The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-12-09
TACKLES THE CUBAN QUESTION.
Not Much Comfort for the Followers of
Maceo and Gomez.

Maceo and Gomez.
The president then takes up the Gu
ban question, and says:
The insurrection in Cuba still con-
tinues with all its perplexities 1t is
difficult TO see that any progress has
thus far been made towards the pacifi-
cation OF the island or that the situa-
ton of affairs as depicted in my last
annual message has i'm the least inn
proved. IL Spain still holds Havana
and the SeapOrts and all the considera-
bic towns, the insurgents still roam at
will over at least two-thirds of the in
land country. If the determination OK
spain to put down the insurrection
seems but TO strengthen with the lapse
OF time, and isevinced by her unhesi-
of time, and is evinced by her unhesi-
military and naval forces TO the task
there is much reason to believe that
the insurgents have gained in point Of
numbers and character and resources
and are none the less infiexible in their
resolve not to succumb without prac-
tically securing the great objects for
which they took up arms.
III Spain has not yet re-established
her authority, neither have the insur-
gents yet made good their title TO be
regarded as an independent state. In
deed. as the contest has gone on the
pretense that civil government exists
on the island. except so far as Spain
- able TO maintain IL, has been prac-
tically abandoned. Spain does keep on
foot such government. more or less
imperfectiy, in the large towns and
their immediate suburbs. But that ex-
cspfion being made, the entire country
is either given over 10 anarchy or is
subject to the military occupation of
one or the other party. IL 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 it's functions.
leaving that government confessedly
twhat there is the best reason for sup
posing IL always 10 have been. in fact,)
a government merely on paper. Were
the Spanish armies able TO meet their
antagonists in the open or pitched bat
tie promptand decisive results might be
looked for. and the immense superior
ity OF the Spanish forces in numbers.
discipline and equipments could hardly
fail TO tell greatly TO their advantage
But they are called upon TO face a foe
that shuns general engagements, that
can choose and does choose its own
ground. that from the nature OF the
country ia visible or invisible at pleas
ure. and that fights only from ambus-
cade. and when all the advantage OF
position and numbers are on Aits side.
In country where all that is indis-
pensable 10 life i'm the way of food.
clothing and shelter is so easily OBJ
tainable. especially by those born and
bred on the soil Il is obvious that there
is hardly a limit to the time during
which hostilities of this sort may be
prolonged. Meanwhile as In all cases
OF protracted civil strife. the passionsof
the combatants grow more and more
infamed and excuses on both sides be-
come more frequent and more deplora-
BILE
They are also participated i'm 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, harry the country at will
and plumber Its wretched inhabitant,i