Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-12-19

lllllthIpit III lntJI JtSplNt Dpl ~ SUI
cumb, without practically securing the
great object for which they took up
arms. If Spain has not re-established
her authority, neither have the insur-
gents yet made good their title to be
regarded as an independent state. In
deed, as the contest has gone on, the
pretense that civil government exists
on the island, except as far as Spain is
able to maintain it, has been practically
abandoned. Spain does keep OH foot
such a government, more or less imper-
fectly, in the large towns II their i'm
mediate suburbs. But, that exception
being made, the entire country is either
given over to anarchy or Is subject 10
the military occupation of one or the
other. 1t Is reported indeed on reliable
authority, that at the demand of the
commander in chief of the insurgents
army, the putative Cuban government
has given up all attempts to exer-
else its functions, leaving the govern
, ment confessedly (what there is the
best reason for %supposing il always TO
have been in facD a government mere
~ ON paper. Were the Spanish able to
meet their antagonists in the open or in
pitched battle, prompt and decisive re-
suits may be ooked for and the inn
mense superiority of the Spanish forces
in numbers, discipline and equipment
could hardly wait to look TO their ad-
Vantages. But they are called upon
to face a foe that shuns general engage
ment, that can choose and does choose
its own ground, that from the nature
of the country is visible or invisible at
pleasure, and that fights only from am
buscade, and when all the advantages
Of position and numbers are on its side.
In a country where all that IS indispen-
sible TO life in the a of food, clothing
and shelter is so easily obtaineable,
especially by those born and bred on
the soil, it is obvious hat there is
hardly a limit to the time during which
hostilities of this sort may be pro-
longed. Meanwhile in all cases of pro-
tracted civil strife, the passions of the
combatants grow more and more in
famed and excuses on both sides be-
come more frequent and more deplora-
bile.
They are also participated in by
and of marauders who, now In the
name of one party and now in the name
of the other, as may best suit the oc-
casion, harass the country at Will and
plumber its wretched inhabitants for
their own advantage. Such a condition
of things would inevitably entail inn
mense destruction of property even II
it were the policy of both parties to
prevent it as far as practicable. But
while such seemed to be the original
policy of the Spanish government, 1t
has now apparently abandoned il and is
acting upon the same theory as he in
surgents, namely that the exigencies of
the contest require the wholesale ami
hilation of property that 1t may not
prove of any use and advantage to the
enemy. Ii is to the same end that in
pursuance of general orders Spanish
g~arrisons are now being Withdrawn
from plantations and the rural popula-
ton required to concentrate itself in
the towns. The sure result would seem
to be that the industries of the land are
fast diminishing and unless there is
speedy and radical change in existing
conditions, it will soon disappear all
together. That value consists very
largely, of course, in its capacity to
produce sugar a capacity also already
much reduced by the interruption to
tillage, which ave taken place during
the past two years. 1t is reliably assert
ed hat hould these Interruptions on
tinue during the current year, and
practically extend, as is now threat
ened, to the 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 1t is extremely doubtful if capital
can be induced to even make the at
tempt. The spectacle of the utter ruin
of an adjoining country, by nature one
of the most fertile and charming of the
whole globe would engage the serious
attention of the government and the
people of the United States in any cir
cumstances, In point of fact they have
a concern with it which is by no means
OF a wholly sentimental or philanthropy
ic character. 1t lies so near to us as to
be hardly separated from our territory.
Our actual pecuniary interests in 1t
is second only to that of the of the peo-
pie Of Spain. 1t is reasonably estimated
that at least from $50, 600, 900 to $50, O00,-
600 Of our capital are invested in plan
tations n in railroads. mining and
other business enterprises or the is
land. The volume Of trade between the
United States ne Cuba which in 1889
amounted to about $64, 600, 900, rose in
1898 about $40. 300. 900. and in 1894, he
year before the present insurrection
broke out, amounted to over 500, 900, 900,
Besides this large pecuniary stake 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 purchase and shipment of arms,
by the raising of funds and by other
means, which the spirit Of our institu-
lions and the tenor of our laws do not
permit to be made the subject of GRIM
inal prosecution. Some of them, though
Cubans at heart and in all their feel
ings and interests, have taken out pa
pers as naturalized citizens Of the Unit
ed States, a proceeding resorted to with
a view to possible protection by this
government and not unnaturally re-
garded with much indignation by the
country of their origin.
The insurgents are undoubtedly en-
couraged n supported by the wide
spread sympathy, the people of this
country always and inst.nctively feel
for every struggle for better n freer
government and which In the case of
the more adventurous and restless ele-
ments Of our population means in only
instances to active and personal par
ticipation In the contest.
The result Is that this government 10
constantly called upon to protect Amer
lean citizens to claim damages for In
juries to person and property now esti-
mated at many millions Of dollars and
to ask explanations n apologies for
the acts Of Spanish officials whose zeal
for the repression Of rebellion some
times blinds them to the immunities be-
longing to the ~unoffending citizens "
a friendly power. 1t follows from the
same causes that the United States In
compelled to actively police a long line
Of sea coast against unlawful expedi-
lions, h escape OF which the utmost
vigilance will not always suffice to pre-
vent. These inevitable entanglements
OF the United States n the rebellion
In Cuba. the large American property
interests affected and considerations Of
philanthropy n humanity In general.
have led TO vehement demand In vari-
Gus quarters for some sort OF positive
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