Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-12-19

cufnD, WltnOut pFdctically SCOUTING the
great object for which they took up
arms. II Spain has not re-established
her authority, neither have the insur-
gents yet made good their title to be
regarded as an independent state. In
deed, as the contest has gone on, the
p~retense thai civil government exists
on the island, except as far as Spain is
able to maintain 1t, has been practically
abandoned. Spain does keep on foot
such a government, more or less imper-
fectly, in the large towns and their i'm
Mediate suburbs. But, hat exception
being made, the entire country Is either
given over to anarchy or Is subject to
the military occupation of one or the
other. 1t is reported indeed on reliable
authority, that at the demand OF the
commander In chief of the
army, the putative Cuban government
has given up all attempts to exer-
else It's functions, leaving the govern
ment confessedly (what there Is the
best reason for supposlng 1t always to
have been In facD a government mere
ly On paper. Were the Spanish able to
meet their antagonists in the open or in
pitched battle, prompt and decisive re-
suits may be looked for and the inn
mense superiority OF the Spanish forces
In numbers, discipline and equipment
could hardly wait to o to their ad-
vantages. But they are called upo
to face a foe that shuns general engage
mcnt, that can choose and does choose
its own ground, that from the nature
OF the country Is visible or invisible at
pleasure, and that fights only from am
buscade, and when all the advantages
Of position and numbers are on Its side.
In "A country where all that Is indispen-
sible to life in the way OF food, clothing
and shelter IL so easily obtaineable,
especially by those born and bred on
the soil, II Is obvious that there IS
hardly n limit to the time during which
hostilities of this sort may be pro-
longed. Meanwhile in all cases OF pro-
tracted civil strife, the passions of the
combatants grow more and more in
famed and excuses on both sides be-
come more frequent n more deplora-
bic.
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 oc-
caslon, harass the country at will and
plumber its wretched inhabitants for
their own advantage. Such a condition
of things would inevitably entail i'm
mense destruction of property even II
it were the policy of both parties to
prevent It as far as practicable. But
while such seemed to be the original
policy of the Spanish government, it
has now apparently abandoned IL and is
acting upon the same theory as the in
surgents, namely that the eXigencies OF
the contest require the wholesale ami
4 hs1a to-, 90 ,rAtnntN that ~ nnny nor
prove of any use and advantage 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 popula-
ton required to concentrate itself in
the towns. The sure result would seem
to be that the industries Of the land are
fast diminishing and unless there is
speedy and radical change in existing
conditions, il will 500 disappear all
together. That value consists very
largely. of course, in its capacity TO
produce sugar, n capacity also already
much reduced by the interruption to
tillage, which have taken place during
the past two years. 1t Is reliably assert
ed that should these Interruptions con-
tinue during the current year, and
practically extend, as Is now threat
ened, to the sugar producing territory
of the island, so much time and so
much none will be required to restore
the land to It's normal productiyeness
that ii is extremely doubtful If capital
can be Induced to ven make the at
tempt. The spectacle OF the utter ruin
of al adjoining country, by nature one
of the most fertile and charming OF the
whole globe would engage the seriou
attention of the government and the
people of the United States in any cir
cumstances. In point of fact they have
q concern with IL which Is by no means
of a wholly sentimental or philanthropy
ic character. 1t lies so near to us as to
be hardly separated from our territory.
Our actual pecuniary interests In IL
Is second only to that of the of the peo-
pie of Spain. IL Is reasonably estimated
that at least from $50, 000, 900 to $50, 000,-
900 of capital are invested In plan
tations and in railroads, mining n
other business enterprises on the is
land. The volume of trade between the
United States and Cuba which in 1889
amounted to about $64, 000, 900, rose in
1893 about $40. SOC, 900. and in 1894, the
year before the present instruction
broke out, amounted to over SOC, 900, 900,
Besides this large pecuniary stake in
the fortunes OF Cuba, the United States
finds itself inextricably involved I'm the
present contest in other ways, both
vexatious and costly.
Many Cubans reside in his country
and indirectly 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-
tons and the tenor of our laws do not
permit to- be made the subject OF Grim
nal prosecution. Some of them, though
Cubans at heart n in all their feel
ings and interests, have taken out pa
pers as naturaliZed citizens of the Unit
ed States, q proceeding resorted to with
a view to possible protection by this
government and not u~nnaturally re-
garded with much indignation by the
country OF their origin.
The insurgents are undoubtedly en-
couraged and supported by the wide
spread sympathy, the people of this
country always and inst.nctively feel
for every struggle for better and freer
government and which In the case of
the more adventurous and restless ele-
ments of our population means in only
instances to active n personal par
~ticipation in the contest.
The result is that this government IL
constantly called upon to protect Amer
lean citizens to claim damages for in
juries to person N property now esti-
mated at many millions of dollars and
to ask explanations and apologies for
the acts Of Spanish officials whose zeal
for the repression of rebellion some
times blinds them to the immunities be-
longing I the unoffending citizens of
a friendly power. Ii follows from the
! same causes that the United States il
| compelled to actively police a long line
of sea coast against unlawful expedi-
lions, the escape OF which the utmost
vigilance will not always suffice to pre-
vent. These inevitable entanglements
OF the United States and the rebellion
In Cuba, the large American property
interests affected and considerations OF
philanthropy and humanity In general.
have led to vehement demand in vari-
Gus quarters for some sort OF positive
Intervention on the part OF the United
States.