The Dickinson press., 1896-12-12

their antagonists In the open or in pitched
battle. prompt and decisive results might
be looked for. and the immense superiority
OF the Spanish forces In numbers, diSci
pline and equipment could hardly fail to tell
greatly to their advantage. But they are
called upon to face foe that shuns general
engagements. and that can choose. aud doee
choose. its own ground, that, from this
nature Of the country is visible or invisible
at pleasure. and that fights only from ami
buscade and when all the advantages Of po-
sitton antl numbers are on its side. In
ctElntey where all that Is indispensable to
life In the way Of food, clothing and shell
ter is So easily obtainable, especially by
those born and bred on the soil, 1t Is obvi-
Gus that there is hardly limit to the time
prolonged. Meanwhile. az in all cases Of
DrOtractel civil strife, the passions OF the
com0Atants grow more arid more Inflamed,
and excess on both sides becomes more fire.
quent and dep.orahlc. They are also par
ticipated in by bands OF marautlers, who
now in the name Of one party and now III
the n:.n Of the other, as may best suit tho
occasion. harry the country at will and
plun,lcr ils wretched Inhabitants for their
own advantage. Such a condition Of things
would inevitably entail immense destruction
Of property. even II 1t were the policy Of
both parties to prevent 1t as fur as prac-
ticablc. But. while such seems to be the
original policy Of the Spanish government.
1t has now. apparently. abandoned 1t. and
Is acting upon the same theory IA the in
surgents. namely. that the cxigencies OF
the contest require the wholesale annihiln.
tlon Of property, that 1t may not prove Of
Use and advantage to the enemy.
1t is to the same end. and in Pursuance
of general orders, that Spanish garrsOns
are now being withdrawn from planta-
tions and the rural population required to
concentrate itself in the towns. The sure
result would seem to be that the industrial
value Of the island Is fast diminiahing, and
that, unless there Is speedy and radical
change in existing conditions. it will soon
disappear altogether. That value consists
veY' largely, OF course In its capacity to
produce sugar, capacity already much re.
ducesl by the Interruptions to the tillage
which have taken place during the last two
years. 1t Is reliably asserted that. should
these interruptions continue during the
current year. and practically extend. as is
| now threatened, to the entire sugar-prO'iuc.
ing territory Of the island. SO much time
and so much money will be required to re-
store the island to its normal productive
ness, that 1t Is extremely doubtful II capi-
tai can he induced to even make the at
tempt. The spectacle OF the utter ruin OF
| an adjoining country, by nature one Of the
| would engage the serious attention OF the
government and the people Of the United
States under any circumstances. In point
of fact, they have concern with 1t which
Is by no means Of a wholly sentimental or
ph!anthrOpic character. 1t lies so near to
ils as to be hardly separatetl from our ter.
ritory. Our actual pecuniary interest In 1t
Is only second to that of the people and
| government Of SPAIN 1t is reasonably esti.
| mated that at least from $50, 100000 to
| sc, ,OOO, 600 Of American capital are invested
! in plantations. and In railrond, mining and
| other business enterprises in the island.
| The volume Of trade between the United
| States and Cuba. which In 1889 amounted
| to about $S0O0O.UO0 rose In 1893 to about
| $103, 900, and In 1894, the year before
the present insurrectiOn broke out. amount
| cd to nearly $!M,OGO.OtW Besides this large
pecuniary stake in the fortunes Of Cuba,
the United States finds Itself
in"xtrtcabIH Involved
In the present contest In other ways both
vexatious and costly. Many Cnbans reside
In this country, and indirectly promote the
insurrectiOn throughout the press, by pub
lie meetings, by the purchase and shipment
| OF arms, by the raising OF funds, and by
other means, which the spirit OF our In.
stitutions and the tenor of our laws do not
permit to be made the subject of criminal
prosecution. Some OF them. though Cubans
ut heart and In all their feelings and inter.
ests. have taken out papers OF naturnlized
citizens OF the United States, proceeding
res0rted to with view to possible prOtec.
tion by this government, and not unnatnr.
ally regarded with much indignation by Il G
| country OF their origin. The insurgents are
undoubtedly encouraged and supported Ey
the widespread sympathy the people OF this
country always and fnstinctively felt fol
| every struggle for bettcr and freer govern.
ment, and which In the case OF the more
adventurous and restless elements Of oul
population leads lii only too many instances
| to active participation in the contest. The
result is that this government is constantly
called upon to protect American citizens
to claim damages for injuries to persons
and property now estimated Mt many mil
| lions OF dollars, and to ask explanations
and apologies for the acts OF Spanish Of
ficials whose zeal for sile repression Of the
rebellion sometimes blinds them to the i'm
munities belonging to the unoffendng cit.
izens Of friendly power. 1t follows from
the same causes that the United States Is
compelled to actively police long line OF
sea coast against unlawful expeditions. tho
escape of which the utmost vigilance will
not always suffice to prevent.
These invariable entanglements Of tho
United States with the rebellion IN Cuba
the large American property interests af
fecteG, and considerations of philanthrOphy
and humanity In general, have ie.l to !;
| vehement demand In various quarters, for
some sort Of positive intervention on the
part of the United States. 1t was ut first
| proposed that belIigerent rights should be
| accorded to the insurgents-a propositior
| no longer urged because untimely and IN
practical operation clearly perilous and In
| furious to our own interest II has sine,
| been and is now sometimes contcnded tina,
the indeDendence OF the Insurgents should
| he recoynized But ,mncrfect and rest rictp,
as tho Spanish government Of the island
NAV he. no other cxist there-unless IN viii
| Of tho military officer In temnororv con
mad Of particular district. can be dig
nneu n, as slcs ,, ., ~, sogs T,.n, ~ % nov
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, opa, a,au.. .sa SUI" ,,, pfoposaii ,., =.
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