The record-union., 1896-12-08

ereignty entails in the face Of equal
rights Of other States, is conspicuously
lacking. 1t is not possible to discern a
homogeneous political entity, possessing
and exercising the functions of admin
istraticn, and capable, if left to ITSELF
of maintaining orderly government in
it's own territory and sustaining normal
relations with the external family OF
governments.
ITO illustrate the conditions the in
surgent chiefs assert the military power
to compel peaceable citizens of the
United States within their territory to
desist from planting or grinding cane,
under the decred penalty of death and
destruction Of their crops and mills, but
the measure is one of sheer force, with
out justification under public law. The
wrongs SO committed against the Cit
zens of foreign State are without an
international forum of redress to which
the Government of the United States
may have recourse as regards it's rela-
ton to the perpetrators. The acts are
| those of anarchy, and in default of the
responsibilities of de facto Statehood in
the case, there remains only the terri
torial accountability of the titular SOW
ereign within the limits of it's compe-
tency to repress the wrongs COM
planned Of
In opposition to the nomadic control
OF the interior and the undefended coast
py the insurgents, the Spanish author
lty continues in the Capital City and
seaports. It's garrisons are there estab-
llshed. From them it's naval operations
are directed and executed. Most of its
functions proceed as in time of peace
It's customs and municipal revenues are
regularly collected, and with the ex-
ceptlon OF the temporary restraints al
legged to be due to the admitted exist
ence to a state Of hostilities, foreign
commerce with the island is kept up.
although largely diminished by the nat
CIaI concentration of the Cuban market
OF supply and demand AS to these
parts OF the island with which this
country and its citizens maintain Ieei+
lmately normal intercourse, the Span-
ish power is supreme, although often
ciseu IN a veXatiOus and arbitrary
way calling for just remonstrance.
Do lar, therefore, as the relative no.
stlon OF the Spanish and ins,,rpept
FORCES Is compatible with the situation
uurlhs the Yara insurrection, while the
anne phases OF organized administra-
lioh IN the capital and seaports and
trade with the outside world on tbs
cne side, and on the other a non,aaio
VI SANITATION without Government and
oiiiy 10 wage harassing warfare
- ''ie interior, are now, as then, ap-
the present insurrection stands
-ii ho.dole contrast with it's predeces-
| tions N oPei d
Athough statistics of their military
9uehgth are attainable with difficuI+,y
anu are not always Trustworthy u,ba,,
oo'alhed, enough is certainly known 70
"ho" that the revolutionists in the fa1s
eiea.iy exceed in numbers anv org,,
h heretofore attempted: that with
acceSslons from the central an.1
terh districts of the island. bettar
'iiiii.dfy discipline is added +o j.,
creased strength; that instead of ,,o..-
~ oraWing, as heretofore. unon ~
comparatively primitive non,,Ioti
f,i,,,, uod, the lnsurgent armies
49, resent the intelligent asnira.
~ VI large proportion of tbe na--
80 u 'he whole island, and that tho,
piopose TO wage this contest on thar,
grounds of vantage to tba 81
mani the present struggle c,,n,.o,
VI the capacity Of the China, ra,..,.
~ WIN Tor themselves and tbeir ~,
q. 'he heritage of elf-governn,ent
"oie feature Of the military s;t
;.e - 'he tactical skill displayed h,,
hor. "hen the disparity in nun,,
anu the comparatively indafan.i,,,.
e"ai dcter OF the central and
country are considered. the nass.,sa ~, :. II II
considerable force into pi,a VI
,toS 'S us successful maintenanoa
ior many months, must be ro
e"iueo as military success of nro
uu character. So too. the Sn.rish
.h the held, in the garrison ~, 49,
''anu' Or on its way thither fror,
v.ief country, is largely bevond an1,
li'iiieary display yet called To-, "S
n iSihg' thus affording an indenen~
Neii' measure of the strength of IT, =.
surrection. III VI tne IN
from every accessible ;ndia,.,
Is clear that the present reha,1;a II
| -, o'e formidable scale as to num-
in'eiiisence and Representative
lnan any of the preceding ra-
us u 'iiis century, SO the correspond-
ing eHorts of Spain for its sunnrase;o,
hd' peeh enormously augmented. ora
oespi'e the constant influx of arn,io,
anu supphes, the rebellion, after nearly
'"o years OF successful resistance an
pears to-day to be in a condition to =,
oehhlteiy prolong the contest o,, ;ts
| present lines. IL"
Inc nature of the struggle. howaver
most earnest consideration.
ne Increased scale on which it is waped
| prihSs INTO bolder relief all the annau-
iis phases which often appear among
'he Latih races of the Western Hemis-
| phefe- ExcesSes before confined +o .
portion OF the island became moro i'm
pressiFe when wrought throughout ;ts
"hoie territory. The insurgent autbor-
NY as mas been seen, finds no regula r
administrative expression; it is as-
serted only by the sporadic and irre-
sponslpie force of arms. The Spanish
| power, outside the larger towns and
their immediate suburbs, when mani
TESTED at all is equally forceful and ar
| bitrary
! Inc one apparent aim on either side
is TO cripple the adversary hy indiscrim-
mate destruction of all that by any
chahce may benefit him. The populous
ana wealthy districts of the center and
west. which have escaped harm in for
mer contests, are now ravaged and laid
waste oy the blind fury of the respect
I'VE partlsans. The principles of civil