a tto a b y
th e s e c r e ta r y o f s ta te , th a t the g o v e rn m e n t
o f N ic a ra g u a , w h ile n o t u n w illin g to re ­
c e ive M r. M e r r y in h is d ip lo m a tic c a p a c -
i t y . w a s u n a t ie to d o so on a c c o u n t o t tn e
c o m p a c t co n c .u d e d J u n e Su. 1M6. w h e re b y
t h a t r e p u b lic a n d th o s e o f S a lv a d o r a n d
H o n d u ra s , fo r m in g w h a t ts k n o w n as th e
G r a te r R e p u b lic o f C e n tra l A m e ric a , ha d
s u rre n d e re d to th e
re p re s e n ta tiv e «liet
th e re o f t h e ir r ig h t to re c e iv e a n d send
d ip io ro a ttc a g e n ts . T h e d ie t w a s n o t w i l l ­
in g to a c c e p t h im because he w a s n o t a c ­
c re d ite d to t h a t b o d y . 1 c o u ld n o t a c ­
c r e d it h im to t h a f b o d y be cause th e a p p ro -
p ria tk v n la w o f co n g re s s «lid n o t p e rm it.
M r. B a k e r, th e p re s e n t m ;n .s te r a t M a n ­
a g u a . h a s been d ire c te d to p re s e n t
le tte rs o f re c a ll.
M r. G o d fre y H u n t e r has lik e w is e been
a c c re d ite d to th e g o v e rn m e n ts o f G a u te ­
rn a !a a n d H o n d u ra s , th e sam e as h:s p r e d -
eceasor. G u a te m a la is n o t a m e m b e r o f
th e G re a te r R e p u b lic o f C e n tra l A m e ric a ,
b u t H o n d u ra s s. S h o u ld th .s la t t e r g o v ­
e rn m e n t d e c lin e to re c e iv e h im . he na s
been In s tru c te d to re p o r t th is ta c t to h ia
g o v e rn m e n t a n d a w a it its f u r t h e r in s lro e -
tic r.s .
T b e M r a ra g a a ( a n a l.
A s u b je c t o f la rg e im p o rta n c e to o u r
c o u n tr y an d in c re a s in g a p p re c a ton o n th e
p a r t o f th e pe ople ts th e «.'om pietion o f th e
g r e a t h ig h w a y o f tra d e b e tw e e n th e A t ­
la n tic a n d P a c ific k n o w n as th e N ic a r a ­
g u a c a n a l. I t s v a lu e to A m e r ic a n c o m ­
m e rc e is u n iv t r s a lly a d m itte d . T h e c o m -
m ss.on a p p o m te d u n d e r d a te o f J u ly f t
la s t “ to c o n tin u e th e s u rv e y s a n d e x a m -
n a tio n s a u th o r iz e d b y th e a c t a p p ro v e d
M a rc h 2, 1SS5. in re g a rd to th e p ro p e r
ro u te , f e a s ib ilit y a n d c o s t o f c o n s tr u c ­
tio n o f th e X 'c a r « g u a c a n a l. * th a v ie w
o f m a k in g «complete p la n s f o r th e e n tire
w o r k o f c o n s tru c tio n o f s u c h c a n a l." is
n o w e m p lo y e d in th e u n d e rta k in g . I n th e
fu t u r e I s h a ll ta k e o c c a s io n to tr a n s m it
to co n g re ss the re p o rt o f t h is c o n m i's » ou.
m a k in g a t th e sam e tim e s u c h f u r t h e r
s u g g e s tio n s a» m a y th e n seem a d v is a b le .
THE
B IM E T A L L IC
C O M M IS S I O N .
F a i l u r e o f ( b e M i a a l o a o f ( b e S p e e la .1
S ilv e r E n v o y * .
U n d e r tb e p r o v is io n s o f th e a c t o f c o n ­
g re s s a p p ro v e d M a rc h 3. 1897. f o r th e p r o ­
m o tio n o f a n in te r n a t io n a l u g re e m e n t r e ­
s p e c tin g b lm e ta lis m .
1 a p p o in te d ,
on
A p r i l 14. 1897. H o n . E d w a r d O. W o lc o tt,
o f C o lo ra d o : H o n . A d la i E . 8tevens<>n. o f
I llin o is , a n d H o n . C h a rle s J . P a y n e ,
o f M a s s a c h u s e tts , as s p e c ia l e n v o y s to
re p re s e n t th e U n ite d S ta te s . T h e y h a v e
b«>en d ilig e n t in t h e ir e ff o r t to se cu re th e
c o n c u rre n c e a n d c o - o p e r a tio n o f E u r o ­
p e a n c o u n trie s in th e in te r n a t io n a l s e t­
tle m e n t o f th e q u e s tio n , b u t u p to th is
tim e b a v e n o t been a b le to s e c u re a n
a g re e m e n t c o n te m p la te d b y t h e ir m is s io n
T h e g r a t i f y i n g a c tio n o f o u r g r e a t s is ­
te r r e p u b lic o f F r a n c e in jo in in g th is
c o u n tr y in th e a tt e m p t to b r in g a b o u t th e
a g re e m e n t b e tw e e n th e p r in c ip a l
com ­
m e r c ia l n a tio n s o f E u ro p e ,
w h e re b y a
fix e d a n d r e la tiv e v a lu e b e tw e e n g o ld a n d
s ilv e r s h a ll be se cu re d , fu r n is h e s a s s u r­
a n ce t h a t w e a re n o t a lo n a a m o n g th s
la r g e r n a tio n s o f th e w o r ld In r e a liz in g