Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08


is by no means of wholly sentimental
or philanthropic character. 1t lies SO
near to us as to be hardly separated
from our territory. 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
$50, ,000, 900 to $50, 100000 or American cap
ital are invested I'M plantations and in
railroads, mining and other business en-
terprises on the island The volume of
trade between the United States and
Cuba, which in 1889 amounted to about
$64, ,000, 600, rose in 1893 to about $103, ,00o,
600, and in 1894, the year before the pres
ent inSurrection broke out, amounted to
nearly sec, 600, 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.
AMERICAN SYMPATHY.
Many Cubans reside in this country and
indirectly promote the insurrection
through the press by the public meetings,
by the purchase and shipment of arms,
by the raising of funds and by other
means which the spirit of our institu-
tions and the tenor of our laws do not
permit to be made the subject of criminal
prosecutions. Some or them, though
Cubans at heart and in all their feelings
and interests, have taken out papers as
naturaliZed citizens of the United States,
a proceeding resorted to with a view to
possible protection by this government
and not unna aturally regarded with much
indignation by the country of their origin,
the insurgents are undoubtedly encourag-
ed and supported by the widespread SYM
pathy. The people of this country al
ways and instinctively feel for every
struggle for better and freer government
and which in the case of the more ad-
venturous and restless elements of our
populations leads in only too many in
stances to active participation in the
contest with the result that this govern
ment is constantly called upon to protect
American citizens, to claim damages for
injuries to persons and property now es-
timated al many millions of dollars, and
to ask explanations and apologies for the
acts of Spanish officials whose zeal for
the repression of the rebellion sometimes
blinds them to immunities belonging to
the unoffsnding citizens of a friendly
power
THE VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS.
1t follows from the same causes that
the United States is compelled to ac-
lively police a long line of sea coast
against unlawful expeditions, the es-
cape of which the utmost vigilance will
not always suffice to prevent. This in
evitably entangles the United States
with the rebellion in Cuba. The large
American property interests affected
and considerations of philanthropy and
humanity in general have led to vehe-
ment 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 accorded to the insurgents, a
proposition no longer urged, because it
would be an untimely and impractical
operation clearly perilous and injurious
to our own interests.
1t has since been and Is now some
times contended that the independence
of the insurgents should be recognized,
but imperfect and restricted as the
Spanish government of the island may
be- no other exists, unless the will of the
military officer in temporary command
of a particular district can be dignifed
as a species of government.
1t is now also suggested that the
United States should buy the island, a
suggestion possibly worthy of consldera-
ton If there were any evidence of a de-
sire or willingness on the part of Spain
to entertain such proposal. 1t is urged.
finally, that all other methods failing
the existing internecine strife in Cuba
should be terminated by our Intervention,
even at the cost of war between the
United States and Spain, a war which
it's advocates confidently prophecy would
neither be large in its proportions nor
doubtful in its issue. The correctness of
this forecast need be neither affirmed nor
denied. saa,445s--
OUR COURSE.
The United States has nevertheless a
character to maintain as nation, which
plainly dictates that right and not might
should be the rule of its conduct. But
there is the further thought that the
United States is not a nation to which
peace is a necessity. 1t Is in truth the
most pacific of powers, and there is moth
ing so much desired as to live in amity
with all the world It's own am
pie and diversified domains sat
isfy all possible longings for ter
ritory, preclude all dreams of con-
quest, and prevent any casting of COW
etous eyes upon neighboring regions,
however attractive. That our conduct
towards Spain and her dominions has
constituted no exception to this national
disposition is made manifest by the
course of our government, not only thus
far during the present. .insurrection, but
during the ten years that followed the
uprising in Cuba 1868. No other great
power, it may safely be said under cir
cumstances of similar perplexity would
have manifested the same restraint and
the same patient endurance.
REGARD FOR SPAIN.
It may also be said that this persistent
attitude of the United States towards
Spain in connection with Cuba unques-
tionably evinces no slight respect and re-
gard for Spain on the part of the Amer
lean people. They in truth do not for
get her connection with the discovery of
the Western Hemisphere, nor do they un-
derestimate the great qualities OF the
Spanish people, nor fail to fully recognize
their splendid patriotism and their chiv-
alrous devotion to the national honor.
They view with wonder and admiration
the cheerful resolution with which vast
bodies of men are sent across thousands
of miles of ocean and an enormous debt
accumulated, that the costly possession
of the gem of the Antilles may still hold
its place in the Spanish crown.
REFORM IN CUBA.
And yet neither the government nor
the people of the United States have shut
their eyes to the course of events In
Cuba, or have. failed to realize the exist
ence of conceded grievances, which have
led to the present revolt from the au-
thority of Spain, grievances recognized
by the queen regent and by the cortes,
voiced by the most patriotic and enlight-
ened of Spanish statesmen, without re-
gard to party, and demonstrated by re-
forms by the executive and approved by
the legislative branch of the Spanish
government. 1t is in the assumed tenn
per and disposition of the Spanish gov
ernment to remedy these grievances for
titled by indications of influential pub
lie opinion in Spain, that this govern
ment has hoped to discover the. most