Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Our Relations with Foreign Governments
Frankly Discussed.

| government more OF less lmptfteC'ty
in the large towns and their immediiie
suburbs. But, that exception being
made the entire country is either given
over TO anarchy or is subject to the
military occupation of one or the other
party 1t is reported, indeed, or relIa-
bic authority that at the demand OF
the commander.in-chief of the insur-
gent army, the putative Cuban Govern
ment has now given up all attempt to
exercise its functions, leaving the
Government confessedly (what there
is best reason for supposing 1t always to
have been the fact) government
MERELY ON PAPER.
Were the Spanish armies able to meet
their antagonists In the open or In
pitched battle, prompt and decisive re.
suits might be looked TO-, and the i'm.
mense superiority of the Spanish forces
In numbers, discipline and equipment
could hardly fall to tell greatly to their
advantage.
"But they are rallied upon to face
foe that shuns general engagements,
that can choose and does choose its own
ground, that from the nature Of the
country is visible or invisible at pleas
ure, and that fights only from ambus-
cade and when all the advantages of po-
sition and numbers are on its side. In
a country where all that is indispensa-
Bile to life In the way of food, clothing
and shelter is SO easily obtainabIe, es-
peciall, by those born and bred on the
soil. 1t is obvious that there is hardly a
limit to the time during which hostiI-
tiles of this sort may be prolonged.
Meanwhile In all cases of protracted
civil strife, the passions of the combat
ants grow more and more inhamed and
excuses on both sides become more fire.
bueat and more deplorable. They are
also participated In by bands of marau-
ders who now in the name of one party
and now in the name of the other, as
may best suit the occasion, harrass the
country at will and plumber its wretched
inhabitants for their own advantage.
ably entail much destruction of property
even II 1t were the policy of both parties
to prevent 1t as far as practicable. But
while such seemed to be the original
policy of the Spanish government, 1t has
apparently abandoned 1t, and is acting
upon the same theory as the insurgents,
namely, that the exigencles of the con-
test require the wholesale humiliation
of property that 1t may not prove of any
use and advantage to the enemy.
1t Is to the same end that in pursu-
ance of general orders, Spanish garri-
sons are now being withdrawn from
plantations and the rural population re-
quired to concentrate itselfin the towns.
The sure result would seem to be that
the industrial value of the island is fast
diminishing, and that unless there is a
speedy and radical change in existing
conditions, 1t will soon disappear alto
gether. That value consists largely,
Of course, In its capacity to produce
sugar, capacity already much rednced
by the interruptions to tillage which
have taken place during the past two
years. II is reliably asserted that those
interruptions continue during the cur
rent year and practically extend as is
now threatened to the entire sugar pro.
ducing territory of the island, SO much
time and SO much money will be re-
qnired to restore the land to its normal
proeuctiveness that 1t is extremely
doubtful If capital can be induced even
to make the attempt
The spectacle of the utter ruin of an
adjoining country, by nature one of the
most fertile and charming on the whole
globe, would engage the serious atten-
ton of the Government and the people
of the United States In any circum-
stances. In point of fact, they have a
concern with It which Is by no means of
wholly sentimental or philanthropic
character. Ii lies SO near to us as to be
hardly separated from our territory. Our
actual pecuniary interest in II is second
only to that of the people and Govern
ment of ST ain. 1t Is reasonably esti-
mated that at least from $4,000 600 to
$5o,ooo.ooo of American capital are in
vested in plantations and In railroad,
mining and other business enterprises
on the island. The volume of trade be.
tween the United States and Cuba,
which In 1850 amounted to about $64,-
900, 900, rose in 1893 to about 100000,
900, AMI In 1894, the year before the
present Instruction broke out, amount.
ed to nearly 100000 900. Besides this
large pecuniary stake In the fortunes OF
Cuba, the United States finds itself in.
extricably involved in the present con
test in other ways both vexatious anc
costly Many Cubans reside In thii
country, and indirectly promote the in
surrection through the press, by public
meetings, by the purchase and ship
ment of arms, by the raising of funds
and by other means, which the spirit o
our institutions and the tenor of GU
laws do not permit to be made the sub
jeet of criminal prosecutions. Some o
them, though Cubans at heart and in al
their feelings and interests, have taker
out papers as naturaIized citizens of tn,