The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-08
THE REVENUE DISCUSSED

ali attempt 20 exercise It's functions.
leaving that government confessedly
(what there In best reason for suppos-
Ing IL always 10 have been In facO a
government merely on paper. Were the
Spanish armies able TO meet their an
tagc nlsts in the open or In pitched bat
tie prompt and decisive result might
be looked for. and the immense super.
lority Of the Spanish forces IN num-
beers. discipline and equipment could
hardly fail 10 tell greatly TO their ad-
vantage. 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
pleasure. and that fights only from
ambuscade and when all the advan-
tages OF position and numbers are on
It's side. In a country where all that
is indispensable. especially by those
born and bred on the soil. II Is obvious
that there is hardly a limit to the time
during which hostilities Of this sort
may be prolonged. Meanwhile in all
cases Of protracted civil strife. the
passions OF the combatants grow more
and more inhamed and exoesses on both
sides become more frequent and more
deplorable. 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. harass the country at will and
plunder It's wretched inhabitants for
their own advantage. Such a condition
OF thirgs would inevitably entail i'm
mense destruction Of property even IL
II 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. II
has now apparently abandoned II, and
is acting upon die same theory as the
insurgents. namely: That the exlgen-
cles OF the contest require the whole
sale annihilation OF property that II
may not prove Of any use and advan-
tage 20 the enemy. II is to the same
end that in pursuance OF general or
ders, Spanish garrisons are now being
withdrawn from plantations and the
rural population required TO concen-
trate itself In the towns. The sure re-
suit would seem to be that the indus
trial value Of the island Is fast dlmln-
ishing and that unless there is a speedy
and radical change In existing condi-
tions, II win 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 tillage which have TAX
en- place during the last two years. 1t
It reliably asserted that should these
Interruptions continue during the cur
rent year and practically extend. as is
now threatened TO the entire sugar pro-
ducing territory OF the island, so much
time and so much money will be re-
quired to restore the land to its normal
productiveness that II Is extremely
doubtful OF capital can be Induced to
even make the attempt. The spectacle
of the utter ruin OF an adjoining coun-
try, by nature one of the most fertile
and charming on the whole globe.
would engage the serious attention of
the government and the people of the
United States In any circumstances. In
point of fact they have a concern with
IL which is by no means OF a wholly
sentimental or philanthropic character.
1t lies so near to us as to be hardly
separated from our territory. Our ac-
tual pecuniary interest in 1t is second
only to that of the people and govern
ment of Spain. 1t is reasonably estimat-
ed that at least from thirty to fifty mill
lion dollars OF American capital are
invested in plantations and in railroads,
mining and other business enterprises
on the island The volume OF trade
between the United States and Cuba,
which in 1889 amounted to about s64,-
100000. rose in 1898 to about SlOS, 900 900,
and In 1894, the year before the present
insurrection broke out, amounted to
nearly $96,OOO,OOO. Besides this, large
pecuniary stake in the fortunes of Cuba,
the United States finds itself inextri- |
cably involved in the present contest in
other ways both vexatious and costly.
Many Cubans reside in this 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-
tions and the tenor OF our laws do not |
permit to be made the subject of GRIM
lnal prosecutions. Some of them, thor
ough Cubans at heart and In all their
felings and interests, have taken out |
papers and become naturallzed citizens
Of the United States a proceeding re-
sorted to with view to possible pro-
lection by this government and not un-
regarded with much indig
nation by the country Of their origin.
The insurgents are undoubtedly en-
and supported by the wide !
spread sympathy the people Of this