Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-12-15

| the other party.
Calls 1t Government on Paper"
1t is reported, indeed, on reliable
| authority, that, at the demand of the
commander-in-cbl of the insurgent
| army, the putative Cuban government
has now given up all attempt to ex-
ercise itS functions, leaving that gov
eminent confesscdly (what there is the
best reason for supposing 1t always
to have been in facD a govern
l1ent merely on paper. Were the Span
ish armies able to meet their antago-
nists in the open or in pitched battle,
| prompt and decisive results might be
looked for, and the immense superior
ity OF the Spanish forces In numbers,
| discipline, and equipment, could hardly
rail- to tell greatly to their advantage.
But they are called upon to face a foe
that shuns general engagements, that
can choose and does choose it's 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
position and numbers are on its side.
In a country where all that Is indis-
pensable to life IN the way Of food,
clothing and shelter is so easily OBJ
tainable, especially by those born and
bred on the soil, 1t Is obvious that there
is hardly limit to the time during
which hostilities of this sort may be
prolonged. Meanwhile, as in all cases
or protracted civil strife, the passions
OF the combatants grow more and
more inffamed and excuses on both
sides become more frequent and mora
deplorable. 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 at
VIII and plumber its wretched inhabi-
tants for their own advantage. Such
condition of things would inevitably
entail immense destruction of proper
~ even If it We're 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 it and is acting upon the same
theory as the insurgents, namely: that
the exigencies 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.
1t 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sons are now being withdrawn from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
iand is fast diminishing, and that I'M
less there Is speedy and radical
change In existing conditions it will
| soon disappear altogether. That value
| consists very largely, of course, in it's
| 'apaclty to produce sugar--a capacity
1 ready much reduced by the Interrupt
lions to tillage which have taken place
| dul ng the last two years. 1t is re-
| liaL 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 it's nor
| nal productiveness that 1t is extremely
| doubtful IL capital can be induced to
even make the attempt. The spectacle
of the utter ruin of an adjoining coun-
| try, by nature one of the most fertile
ana charming on the globe, would en-
| gage the serious attention of the gov
| eminent and the people of the United
States in any circumstances. In point
| or TACT. they have a concern with Ii
| which is by no means of a wholly senti-
! mental or phiianthropic character. IT
| lies so near to us as to be hardly sep
! arated from our territory. Our actual
pecuniary interest in 1t is second only
| to that of the people and government
of Spain. 1t is reasonably estimated
that at least from $50, 600, 900 to $50, O00-
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 $64 zoo, 900, rose
in 1898 to about S103. 900, 900, and in 1894
the year before the present insurrec-
ton broke out, amounted to nearly $780,
100000. 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.
Fiiibustering 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
other means, which the spirit of our
institutions and the tenor of our laws
do not permit to be made the subject
of criminal prosecutions. 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, proceeding resorted to
with view to possible protection by
this government, and not unnaturally
regarded with much Indignation by the
country of their origin. The insur-
gents are undoubtedly encouraged and
supported by the widespread sympathy
people Oh tlllS COuulTy di.t
instinctively feel for every struggle
for better and freer government, and
which, in the case of the more adven-
turous and restless elements OF our pop
ulation leads in only too many In
stances to active participation in the
contest. The result Is that this gov
eminent Is constantly called upon to
protect American citizens to claim dam
ages for injuries to persons and prop
erty now estimated at many millions
of dollars and to ask explanations and
apologies for the acts Of Spanish OFF,
cials whose zeal for the repression OF
rebellion sometimes blinds them to the
immunities belonging to the unonend-
ing citizens OF friendly power. 1t
follows from the same causes that the
United States is compelled to actively
nolice along the line Of sea-coast
against unlawful expeditions, the es-
cane of which the utmost vigilance Will
not always suffice to prevent. These
INEVITABLE entanglements OF the United
states. with the rebellion in Cuba, the
large American property interests al
fected and considerations of philan-
throny and humanity in general. have
led 70 n vehement demand In various
quarters for some sort of positive inter-
rention on the part of the Unitod
States.
Recognition Not Possible.
TT was at first proposed that bellig-
erent rights should be accorded to the
insureents-a proposition no longer
urged because untimely and In prac-
ticsI operation clearly perilOus and in
;urious 10 our own interests. 1t has
SInca heen and Is now sometimes con-