Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-12-12

! time during the current year. and prac-
| tically extend, as is now threatened 10
the entire sugar production territory OF
the island, so much time and SO much
money will be required to restore the
land to it's normal productiveness that IL
Is extremely doubtful that the people can
be induced to even make the attempt
OF Great Concern to Us.
The sDectacla OF the utter ruin of an
adjoining country, by nature one Oh the
most fertile and charming on the Whole
Globe would engage the serious attention
Of the government and the people or the
United States in any circumstances. In
point of fact, they have concern with II
which is by no means of a wholly sem
timental character It lies so near to us
as to be only partly separated from our
territory. Our actual pecuniary interest
in it is second only to that Of the people
and government of Spain 1t is reason
ably estimated that at least from thirty
to fifty million dollars Of American cap
ital are invested in plantations and rail-
reading, mining and other business enter
nrises on the island. The volume OF trade
between the United States and Cuba,
which in 1889 amounted to about S64, OOO,
rose in 1896 to about 103000,0OO, and in 1894,
the year before the present instruction
broke out, amounted to nearly $4,000 OOO.
Involved IN other Ways.
the fortunes of Cuba, the United States
finds itself inextricably involved in the
present contest in other ways, both veX-
atious and costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country and
indirectly promote the instruction by
public meetings, by the purchase ana
shipment of arms, and by other means
which the spirit of our institutions and
the tenor of our laws do not permit, and
made these the subjects Of criminal pros
ecution. Some of them, thoroughly Gu
bans at heart and in all their feelings and
interests have taken out papers and are
naturalized citizens of the United States,
a proceeding resorted to with view to
possible protection by this government,
and not unnecessarily regarded with
much indignation by the country Of their
origin.
The insurgents are undoubtedly encour-
aged and supported by the widespread
sympathy the people Of this country al
ways and instinctively feel in their strug-
gle for better government, and which In
the case of the adventurous elements
Of it's population leans in only too many
instances to active participation In tn"
contest. The result is that the government
is constantly called upon TO protect Amer
lean citizens to claim damages for In
turies to person and property, now esti-
mated at many millions of dollars, and
acts of Spanish officials whose zeal for
the repression of the rebellion sometimes
blinds them to the immunities belonging
to the unoffending citizens Of a friendly
power.
On FiIibustering.
It follows from the same causes that
the United States Is compelled to an act
i've policy along the line Of sea coast
against unlawful expeditions, the escape
of which the utmost vigilance will not
always suffice to prevent. These inevi-
table entanglements of the United States
with the rebellion in Cuba, the large
American property affected, and consid
erations of philanthropy and with hu-
mainly in general, have led to a vehement
demand in various quarters for some sort
of positive intervention on the part Of the
United States.
Can't Recognize BeIIigerency.
1t was at first proposed that belllger-
ent rights should be accorded the m
surgents, proposition no longer weighed
because untimely and impracticable, an
operation clearly perilous and injurious to
our interests. 1t has since been and Is
now sometimes contended that the indie
pendence of the insurgents should be
recognized, but imperfect and restricted
as the Spanish government of the island
may be- no other exists there unless the
will Of the military officer in temporary
| command of the insurgents can be dig
! nified as a species of government. 1t Is
Now also suggested that the United States
should buy the island, a suggestion pos
| sibly worthy of consideration if there were
any evidences Of a desire or willingness
on the part of Spain to entertain such
proposal 1t Is urged, finally, that all
other methods failing, the existing inter
necne strife In Cuba should be terminal
ed by our Intervention. even at the cost
! of war between the United States and
Spain-a war which its advocates conf
IDENTIFY prophesy could neither be large In
it's proportions nor doubtful in its issue.
The correctness of this forecast need be
neither affirmed nor denied. The United
! States has. nevertheless. q character to