The McCook tribune., 1896-12-18

Ycction seems but to strengthen with the
lapse of time. and is evidenced by her mn
hesitating devotion of largely Increased
military and naval forces to the task. there
is much reason to believe that the insur-
gents have gained IN point of numbers and
character and resources. and are none the
less infcxible in their resolve not 10 succumb
without practically securing the great pro-
1ccts for which they took up arms. II Spain
has not vet re-establshed her authority.
neither have the insurgents yet made good
their title to be regarded as an independent
state Indeed. as the contest has gone on,
the pretense that civil government exists on
the island. except so far as Spain is able to
maintain It, las been practically abandoned
Spain does keep on foot such govern
ment, more or less imperfectly in the large
towns and their immediate suburbs But
that exception being made, the entire coun-
try is either given over to anarchy or is
subject to the military occupation of one or
the other party. II is reported. indeed, on
reliable authority that. at the demand OF
the commander-in-chief of the insurgent
army, the putative Cuban government has
now given up all attempt to exercise its
functions, leaving that government confess
sedly (what there is the best reason for sup
posing IL always to have been in fact) gov
ernment merely on paper.
Were the Spanish armies able to meet
their antagonists in the open, or in pitched
Udlllt, anu uCSlSlFC Oo
looked for, and the immense superiority OF
the Spanish forces in numbers, discipline
and equipment could hardly fail to tell
greatly to their advantage. But they are
called upon to face a foe that shuns general
engagements that can choose and doe.
choose its own ground, that from the nature
of the country Is visible or invisible al
pleasure and that fights only from am
buscaGe and when all the advantages of po-
siti0u 1heTS its side n
country where all that is indispensable to
life in the way of food, clothing and shelter
is 50 easily obtainable especially by those
born and bred on the soil, it is obvious that
there is hardly limit to the time during
which hostilities of this sort may be pro-
longed. Meanwhile as in all cases of pro-
tracted civil strife, the passions of the COM
batants grow more and more intiamed and
eXcesses on both sides are more frequent
and more deplorable
They also are participated in by bands OF
marauderS, VINO, now in the name of one
party and now in the name of the other, as
may best suit the occasion, haraSS the coun-
try at will and plunder its wretChed inhab-
itantS for their own advantage. Such a
condition of things would inevitably entail
immense destruction of property even if il
were the policy of both parties to prevent il
as far as practicable. But while such
seemed to be the original policy of the Span
abandoned it, and is acting upon the same
theory as the insurgents, namely that the
eyigencies of the contest require the whole
sale humiliation of property, that it may
not prove of use and advantage to the enc
my. 1t is TO the same end that in pursuance
of general orders, Spanish garrisons are
now being withdrawn from plantations and
the rural population req qnired to concentrate
itself in the towns.
The sure result would seem to be that the
industrial value of the island is fast dimin-
ishing and that unless there is speedy and
radical change in existing conditions, it will
soon disappear altogether That value con-
SistS very largely, of course in its capacity
to produce sugars-a capacity already much
reduced by Interruptions to tillage which
have taken place during the last two years.
1t is reliably asserted that should these in
terruptions continue during the current
year. and practically extend, as is now
threatened, to the entire sugar producing
territory of the island, SO much time and so
much money will be required to restore the
land to its normal productivenesS that it is
extremely doubtful if capital can be induced
to even make the attempt.
The spectacle of the utter ruin of an ad-
joining country by nature, one of the most
fertile and charming on the globe would
engage the serious attention of the govern
ment and people of the United States under
any circumstances In point of fact they
have 4 concern with it which is by no means
of a wholly sentimental or philanthropiC
character. It lies so near to US as to be
hardly separated from cur country. Our
actual pecuniary interest in it is second
only to that of the people and government
of Spain. 1t is reasonably estimated that
at least from S30,000,O00 to $50 000, 90 of
capital is invested in plantations, in rail-
road mining and other business enter
prises on the island. The volume of trade
between the United States and Cuba, which
in 1889 amounted to about S64 100000, rose
in 1898 to about S103 900 900, and in 1894,
the year before present insurrection broke
out, amounted to nearly see 000 900. Be-
sides this large pecuniary interest Staked in
the fortunes of Cuba, the United States finds
itself ineXtricably involved in the present
contest in other ways both veXatiouS and
costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country, and
indirectly promote the insurreCtion through
the press by public meetings, by the pur-
chase and shipment of arms by the raising
of funds and by other means which the
spirit of our institutions and the tenor of
our laws do not permit to be made the sub
jeC- of criminal prosecution. Some OF them,
though Cubans at heart and in all their feel
ings and interests, have taken out papers as
naturalized citizens of the United States,
proceeding reSorted to with a view to pos
siDle protection by this government. and
not unnaturally regarded with much indig-
nation by the country of their origin. The
insurgents are undoubtedly encouraged and
supported by the widespread sympathy of
the people of this country always instinct
lively felt for every struggle for better and
freer government, and which in the case of
the more adventurous and restless elements
of our population, leads in only too many
instances to active and personal participa-
ton in the contest.
The result is that this government is con-
stantly called upon to protect American cit
iZens to claim damages for injuries to per-
sons and property, now estimated at many
millions of dollars, and to ask explanations
and apologies for the acts or Spanish Off
cials whose zeal for the repression of rebel
lion sentiments blinds them to the immun-
tiles belonging to the unoffending citizens
of friendly power.
1t follows from the same causes that the
United States is compelled to actively police
a long line of sea coast against unlawful ex-
petitions the escape of which the utmost
vigilance will not ALWAYS suffice to prevent
These inevitable entanglements of the
United States with the rebellion in Cuba
the large American property interests af-
fected and considerations of philanthropy
and humanity in general, have led to We
hement demand in various quarters for
some sort of positive Intervention on the
part of the United States. 1t was at first
proposed that belligerent rights should be