Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-12-12

| practically extend as is now threatened, to the
entire. sugar producing territory of the island
| so much time and so much money will be re-
| quired to restore the land to its normal pro-
| ductivencss that 1t Is extremely doubtful II
capital can be induced to even make tho at
The spectacle OF the utter ruin OF an adjoin-
ing country. by nature one of the most fertile
and charming on the globe, would engage the
serious attention OF the government and the
people OF the United States in any circum-
stances. In point OF fact they have q concern
with 1t which is by no means OF n wholly senti-
| mental or philanthropic character. 1t lies so
near to us ns to be hardly separated from our
| territory. Our actual peouniary interest in It
is second only to that OF the people and govern
ment of Spain: 1t is reasonably estimated that
at Ienst from $50 001 00J to $4,000 900 OF Ameri-
can capital are invested in plantations and in
| railroad, mining and other bu siness enter
tween the United States and Cuba which in 1889
amounted to about I6400 700, rose in 1893 to
about slO3 900, and in 1894, the year before
! the present insurrection broke out. amounted
to nearly 800, 900. Besides this large pecu-
mary stake in the fortunes OF Cuba, the United
States finds itself inextricably involved In the
| present contest In other ways both veXntious
and costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country and in
directly 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-
tfons and the tenor of our laws do not per-
nit to be made the subject OF criminal prose-
cutions. Some OF them, though Cubans at
heart and in all their feelings and interests,
have taken out papers as naturalized citizens
OF the United States proc oceeding resorted to
with view to possible protection by this gov
ernment, and not unnaturally regarded with
much indignation by the country of their origin:
The insurgents are undoubtedly encouraged
and supported by the widespread sympathy the
people Of this country always and instinctively
feel for every struggle for better and treer gov
adyenturous a and restless elements OF our pop
ulation, leads in only too many instances
to active and personal participation in
the contest Tho result is that this gov
ernment is constantly called upon to protect
American citizens; TO claim damages for In
iuries to persons and property now estimated
nations and apologies for the acts of Spanish
officials whose zeal for the repression OF the re-
bellionesometimes blinds them 10 the immuni-
ties belonging to the unofending citizens OF
friendly power, 1t follows from the same cause
that the United States is compelled to actively
police long line of sea coast against unlaw-
full expeditions, the escape Of which the utmost
vigilance will not always suffice to prevent.
These inevitable e,.tanglements OF the United
States with the rebellion in Cuba, the large
American property interests affected. and con-
siderations of philanthropy and humanity in
general, have led to a vehement demand in
various other quarters, for some sort of positive
intervention on the part OF the United States.
1t was at first proposed that belligrent rights
should be accorded to the insurgents-a propo-
sition no longer urged because untimely, and
in @ our bas snae ane
been, and Is now sometimes contended that
the independence of the insurgents should be
| recognized But imperfect and restricted as
the Spanish government OF the island may be.
l no other exists there-unless the will OF the
4 military officers in temporary command OF q
particular district can be dgnihed us species
of government 1t is now also suggested that
the United States should buy the island-a
suggestion possibly worthy OF consideration II
there were any evidence of a desire or willing
ness 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 q war between the United States
and Spain-a war which it's advocates conf
| IDENTIFY propheSy could be neither large in its
| proportions nor doubtful In it's issue. The cor
| rectneSS of this forecast need be neither af-
| firmed nor denied The United States has
| nevertheless character to maintain as q ma
ton, which plainly dictates that right and not
might should be the rule of it's conduct Fur
ther. though the United States is not nation
to which peace is necessity, 1t is In truth the
much as to live in arnity with all the world.
Its own ample and diversified domains satisfy
all possible longings for territory, preclude all
dreams of conquest and prevent any casting of
covetous eyes upon neighboring regions, how
ever 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
rising at Yara in 1888
No other great power it may safely be said,
under circumstances OF similar perplexity
would have manifested the same restraint and
the same patient endurance. It may also be
said that this persistent attitude OF the United
States toward Spain in connection with Cuba
unquestionably evinces no slight respect and
regard for Spain on the part OF the American
i people. They in truth do not forget her con-
nection with the discovery OF the western hemi-
sphere. nor do they underestimate the great
qualities OF the Spanish people, nor fail to fully
recognize their splendid patriotism and their
chivalrous devotion to the national honor
They view with wonder and admiration the
| cheerful resolution with which vast bodies of
men are sent across thousand of miles of ocean
and an enormous debt accumulated, that the
costly possession OF the gem Of the Antilles"
| still hold its nlAce in the niSh
And yet neither the government nor the peo-
pie OF the United States have shut their eyes
to the course OF events in Cuba or have failed
to realize the existence Of conceded grievances
which have led to the present revolt from the
authority OF Spain-grievances recognized by
the queen regent and by the cortes-voiccd by
the most patetotic and enlightened OF Spanish
statesmen without regard to party and dem
onstrated by reforms proposed by the execu-
tive and approved by the legislative branch of
the Spanish government. 1t is in the assumed
temper and disposition OF the Spanish govern
indications OF influential public opinion in
SPAIN that this government has hoped TO dis
OF composing the present strife. with honor
and advantage to Spain and with the achieve
ments OF all the reasonable objects OF the in
surrection
} 1t would seem that If Spain should offer to
Cuba genuine autonomy-a measure OF home
rule which, while preserving the sovereignty of
OF her Spanish subiects-there should be no
just reason why the pactca,ion Of the island
suit would appear to be in the true intei est of
all concerned. 1t wouldat once stop the con-
hict which is now consuming the resources of
the island and making 1T worthless for which
ever party may ultimately prevail 1t would
keep intact the possessions Of Spain without
J touching her honor, which will be consulted
rather than impugned by the adequate redress
OF admitted grievances. 1t would put the
prosperity OF the island and the fortunes OF its
inhabitants within their own control without
severing the natural and ancient ties which
, bind them 70 the mother country, and would
yet enable them to test their capacity for self
, government under the most favorable condi-
1 tionS
: 1t has been objected on the one side that
Spain should not promise autonomy until her
3 insurgent subjects lay down their arms; on the
, other side, that promised autonomy however
l liberal is insufficient, because without assur-
D ance OF the promise being fulfilled But the
reasonableness of a requirement by Spain OF
t unconditional surrender on the part OF the in
e surgent Cubans before their autonomy is con-
Q ceded. Is not altogether apparent 1t ignores
I important features of the stuation-the sta
! bility two years duration has given to the in
surrecton the feasibility OF It's indefinite pro
3 longation In the nature OF things; and as
I shown by past experience, the utter and imni-
L. ~ Ill.