The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-08

Christian world for its corrective treat
meht Will remain unanswered.
PERPLEXING CUBA.
The insurrection In Cuba still con-
tinues with all It's perpleXlties. 1t Is
difficult TO perceive that any progress
has thus far been made towards the
paciiicaiion of the Island or that the
situation of affairs, as depicted In my
last annual message, has in the least
improved. If Spain still holds Havana
and the Seaports and all the considera-
bic towns the insurgents still roam at
Will over at least two-thlrds of the in
land country. If the determination OF
Spain to put down the insurrection
seems but TO strengthen with the lapse
of time, and is evinced by her unhesi-
tating devotion of largely increased mill
tary and naval forces to the task, there
Is much reason to believe that the in
surgents have gained in point of num-
bers and character and resources, and
none the less inflexible in their resolve
not to succumb. without practically Sc
curing the great objects for which they
took up arms. If Spain has not yet
re-establiShed her authority, neither
have the insurgents yet made good
their title to be regarded as an indepen-
dent state. y
;ANARCHY'Is = - syssatSA,ar.
Indeed. as the contest has gone on.
the pretense that civil government ex-
lists on the Island. except so far as
Spain is able to maintain 1t, has been
practically abandoned. Spain does
Keep on foot such a Government, 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. 1t is reported,
indeed, on reliable authority that at the
A nd Nf 4
the insurSent army, the putative Cuban
government has now given up all at
tempt to exercise its functions, leaving
mat Government confessedly (what
there is the best reason for supposing
IL always to have been in facU Gov
ernment merely OH paper. Were the
spanish armies able TO meet their an
tagonists in the open, or In pitched bat
tle prompt and decisive results might
be looked for, and the immense super
iority of the Spanish forces i'm numbers.
Hlscipiine and equipment could hardly
tall to tell greatly To their advantage
iiut they are called upon to force foe
mat shuns general engagements, that
can choose and does choose it's own
ground. that from the nature of the
country Is visible or invisible at pleas
urc, and that fights only from anibus-
cade ana when all the advantages of
position and numbers are on its side
In country where all that is indis-
pcnsable, especially by those born and
bred on the soil, ii is obvious that there
Is hardly a limit to the time during
which hostlities OF this sort NAV he
prolonged. Meanwhile, as In all cases
of protracted civil strife, the passions
OF the combatants grow more and more
inilamed and eXcesscs on both sides be-
come more frequent and more dcplora-
Bile.
They are also participated In by bands
hA tn, 4, la g
one party and now in the name of the
other. as may best suit the occa sion
marry the country AT will and plunder
lis wretched inhabitants for their own
advantage. Such a condition OF things
would inevitably entail immense de-
struction of property. even if it We're
the policy OF both parties to prevent it
as iar as practicable. But while such
seemed to be the original policy of the
spanish Government 1t has now appar-
emily abandoned II. and Is acting upon
the same theory as the insurgents,
namely. that the cxigences OF the con-
test require the wholesale annihilation
or property, that II may not prove of
use and advantage to the enemy.
UTTER DESTRUCTION.
1t Is to the same end that in pursuance
or general orders Spanish garrisons are
now being withdrawn from plantations
and the rural population required 10
concentrate Itself in the towns The
sure result would seem 10 be that the in
dustrial value of the island is fast dimin-
i;h!ng. and that unless there Is a speedy
and radical change in eXistir & nd .t.ons
II VIII soon disappear al;oge ther. That
value consists very largely. Of course,
In Its capacity 10 produce sugar-a ca
pacity already much reduced by the In
terrupt!ons to tillage. which have taken
place during the last two years. 1t Is
reliably asserted that should these in
;erruptions continue during the current
year and practically extend, as H. now
IN eatened, to the ey tire sugar produc .rg
territory OF the Island. so much time
and so much money will he required 10
restore the land TO It's normal produc-
t!vcness that /: Is extremely doubtful
If capital can be induced TO even make
the attempt.
The spectacle of the utter ruin of an
adjoining country. by nature one of the
most fertile and charming on the globe,