Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-12-01
CUBA.

of the Cuba insurgents as 0elllgerenUs
Nov. q two meetings we're held IL
New York, addressed by promlnen
Americans. The speakers urged inter
vention by our government but op
posed annexation by force. They IA
yOred aiding the Cubdns to secure free
dom from Spanish cOntrOl,and then II
they wished to become part of the
American Republic TO treat them as
equals. One speaker went so far:if the
Cubans wanted to purchase their free
dom of Spain, the United States
should guarantee the bonds they will
need To issue TO borrow the money
The war debt is said TO be $500, ,OOO.OOC
and is costing Sl2,000,0J0 month to
carry on the war. This would have to
be made good TO Spain il Cuba went
free But it will cost Spain a great
deal more to conquer Cuba and hold
the islands by armed force. The sue
cess of Spain means very heavy taxes
for generations to come aud almost
complete extintion of commercial
and political freedom.
November 10 Manuel Coronado, edi-
tor of a patriotic paper at Havana,
reached New York with important
news, to the effect that Spain would
soon be forced to withdraw her troops
from lack of funds. He says the
whole country, Spanish and Cubans,
want peace and independence. 1t is
not likely that Spain will abandon the
Cuban war from lack of funds, as the
bank of Spain has just received $780,
600, 600 on a new war loan. The Span
ish in Cuba have made silver standard
money and all duties and taxes are
collected in silver.
The freedom of Cuba can only come
about by purchase or conquest of their
liberty. The longer they fight the
more impossible will become the hope
OF being able to buy their freedom.
The island is only as large as the
state of Indiana, and has about l,6OO,-
600 population. They could never
borrow the money to pay the claim
Spain will make or that would be
awarded to Spain by arbitration, if an
armistice could be obtained for that
purpose, unless some stronger nation
would guarantee them, as has been
suggested our country shall do. Cuba
would be cheap at fifty times the price
we paid for Alaska. That would be
$3.50, ,000, 900.
The insurgents have started a sec
ond time to invade the territory held
by the royal Spanish forces. Their
object is to unite the armies of Maceo
and Gomez, in all $1,000 men, and
force Weyler to evacuate Havana. 1t
is estimated that in case of war be-
tween Spain and our country the for
titled capital would fall in two
months. The insurgents expect to
drive the Spanish out of there in
eight months.
Nov. 25 VIM Brown, an EnglIshman
who has been imprisoned in Cuba,
arrived in New York and declares
Cuba is now lost to Spain and can
meyer be regained.
President Clevel and's message to
congress Dec.7may mark change of
policy toward Cuba on the part of.our
country. 1t will be looked for with
great interest. Whether the presi-
dent advocates intervention or not
all must admit that our country could
exercise decisive influence on the
result in Cuba. Americans caught in
Cuba after recognition of the insur-
gents as beligerents would have to be
treated as prisoners of war, and it is
believed Cuba would gain her reform
within three months after such a
declaration. Spain would sell Cuba
before she would risk war with a
first class power
At Chicago November q, an offer
was made to raise 10000 men in "a
hours to 90 to the relief OF Cuba.
There is little doubt that aihalf-mil.
lion volunteers could be raised In the
United States in 80 days to free Cuba
November 25. General Maceo sends
word to friends in the United States
1--WE have withstoo1 the enemy in
many encounters and are prepared
for any move he may make. We have
rendered him much injury and will
be able to withstand any attack he
may make for some time to come
The cause of liberty will not suffer in
Pinar Del Rio"
Senator Lindsay Of Kentucky says
congress will act to bring the Cuban
war to an end, II Mr.. Cleveland does
not. Burning the American flag at
Valencia and stoning the American
consulate atBarcelona acts for which
no reparation has been had. He says
Tor 20 years our country has stood by
Spain In her right TO hold that island
but the time has come TO insist Spain
shall not annihilate the Cubans In