Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-18


neither have tho insurgents yet mad
good their title to be regarded as Al
Independent State. Indeed, as the contes
has gone on, the pretence that civ
| government exists on the island, except SC
! lar rs Spain is able to maintain 1t, has been
| practically abandoned. Spain does keep Oh
4oot such government, more or less i'm.
| perfectly, in the large towns and their inn
mediate 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, on reliable authority that,
at the demand OF tho Conmauder-in-C Chief
OF the insurgent army, the putative Cuban
Government has now given pail attempt to
exercise its functions, leaving that govorn-
ment confessedIy (what there is the best
reason for supposlng it always to have been
in fact) government merely on paper.
Thinks the Cuban War May BE Pro-
lonEod indefinitely.
We're the Spanish armies able to meet
| their antagonists in the open, or in pitched
battle, prompt and decisive results might bs
| looked for, and the immense superiority OF
the Spanish forces in numbers, discipline
and equipment could hardly fail to tell
greatly to their advantage. But they are
called upon to face foe that shuns general
engagements, that can choose and does
choose its own ground, that from the ma
ture Of the country is visible or invisible ut
pleasure, and that fights only from ambus-
cade and when all the advantages OF position
and numbers are on its side. In country
where all that Is indispensable to life
in the way of food, clothing and shelter Is
80 easily obtainable, especially by those
born and bred on the soil. it is obvious that
there Is hardly limit to the tina during
which hoStllities OF this sort may be pro-
longed. Meanwhile, as in all cases OF pro-
tracted civil strife, the passions OF the COM
batants grow more and more iDhamed and
excesses on both sides become moro frequent
AMI more deplorable. They are also partici
pated 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 oc-
caslon, harry the country at WILL and plum
der its wretched inhabitants for their ow
advantage. Such a condition OF thingI
would inevitably entail immense destruction
Of property, even IL 1t were the policy OF
boh parties to prevent it as far as practica'
Bile. But while such scanned to be the orlgl-
nal policy otthe Spanish Government. 1t has
now apparently abandoned 1T aud is acting
upon tho same theory as the insurgents,
namely, that the exigcncies OF the contest re-
qulre the wholesale annihilation OF properly.
that 1t may not prove OF use and aivantSgo
to the enemy.
1t Is TO the same end that In pursuance Of
general orders Spanish garrlsons are now
being Withdrawn from plantations and the
rural population required to concentrate it
self in 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 ra tical change In ex-
isting conditions II will soon disappear alto
gether. That value consists very largely,
OF course, in its capacity to pro-
duce sugar. capacity already much
reduced by the Interruptions to till
age, which have taken place during the
last two years. It Is reliably asserted that
should these Interruptions continue during
the current year ana practically extend, az
r. now threatened, to tho entire sugar-produc-
ing territory of the island, 80 much time and
so much money will b2 required to restore
the land to its normal productivsness that 1t
Is extremely doubtful II capital can be In
dueed to even make tho attempt.
Our Pecun;ary Iu ssrest In Cuba.
The spectacle Of the uttor ruin OF an ad-
Joining country, by nature one OF the most
fertile and charming on the globe, would en-
gage the serious attention OF the Government
and people of the United States in any cir
cumstances In point OF fact. they have n
concern with 1t which Is by no means OF a
wholly sentimental or philanthroplc charac-
ter. 1t lies 80 near to us as to be haedly
separated 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, 900 900 to $50, 1000 Of American
capital are invested In plantations
and in railroad, mining and other
business enterprises on the island. The vol
ume of trade between the United States and
Cuba, whch in 1889 amounted to about
$64, ,0O0, 900, rose in 1898 to about e103,000,-
900, and in 1894, the year before the present
insurrecton broke out, amounted to nearly
e96, ,0)0,0lO. Besides this large pecuniary
stake in the fortunes OF Cuba, the United
States Ands itself ine1tricably involved in
the present contest in other ways both vexa
tious and costly.
Many Cnbans reside in this country and in
directly promote the instruction through
the press, by public meetings. by the pur-
chase 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 rs natural
lied citizens OF the United States, proceed-
ing resorted to with a view to possible pro-
lection by this Government, and not unhat-
urally 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 instlnotlvely feel
for evory struggle for bettor aud freer gov
ernment, and which, In tie case Of the moro
adventurous AMI restless elements OF our
population, leads in only too many
instances to active and personal participa-
fion in the contest The result is that this
Government is constantly called upon to
protect American citizens, to claim damages
for injuries to persons and property, now es-
timated at many millions OF dollars. and to
ask explanations and apologies for tha acts
OF Spanish officials, whose zeal for tao re-
preston OF rebellion sometimes blinds them
to the immunities belonging to the unoffend-
ing citizens OF friendly power. 1t follows
from the same cause that the United States
is compelled to actively police long line OF
sea cost against unlawful expeditions, tho
escape of which the utmost vigilance will
not always suffice to prevent.
The Question OF Intervention.
These inevitable entanglements OF the
United States with the rebellion in Cuba, the
large American property interests affected,
and considerations OF philanthropy and hu
manity in general have led to vehement
demand in various quarters for some sort OF |
positive Intervention on the part OF the |
United States. 1t was at first proposed that |
beligerent rights should be accorded to the |
proposition no longer urged |
because untirleiy and in practical operation |
clearly erilous and injurious 10 our own |
interests. 1t has since been and is now |
some; lines contended that the independence |
Of the insurgents should be recognized. But |
imperfect aud restricted as the Spanish |