The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-08
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
Contlnued LON First Page.

the island or that the situation OF affairs
as depicted in my last annual message
has in the least improved. IL Spain still
holds Havana and the sea ports ana all
the considerable towns, the insurgents
still roam at VIII over al least two-thrds
OF the inland country. If the determina-
ton of Spain to put down the nsurrec-
ton seems but to strengthen with the
lapse of time and is evinced by her I'M
hesitating devotion of largely increased
military and naval forces to the task,
there is much reason 10 believe that the
insurgents have gained in point of nun-
bers and character and resources, AMI are
none the less inheXble in their resolve
not to succumb, without practically Sc
curing the great objects for which they
took up arms. If Spain has not yet re-
established her authority, neither nave
the insurgents yet made good their title
to be regarded as an independent state.
Indeed, as the contest has gone on, the
pretense that civil government exists on
the island, except so far as Spain is able
to maintain it, has been practically aban-
doned Spain does keep on foot sucn
government, more or less imperfecty, in
the large towns and their immediate su-
burbs. 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 the commander-in-
chief of the insurgent army the putative
Cuban government has now given up all
attempt to exercise its functions, leaving
that government confessedly (What there
is the best reason for supposing it always
to have been in facO a government merely
on paper. Were the Spanish armies able
to meet their antagonists in the open. or
In pitched battle, prompt and decisive re-
suits might be looked for, and the i'm
mense 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 a foe that shuns general engage
ments, that can choose, and does choose,
it's own ground, that from the nature OF
the country is visible or invisible at pleas
ure, and that fights only from ambus-
cade and when all the advantages of po-
sition and numbers are on it's side. In a
country where all that is Indispensable
to life in the way of food, clothing and
shelter is so easily obtained, especially
by those born and bred on the soil, ii 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 pas,
sions of the cambatants grow more and
more inf1amed and excuses on both sides
become more frequent and 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 occasion, har-
ass the country at will and plumber It's
wretched inhabitants for their own advau-
tage. Such condition of things would
inevitably bring about destruction of
property, even if it were the policy Of both
parties to prevent it as far as 1t was pos
sible. Such seemed to be the original
policy of the Spanish government. 1t has
now apparently abandoned it and is act
ing upon the same theory as the insur-
gents, namely, that the exigencies of the
contest require the wholesale humiliation
of property, that it may not 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-
centrate itself 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
radical change in existing conditions 1t
viii soon disappear altogether. That value
consists very largely, of course, in it's ca
pac.ty to produce sugar-a capacity al
ready much reduced by the interruption
TO tillage, which have taken place during
the last two years. 1t is reliably assert
ed that should these interruptions con-
tinue during the current year. and prac-
tically extend, as is now threatened, to
the entire sugar producing territory Of
the island, so much time and so much
money will be required to restore the is
land to its normal productiveness that it
is extremely doubtful if capital can be in
duced to even make the attempt. The
spectacle of the utter ruin of an adjoin-
ing country, by nature one of the most
fertile and charming on the globe would
engage the serious attention of the gov
eminent and people of the United States
in any circumstances. In point of fact
they have a concern with it which is by
no means Of a wholly sentimental or
phianthropic character. 1t lies so near to
US as to be hardly separated from our ter
ritory. Our actual pecuniary interests in
IT is second only to that of the people and
government of Spain. 1t is reasonably
estimated that at least from $4,000, 600 to
$50000000 of American capital are invest
ed In plantations and In railroad, mining
and other business enterprises on the is
land The volume of trade between the
United States and Cuba, which in 1882
amounted to about $6i000,000, rose in 1898
to about sl03. 00o, 900. and in 1924, the year
before the present Instruction broke out
amounted to nearly $96,000. 900 Besides this
large pecuniary stake of the fortunes Of
the public, the United States finds itself
inextricably involved in the present con
test in other ways, both vexatious and
costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country and
indirectly promote the insurrection
through the press, by public meeting, by
the purchase 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 as naturalized citizens
OF the United States, a proceeding resort
ed to with view to possible protectio
by this government, and not unnaturally
regarded with much indignation by the
country of their origin. The Insurgents
are undoubtedly encouraged and support
de by the widespread sympathy the peo-
pie Of this country always and instinct
lively feel for every struggle for better
ana freer government, and which, in the
case Of the mere adventurous and restless
elements of our population. leads In only
too many instances to active and personal
participation in the contest The result
is that this government is constantly call
ed upon TO protect American citizens, to
claim damages for injuries to persons and
property, now estimated at many millions
OF dollars, and to ask explanations and
apologies for the acts OF Spanish officials,
whose zeal for the repression Of the rebel