The herald., 1896-12-08

gard the matter. it is impossible not to
| discern that a state of things exists at
our doors alike dangerous to good rela
tions destructive to legitimate COM
merce, fatal to the internal revenue of
Cuba and most veXatious and trying be-
| cause entaiing on this government eX-
| cessive burdens in its domestic admins
tration and in its outward relations. This
situation cannot Indefinitely continue
| without growing still worse, and the time
may not be far distant when the United
! States must seriously consider whether
| its rights and interests, as well as its
| International duties, in view of its pecu-
liar relations to the island, do not call
for some decided change in the policy
| hitherto pursued"
The secretary makes it plain that the
| present insurrection is far more formid-
| able than the famous ten years in
| surrection" which began at Yara in 1868.
| He says that, starting in the same por-
tion of the island, it very early took pro-
portions beyond it's predecessor and as
sumed the aggressive phase.
Passing the defensive lines of the
trochas traversing the island from north
to south, formidable bodies of the revo-
lutionary forces early in the year estab-
, lished themselves in the rich sugar plan
tations of Santa Clara and Cienfuegos,
made hostile forays almost in sight of
Havana itself. and advancing forward
effected a lodgment in the fertile tobacco
fields of Pinar del Rio, where they have
frustrated all efforts of the Spanish army
to overcome them. The secretary says
that while as yet no prominent ports
have been attacked by the insurgents,
a large portion of the 2500 miles of the
coast is practically in their hands, and
from its rugged and wild character is
peculiarly fitted for guerrilla warfare
ard affords easy means of landing clan
a it1a 1ias. Of
The secretary adds: while thus in
fact controlling a large part of the island
from Cape Can Antonio to Cape Maisi
and enjoying practically unlimited use
of an equally large part of the coast. the
revolutionary forces are scattered. being
never united for any length of time to
form fn army capable of attack and
siege and fit to take the defensive in a
pitched battle. Assembling suddenly
at a given point, often in single night
they make unexpected sallies or carry
destruction to the tobacco and cane
fields of Cuba, and at the first sign of
pursuit or organized assault, they dis
perse, only to re-assemble in like man.
ner at some other spot.''
AS bearing on the question of recogni-
tion of the insurgents. which is to come
in some shape before congress, the fol-
lowing statement from Secretary Olney
is of importance in explaining his rea-
sons for declining recognition:
SO far as our information shows,
there is not only no effective local gov
ernment by the insurgents in the terri
tory they overrun. but there is not even
tangible pretense to establish admin
istration anywhere. Their operation is
confined to the shifting exigencies of the
military operations of the hour; is no.
madic. without definite centers, and
lacking the most elementary features
of municipal government. There no.
where appears the nucleus of statehood.
The machinery for the exercise of legit-
innate rights and powers of sovereignty
and responding to the obligations which
de facto sovereignty entails in the fact
of equal rights of other states, is con-
spicuously lacking. 1t is not possible to
discern homogeneous political entity,
possessing and exercising the functions
of administration, and capable if left
to itself of maintaining orderly govern
ment in its own territory and sustain
ing normal relations with the external
family of governments
The secretary illustrates his point as
to the responsibility of the insurgents
by citing their destruction of American
plantations and their oppression of
American planters who grind cane which
he characterizes as acts of anarchy. On
the other hand he shows that in the cap
ital cities and seaports and all parts of
the island with which the United States
or its citizens maintain legitimate inter-
course, the Spanish power is supreme,
though often exercised in a vexatious
and arbitrary way, calling forth just re-
monstrance, and that most of the func-
tions of government proceed as in time
of peace.
Recurring to his comparison of thls
insurrection with those that have pre-
ceded it, Secretary Olney makes this
i.an CT fa,Na
cessible indication it is clear the pres
ent rebellion is on far more formida-
BILE scale as to numbers, intelligence and
representative features; that the cor
responding effort of Spain for its re-
preston has been enormously augment
ed, and that despite the constant influx
OF fresh armies and material of war
from the metropolis, the rebellion, after
nearly two years of successful resist
ance, appears today to be in a condition
to Indefinitely prolong the contest on it's
present lines''
He also compliments the tactical skill
displayed by the leaders of the ins,lrrec-
ton. saying that when the disparity of
numbers and the comparatively inde-
fensible character of the central and
western vega country are considered.
the passage of a considerable force into
Pinar del Rio, followed by it's successful
maintenance there for many months
must be regarded as a military success
of pronounced character.
Ihe 1nsurgent armies" SAYS the SEQ
retary, fairly represent the Intelligent
aspirations of a large proportion of the
people of the whole island: and If ;s
shown that they purpose to wage the
contest on these better grounds of van
tage to the end. and to make the present
struggle supreme test of the CAPACITY
OF the Cuban people to win for them
selves and their children the heritage of
self government"
The secretary speaks of the appallinr
phases of the struggle, such as often an
pear in contests among the Latin races
of the western hemisphere: of the ex
cesses and forceful and arbitrary acts
OF the military; of the ravaging of pri-
Nate property, the violation of PRINCIPLES
of civilized warfare by irresponsible Of
hcials, and the killing of non combat
ants, in some instances. happily few. of
American citizens. He says: "A large
part of the spondence of the state
department with its agents in Cuba has
been devoted to these cases of assaults
on the rights of our citizens In no in
stance has earnest remonstrance and
energetic appeal been omitted But the
Representatives of Spanish power often
find it easily practicable to postpone ex-
plantations and reparation on the ground
of alleged ignorance of facts or FOR other
plausible reasons"
The secretary next treats at length
of the financial and industrial losses in
ief fah A