The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-08


ers, 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 plunder its wretched inhabit-
ants for their own advantage. Such a
condition of things would inevitably en-
tail immense destruction of property
even if it were the policy of both parties
to prevent it as far as practicable. But
while such seemed to he the original policy
of the Spanish government, it has now APP
parently abandoned it and is acting upon
the same theory as the insurgents, name
ly. that the exigencies of the contest re
quire the wholesale annihilation of pro-
perty, that it may not prove of use and
advantage to the enemy 1t is to be the
same end that in pursuance OF general
orders, Spanish garrisons are now being
withdrawn from plantations and the ru-
raj population required to concentrate
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, it will soon disappear
altogether. That value consists very
largely, Of course, in its capacity to pro
duce sugar-a capacity already much re-
duced by the Interruptions to tillago,
which have taken place during the hast
two years 1t is reliably as
serted that should these Interruptions
continue during the current year
and practically extend as is now threat
ened to the entire sugar producing terri
tory of the island, so much time and so
much money win be required to restore
the land to it's normal productiveness
that it is extremely doubtful if capital
can be induced to even make the at
tempt. The spectacle Of the utter ruin
of an adjoining country, by nature one
of the most fertile and charming on the
globe would engage the serious attention
of the government and people of the
United States in any circumstance. In
point of fact, they have a concern with
1t 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 actual
pecuniary interests in it is second only
to that Of the people and government
of Spain. 1t is reasonably estimtaed
that at least from $30,000,000 to $50
| 000,00 Of American capital are invested
on 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 $6f 10000
rose in 1893 to about $103,000,000. and
| in 1894, the year before the present a.
| surrection broke on, amounted TO nearly
| $4,000, 600. Besides this large pecuniary
| stake in the fortunes of Cuba, the United
States finds itself inextricabfy involved
| in the present contest in other ways
/ both yexatious and costly. Many Cubans
4 Il.
l mote the insurrection through the press.
| by public meetings, by the purchase and
1 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, pro-
| ceeding resorted to with a view to pos
| sible protection by this government, and
not unnaturally regarded with much
/ indignation by the country of their ORR
| gin. The insurgents are undoubtedly
| encouraged and supported by the wide
| spread sympathy the people of this coun-
| try always and instinctiveiy feel fer
| every struggle for better and freer gov
1 ernment, and which, in the case Of the
more adventurous and restless elements
Of our population, leads in only too many
i instances to active and personal partici-
patton in the contest The result is that
| this government is constantly called
upon to Protect American citizens, to
claim damages for injuries to persons
| and property, now estimated at many
millions Of dollars, and to ask explana-
tions and apologies for the acts of Span
ish officials, whose zeal for the rCpres-
sion Of rebellion sometimes blinds chem
to the immunities belonging to the un-
offending citizens of a friendly power.
1T follows from the same. causes that
the United States is compelled to actively
police long line Of seacoast against
unlawful expeditions, the escape of
which the utmost vigilance will not al
ways suffice to prevent.
These inevitable entangIements of the
United States with the rebellion in Cuba,
the large American property interests
affected, and considerations Of phiIan.
thropy and humanity in general, have
led to vehement demand in various QUAR-
ters, for some sort of positive interven-
ton on the part OF the United States
1t was at firstgproposed that belIgerent
rights should be accorded to the ,insur-
gents-a proposition no ;onger urged
because untimely and in practical opera
tion clearly perllous and injurious to
our own interests.
1t has since been and is now some
times contended that the independence of.
the insurgents should be recognized. But
imperfect and restricted as the Spanish
government of the island may be, no
other exists there unless the will of the
military officer in temporary command
of a particular district can be dignifed
as a species of government. 1T is now
also suggested that the United States
should buy the island-a suggestion pos
sibly worthy Of consideration If there
were any evidence OF desire or willing
ness on the part of Spain to entertain
snch q nrnnneal II is nrr,nd Gnnllrr