Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-10
its corrective treatment. will remain un-
answered


he insnrrcction in Cuba still continues
win all its perDlexities. 1t is difficult to
perceive that any progress has thus fur
neeii made towards the pariication of the
island or that the situation of affairs as
uelicted IN my last annual message has in
ihe least Improved. If Spain still holds
iihVhnh anu the seaports, and all the con-
siderable towns the insurgents still soam
~ VIII over at least two. o.tlirlls of the in
innd country, If the determination of
Spain TO put down the insurrection seems
but to strengthen with the lapse of time,
and is evinced by her unhesitating de-
yotion of largely increased military ana
naval forces to the task, there IL much
reason to believe that the insurgents have
gulpci in point of numbers, and char
acter. and resources, and are none the less
lniexihie IN their resolve not to succumb
without practically securing the great oh
lectB fer which they took up arms. If
spain has not yet re-established her au-
tholity, neither have the insurgents yet
made good their title to he regarded .us an
independent State. Indeed as the contest
has gone on the pretcnse that civil goyern-
1nent exists OH the island except 80 far as
Spain is able TO maintain it, had been
practically abandoned, Spain does Keep
ON foot such government more or less
lmnerfcctly in the large towns and their
immediate suburbs. But shat exception
helng made the entire couBtry 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 the COM
nlanioT in chief of the insurgent army,
me punitive Cuban government has now
gwen up all attempt to exercise its func-
tions. leaving that government con-
fcsSedly (what there is the hest reason for
surprising it always to have been in fact)
a government merely on paper Were the
Spanish armies able 10 meet their antag-
onists in the oDen. or in pitched battle,
prompt and decisive results might he
looked for, and the immense superiority
Of the Spanish forces in numbers, disci-
plinc and equipment, could hardly fail to
tell greatly TO their advantage.
But they are called upon to faee foe
that shuns general engagements, that can
choose and does choose its own ground,
that from the nature of the country is
visible or Invisible ut pleasure, and that
fights only from amhuscade and when all
tile advantages of position and numbers
are on its side. In n country where all
that is indispensable to life in the way of
food, clothing, and shelter is so easily OBJ
tninable, especially by those born and
bred ON the soil, it is obvious that there is
hardly limit to the time during which
hostilities of this sort may be prolonged.
Meanwhile, as in all cases of protracted
civil strife, the passions of the combat
ants grow more and more inflamed and
eXcesses on both sides become more fire.
quent and more deplorahle.
They are also participated in by bands
of mnraudcrs, 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 ut will and plunder its wretch
ed inhabitants for their own advantage.
Such n condition of things would inevita-
bly, entail immense destruction of property
even if it We're the policy of both parties
to prevent il as far MS practicable. But
while such seemed to be the Oroginal
policy of the Spanish government, it has
now apparently abandoned it and its act
ing upon the same theory as, the insur-
gents, namely, that the exigencies of the
contest require the Wholesale annihila-
tion of property, that it may prove of use
and advantage to the enemy.
1t is to the same end that in pursuance
of general orders Spanish garrisons are
now being withdrawn from plantations
and the rural population required to con-
centfatc itself in the towns. The sure
result would seem to be that the industrial
value of tho island is fast diminishing and
that unless there is Il speedy and radical
change in existing conditions il will soon
disappear altogether. That value consists
very largely of course in its capacity to
produce sugar, a capacity already much
reduced by the Interruptions to tillagc
which have taken place during the last
two years. Ii is reliably asserted that
should these Interruptions continue the
current year and practically extend, as is
now threatened, TO the entire sugar
producing territory Of the island, so much
time and SO much money will be required
70 restore the land to its normal produc-
tivcpcss that it is extremely doubtful if
capital can he induced 10 even make the
attempt. The spectacle of the utter ruin
of an adjoining country, by nature one of
the most fertile nnd charming on the
globe. would engage the serious attention
Of the government and people of the
United States in any circumstances. In
point of fact, they have n concern with it
whichiis by no means of a wholly santi-
mental or philanthropic character. 1t lies
so near to us as to be hardly separated
from our territory.
Our actual pecuniary interest in it is
second only to that of the people and
government of Spain. 1t is reasonably
estimated that mt least from 100000, 600
to S50.00O,O0O 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
1880 amounted to about S6i 100000. rose
in 1893 to about S103,000,000 and in
1894, the year before the present insur-
rection broke ont, amounted to nearly
! S96000,000. 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
vexntiOus and costly.
Many Cubnns reside in this country and
| indirectly promote the insurrection
through the press, by public meetings, by
the purchase aud sort 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 Cubaus ut heart
and in all their feelings and interests,
have taken out papers as naturalized citi-
zens of the United States, "a proceeding
resorted to with view to possible pro-
| lection by this government, and not un-
naturally regarded with much Indignation
| by the country of their origin. The in
surgents arc undoubtedly encouraged aud
! supported by the widespread sympa-
thy the people of this country always and
! instinctively feel for every struggle for