Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-12-11

can choose and does choose its own
ground, that from the nature Of the
country Is visible or invisible at pleas
urc, and that fights only from amous.
cAde and when all the advantages OF
position and numbers are. on its sidc.
In q country where all that II indis-
pensable to life In the way Of food,
clothing and shelter IL 90 easily 90.
tainable, especially by those born and
bred on the soil, 1t Is obvious that there
ID hardly q limit to the time durins
which hostilities Of this sort may be
prolonged. Meanwhile, 40 in all cases
Of protracted civil strife, the passions
OF the combatants grow more ana
more infiamed and excuses on notn
sides become more frequent and more
dcplorable. They are also participated
In by bands Of marauders who now
In the name of one party and now IN
the name OF the other as may best
suit the occasion, harry the country az
will and plumber its wretched inhabi-
tants for their own advantage. Such
a condition OF things would inevitably
ty even IL 1t were the policy OF both
parties to prevent it as far as prac-
ticable. But while such seemed to be
the original policy OF the Spanish gov
eminent, 1t has now apparently aband-
oned 1t and Is acting upon the same
theory as the insurgents, namely: that
the exigencics OF the contest require
the wholesale humiliation OF property
that it may not prove Of use and ad-
vantage to the enemy. -.",
Decay of Cuban Industry.
It Is to the same end that in pur-
suance of general orders Spanish garri-
sons are now being withdrawn from
plantations and the rural population
required to concentrate itself In the
towns. The sure result would seem to
be that the industrial value of the is-
land is fast diminishing. and that un.
change In existing conditions 1t Will
soon disappear altogether. That value
consists very largely, Of course. in its
capacity to produce Sugar-a capacity
already much reduced by the Interrupt
lions to tillage which have taken place
during the last two years. 1t Is re-
liably asserted that should these inter-
ruptions continue during the current
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-
CURED to restore the land to its nor
NAL productiveness that 1t Is extremely
doubtful II capital can be induced 10
even make the attempt. The spectacle
Of the utter ruin Of an adjoining coun-
try. by nature one Of the most fertile
gage the serious attention Of the gov
eminent and the people of the United
States in any circumstances. In point
of fact, they have concern with II
which is by no means of a wholly senti-
mental or philanthropic character. 1t
lies so near to us as to be hardly sep
arated from our territory. Our actual
{,,,, i,Nt, l,, to
to that Of the people and government
of Spain. 1t is reasonably estimated
that at least from $4,000, 900 to $50,000,-
900 Of American capital are invested In
plantations and in railroad. mining
and other business enterprises on the
island. The volume of trade between
the United States and Cuba. which in
1889 amounted to about go. 1909. 600. rose
in 1893 to about 100000, 900, and In 1894,
the year before the present insurrec-
ton broke out, amounted to nearly $685.
900, 1000 Besides this large pecuniary
stake in the fortunes Of Cuba, the
United States finds itself ineXtricabiy
involved III the present contest III other
ways both vexatious and costly.
Tilibustering Expeditions.
Many Cubans reside in this country
and Indirectly promote the insurrec-
ton through the press. by public meet
ings, by the purchase and shipment Of
arms. by the raising of funds. and by
-et',e..-nasans, WHICH the spirit OF our
do not permit to be made the subject
of criminal prosecutions. sane Of them,
though Clbans Ut heart and In all their
feelings anu interests have taken TbAt
papers as naturalized cttN3ns of the
United States, q proceeding fes0rted to
with view to possible protection BY
this government, and not unnatura!ly
regarded with much Indignation by the
gents are undoubtedly encouraged and
supported by the widespread sympathy
the people Of this country always AND
instinctlvely feel for every struggle
for better and freer government, and
which. In the case of the more adven-
furious and restless clements OF our pop
ulat!on leads in only too many In
stances to active participation In the
contest. The result Is that this gov
eTnrnent is constantly called upon to
protect American citizens to claim DAM
ages for injuries to persons and prop
ertv now estimated at many millions
Of dollars and to ask explanations and
apologies for the acts OF Spanish OH.
Gals whose zeal for the repression OF
rebellion sometimes blinds them to the
;mnynities belonging to the dnoffend-
ING citizens Of q friendly power. 1t
follows from the same causes that the
United States Is compelled to actively
notice along the line Of sea-coast
npainst unlawful expeditions, the es-
cane of which the utmost vigilance Will
not always suffice to prevent. These
inevitable entanglements or the unlted
states, with the rebellion IN CUBA, the
large American property interests at
fec1ed and considerations Of philan-
throny and humanity in general. have
,ad 70 a vehement demand In various
nua rters for some sort of positive inter-
rention on the part OF the United
States.
recornition Not Now Possible.
II was at first proposed that bellig-
oron+ rights should be accorded to the
insnreents-a proposition no longer
Urged because untimely and in prac-
ticai operation clearly perilous and in
furious to our own interests. 1t has
since been and is now sometimes con-
tended that the independence OF tne m
surpents should be recognized. But I'M
nerfect and restricted as the Spanish
government of the island may be. no
other exists there-unless the will Of
Tho military officer in temporary COM
mard of particular district can be
dignified as a species OF government.
II Is now also suggested that the Uni
ted States SnOGlu Duy tne lSidHu-a
suggestion possibly worthy Of eonsld.
GRAFTON IL there were any evidence Of
a desire or willingness on the part Of
Snain TO entertain such proposal. 1t
is urged, finally. that, all other meth
DDS falling, the existing internecine
strife in Cuba should be terminated by
our intervention. even at the cost Of a
war between the United States and
Spain-a war which its advocates con-
fidently prnphesy could be neither large
in its proportions nor doubtful in its
issue. The correctness Of this forecast.
need be neither affirmed nor denied
The United States has nevertheless a
character to maintain as a nation.
which plainly dictates that right and
not might should be the rule Of its con-
duct. ~
Says That We Should Respect Spain.
I2,,,4 l,e,, fhounh tho Initial Ctofna il