The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-08
only to reassemble in like manner at some

only no effective local government by the in
surgents in the territories they overrun, but
there is not even tangible pretense to estap-
lished administration anywhere. Their or
ganlZRtlon, confined TO shifting exigencies OF
the military operations of the hour, is no
madlc, without definite centers ana lacking
the most elementary features OF municipal
government.
There nowhere appears the nucleus of state
hood. the machinery for exercising the leglti-
mate rights and powers of sovereignty ana re-
spending to the obligations which de facto
sovereignty entails in the face OF equal rlghts
OF other states is conspicuously lacking.
1t is not possible to discern homogeneous
political entity, possessing and exercising the
functions of administration and capable, II
left to itself, OF maintaining orderly govern
ment in its own territory ana sustaining
norma relations with the external family OF
governments.
To illustrate these conditions the insurgent
chiefs assert the military power to compel
peaceable citizens of the United States within
their touch to desist from planting or grinding
cane under the decreed penalty OF death ana
of the destruction of their crops and mills;
but the measure is one of sheer force without
justification under public law.
The wrongs so committed against the clti-
zens OF foreign state are without an lnterna-
tional forum OF redress to whom the Govern
ment of the United States may have recourse
as regards its relation To the perpetrators Inc
acts arc those OF anarchy, and in default OF
the responsibilities OF de facto statehood in the
case there remains only the territorial ac-
countability of the titular sovereign within
the limits of its competency to repress the
wrongs complained OF.
In opposition to the nomadic control OF the
interior and the undefended coast by the in
surgents the Spanish authority continues In
the capital cities and the seaports. Its garri-
sons are there established; from them Its
naval operations are directed AID executed.
Most of its functions proceed as IN Time OF
peace.
Its customs and municipal revenues are
regularly collected, and, with xception OF the
temporary restraints alleged to be due to the
admitted existence OF state of hostilittes, for
eign commerce with the island Is Kept up. al
though largely diminished by the natural con-
traction Of the Cuban market OF supply and
demand.
AS to those parts of the island with which
this country and its citizens main tain inter-
course, the Spanish power is supreme, although
often exercised in vexatious and arbitrary
way, calling for just remonstrance. So far
therefore as the relative position OF the spanish
and iusurgent forces is comparable with the SIT
uation during the Yara insurrect1on. while the
same phases of organized administration IN
the capital and seaports and effective relations
of trade with the outside world on the one
hand, and on the other nomadic association
without the insignia of orderly government,
and strong only to wage harassing warfare IN
the interior, are now as then, apparent, the
present instruction stands in notable con-
trast with Its predece ssors, both as TO force
and scale of operations
Although statistics OF their military strength
are attainable with difficulty, and are not
trustworthy when obtained, enough is Ger
tainly known 10 show that the revolutionists
in the field greatly exceed IN numbers any
organization heretofore attempted; that with
large accessions from the central and western
districts of the island better military discl-
pline is added 10 increased strength; that Inc
stead of mainly drawing, as heretofore, upon
the compare lively primitive population of
eastern Cuba, the inSurgent armies fairly rep
resent the intelligent aspirations OF large
proportion of the people of the whole island,
ana that they propose to wage this contest on
these better grounds OF vantage, to the end TO
make the present struggle supreme test OF
the capacity Of the Cuban people to win them
selves and their children the heritage of SELF
government.
Anotable feature of the actual situation is the
tactical skill displayed by its leaders. When
the disparity in numbers and the compara-
lively indefensible character of the central
and western country are considered, the pas
sage of considerable force into Pinar del Rio
followed by its successful maintenance there
Tor many months must be regarded as mill
tary success of q pronounced character.
So, too the Spanish force in the field. in gar
rison on the island, or on its way thither from
the mother country, is largely beyond any
military display yet called for by Cuban
rising, thus affording an Independent measure
of the strength of the insurrect ton.
From every accessible indication it is clear
that the present rebellion is on a far more
formidable scale as to numbers, intelligence
and representative features than any OF the
preceding revolts of this century; that the
corresponding effort OF Spain for its repression
has been enormously augmented; and that
despite the constant influx OF fresh armies
and material OF war from the METROPOLIS the
resistance appears to-day to be in condition TO
indefinitely prolong the contest on its present
lines. fas
The nature of the struggle, however, de-
serves most earnest consideration. The in
creased scale on which it is waged brings into
boider relief eli The appalling phases which
often appear to mark contests for supremacy
among the Latin races of the western hemi-
sphere. Excuses before confined to a portion
of the island became more impressive when
wrought throughout its whole extent as now.
The insurgent authority, as has been seen,
finds no regular administrative expression; 1t
is asserted only by the sporadic and ire
sponsible force of arms. The Spanish power
outside of the larger towns and their imme-
date suburbs when manifested at all, is
equally forceful and arbitrary.
The only apparent aim on either side is to
cripple the adversary by indiscrimtnate de-
struction of all that by any chance may bene-
fiji him. The populous and wealthy districts
of the center and west which have escaped
harm in former occasions are now ravaged
and laid waste by the blind fury of the respec-
tive partisans.
The principles of civilized warfare, accord
ing to the code made sacred by the universal
acquiescence of Nations are only too often
violated with impunity by irresponsible su-
bordin ates, acting at distance from the GEN.
trail authority and able to shield themselves
from jusi censure or punishment by false or
falsified versions of the facts.
The killing and summary execution OF non
combatsnts is frequently reported, and while
the circumstances of the strife are such as to
preclude accurate or general Information in
this regard enough is known to show that the
number of such eases is considerable. In
some instances, happily, few Americans have
fallen victims TO these savage acts.
A large part of the correspondence of the
State Department with its agents in Cuba has
been devoted TO these cases of assault upon
the rights of our citizens. In no instance has
earnest remonst trance and energetic appeal
been omitted. But the reports OF the Spanish
power often find it easily practicable to post
pone explanat tons and reparation the
ground of alleged ignorance of facts for other
plausible reasons.
Its effect upon the personal security of our
citizens in Cuba is not the only alarming
feature OF the reign of arbitrary anarchy in
that island. It's influence upon the fortunes
of those who have invested their capital and
enterprise there, on the assumed assurance of
respect for law and treaty rights is no less In
point.
Exact statistics of the amount of such in
vestments are not obtaiuaDe. A gross esti-
mate of $50, 600 900 would be more likely to
fall under than over the mark. large pro-
portion of these investments are now exposed
10 the exceptional yicSsitudes of the war.
Estates have been desolated aud crops de-
stroyed by the insurgents and Spanish alike.
Upon those not actually ravaged operations
have been compulsorily suspended, owing to
the warnings served by the revoutionists or
the withdrawal of protection by Spanish au-
thorities, often accompanied by similar
af~aeN