Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-21

not been permitted TO continue, mann
, testify because 1t held out little hope to
the people at home who are furnishing
lenders, whose funds Spain must soon
have i'm order to continue the ruinous
strife. Accordingly, it seems, Weyier
WAS forced to take the field. He did
SO in his usual boastful fashion. The
idea that he allowed to be sent abroad
was that he was going to drive Maceo
from his strong hold in the mountains
of Pinar del Rio. There appears to
have been no ground for supposin2
Maceos army into scattered bands
from the mountain Businesses and cap
ture some of his supplies. As to the
ability of the larger part of the insur-
gent leaders, forces to escape. consid-
ering the ease with which the Spanish
trocha has been broken in the past,
there has been little serious doubt. On
the other hand unless Weyler shall
effectually dislodge Maceo his mission
will have all the effect of a great de-
feat. although there will really be
rothing surprising in it.
In event Of such a defeat what can
Spain do? She would have been I'M
able to retain even her present finan-
c:al standing in the past but for the
/ tribute she wrung from Cuba. This
has not only been cut off but the pos
sibility of its early return in case of
her ultimate victory is extremely
doubtful as the following figures taken
from statistics of the trade between
the United States aul Cuba will shorr:
The imports from Cuba, which
averaged 1886. $50 month In 1894. the
year preceding the outbreak of the re-
bellion, fell to 81. 1904 343 month in 1895.
and for the nine morths ending with
last September were but s2255.1il a
month. Exports to Cuba fell from an
average Of $1,i32 1876 month in 1894 to
S79i. 504 a month in 1885, and $500 5o7 a
month in 1896. If from the latter fig
ures be deducted the special importa-
tions OF food supplies due to the pres
ence of huge Spanish army and the
destruction of the native crops, it will
| be seen that American commerce with
Cuba has been thrown from a COM
| 4 linn ;,;
destruction.
The last instruction, which ended in
| 1879 through concessions to the insur-
gents. was one of astounding ferocity
and destructiveness and had continued
for II years. The insurgents We're not
then crushed but able to make honor
able terms. The duration of the pres
ent instruction is hut one year and
| nine months and active operations
were begun only year from last June.
The Insurgents are constantly increas-
ing in strength and equipment. Fill
clustering expeditions that escape the
vigilance of the United States appear
to have but little difficulty in landing
supplies in Cuba. There is everything
to indicate that the Cubans in this
country are encouraged and supplied
with funds for the rebellion. On the
other hand Spain is confessedly at her
wits end for money. About all the sus-
tenance Cuba affords falls into the in
sursent's power. The Spanish army
must be fed and maintained out of
lSpain's treasury, which is empty The
almost hystericnl eagerness with which
the SpaniardS subscribed to last loan
is condition of affairs that cannot in
the nature of things he of long con-
tinuance. The estimated cost of the
war to Spain is already half a
Maceo what likelihood is there that he
lever can regain control of the island?
He now has more troops than Spain
can continue to maintain on the island
for any long period. 1t will be virtual
ly forced confession of SPANS in
liability to successfully crush the rebel
lion. What then? Shall the United
States permit this awful devastation
to continue? Millions upon millions Of
dollars owned by Americans in that
island have been destroyed. Is there
any likelihood that this government
can exact settlement of them without
recourse to war. especially as Spain
has filed counter claims on account of
the damage done by filibustering expe-
: ditions? If Maceos forces are only
scattered it will not be viewed as a
! real defeat for the insurgents. Unless
Weyler can capture the enemy bag and
baggage the result of his expedition
will virtually be a Spanish defeat.
Patriotic View OF II.
Bourke Cochran, free trader made a