The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1896-12-10

nv last annual message has IN the least IN
| proved. If Spain still holds Havana and q
seaports and all considerable towns. the Il
| surRents still roam at win over At lea
two-thirds Of the inland country. II the d
| termination of Spain to put down the lnsul
| rection seems but to strengthen With q
lapse of time, and Is evidenced by her NJ
hesitating devotion of largely increase
| military and naval forces to the task, ther
is much reason to believe that the tnsul
gents have gained in point of numbers an
character and resources, and are none tn
less indexible in their resolve not to succum
without practically securing the great Pre-
| jects for which they took up arms II Spa1
has not vet re-established her authority
neither have the insurgents yet made goo
their title to be regarded as an fndependen
state. Indeed. as the contest has gone or
1 the pretense that civil government exists o.
the island. except so far as Spain Il able Z
maintain il, has been practically abandoned
Spain does keep on foot such govern
ment, more or less imperfectly. In the larg
towns and their immediate suburbs But
that exception being made, the entire coun
try Is either given over to anarchy or u
subject to the military occupation of one Of
the other party. 1t is reported. indeed. OF
| reliable authority that at the demand o.
the commander-in-chief of the insurgen
army, the putative Cuban government ha.
now given up all attempt to exercise 1t.
functions. leaving that government confes-
sedly (what there Is the best reason for sup
posing 1t always to have been In fact gov.
eminent merely on paper.
Were the Spanish armies able to meet
their antagonists in the open, or in pitched
battle, prompt and decisive results might be
| looked for, and the immense superiority OF
| the Spanish forces in numbers. discipline
and equipment. could hardly fail to tell
greatly to their advantage. But they are
called upon to face foe that shuns general
engagements that can choose and does
choose its own ground, that from the nature
of the country Is visible or invisible at
pleasure, and that fights only from am
buscade and when all the advantages of po-
sition and numbers are on its side. In a
country where all that is indispensable to
life in the way of food. clothing and shelter
is SO easily obtainable especially by those
born and bred on the soil, it is obvious that
there is hardly limit to the time during
which hostilities of this sort may be pro-
lOnged. Meanwhile as in all cases of pro-
tracted civil strife. the passions of the COM
batants grow more and more infiamed and
excuses on both sides are more frequent
and more deplorable.
They also are participated in ~ bands of
marauderS, VINO, now in the name of one
party and now in the name of the other, as
may best suit the occasion, harass the cOun-
try at will and plumber its wretched inhab-
itants for their own advantage. Such a
condition of things would inevitably entail
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 be the original policy of the Span
ish government 1t has now apparently
abandoned it, and is acting upon the same
theory as the insurgents, namely that the
exigencies of the contest require the whole
sale humiliation of property, that 1t may
not prove of use and advantage to the enc
my. 1t is to the same end that in pursuance
of general orders, Spanish garrisons are
now being withdrawn from plantations and
the rural population required to concentrate
itself in the towns.
The sure result would seem to be that the
industrial value of the island is fast dimin-
iShing and that unless there is speedy and
radical change in existing conditions. it will
soon disappear altogether. That value con-
sists very largely. of course in its capacity
to produce sugars-a capacity already much
reduced by Interruptions to tillage which
have taken place during the last two years.
1t is reliably asserted that should these in
terruptions continue during the current
year. and practically extend. as is now
threatened. to the entire sugar producing
territory of the island, so much time and SO
much money will be required to restore the
land to its normal productiveness that it is
doubtful if capital can be induced
to even make the attempt
The spectacle of the utter ruin of an ad-
joining country by nature. one of the most
fertile and charming on the globe. would
engage the serious attention of the govern
ment and people of the United States under
any circumstances In point of fact they
have 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 country. Our
actual pecuniary interest in it is second
,nly to that of the people and government
Of Spain 1t is reasonably estimated that
capital is invested in plantations, in rail-
road. mining and other business enter
priSeS on the island. The volume of trade
between the United States and Cuba, which
n 1889 amounted to about S64. 900 OOO rose
n 1898 to about s1O3 100000 and in 1894.
he year before present insurrection broke
'ut. amounted to nearly SOC, 100000. Be-
sides this large pecuniary interest staked in
he fortunes of Cuba, the United States finds
Itself inextricably involved in the present
contest in other ways both vexatious and
:OStly.
Many Cubans reside in this country. and
Indirectly promote the insurrection through
he press by public meetings. by the pur-
;nase and shipment of arms by the raising
spirit of our institutions and the tenor of |
'ur laws do not permit to be made the SUBJ
ect of criminal prosecution Some of them.
hough Cubans at heart and in all their feel |
ngs and interests, have taken out papers al |
laturalized citizens of the United States, a |
proceeding resorted to with a view to Dos |
dble protection by this government. and |
lot unnaturally regarded with much tndig- |
lation by the country of their origin The |
Insurgents are undoubtedly encouraged and
supported by the widespread sympathy of |
he people of this country always Instinct |
vely felt for every struggle for better and |
reer government, and which in the case of |
he more adventurous and restless elements |
II our population, leads in only too manv |
Instances to active and personal participa-
ion in the contest
The result is that this government is con-
SANITY called upon to protect American cit |
zenS to claim damages for injuries to per.
ons and property. now estimated at many
Millions of dollars. and to ask explanations
md apologies for the acts OF Spanish ON |
ials whose zeal for the repression of rebel. |
ion sentiments blinds them to the immun.
ties belonging to the unofending citizens
Il friendly power.
IL follows from the same causes that the
jnited states is compelled to actively police
~ &C