The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-08
0LlEY'S PLAIN Talk
CRISP PRESENTATION OF FOREIGN
PROBLEMS BY THE SECRETARY
OF STATE.
oUTsPoKEN AS TO CUBA.
WRETCHED CONDITIONS ON THE
ISLAND SET FORTH IN THEIR
DETAIL.
EVEN PATIENCE HAS IT'S LIMIT.
Spain Cannot Expect Things to Go
on Indefinitely as They Now
Are.

on indefinitely as They Now
WASHINGTON, Dec. For the
first time within the membry of old
officials, the secretary of state has
made a regular report to the presi-
dent. for transmission to congress. like
the reports of other officers Of the CAP
met. This report was laid before con-
gress today as an appendix to the
presidents message. 1t treats of many
details of our relations during the past
year with foreign governments that
either were not touched upon in the
message or were more briefly treated.
Under the head of Spain. Secretary
Olney has much to say in regard to
Cuba, and in his report he sets out II
great detail the history of the growth
OF the rebellion, the present evil state
OF affairs on the island and other facts
upon Which the president bases his
broad statements and conclusion. No
reference is made to a report from
Consul General Lee, but the secretary
intimates that this information comes
principally from the United States con-
suls, and so must be regarded as con-
hdential as to its source. The secre-
tary's estimate of the present sit1Ia
tion, is disclosed in the following para
graph, made after a preliminary state
ment of the destruction of the indus
trial resources of Cuba:
From whatever point of view we regard
the matter, it is impossible not to discern that
a state Of things exists at our DOORS alike
dangerous to good relations, destructive of
legitimate commerce, fatal to the internal
resources OF Cuba, and most vexatious and
Trying, because entailing upon this govern
ment excessive burdens in Its domestic adj
ministration and in its outward relations.
rms situation cannot indefinitely continue
without growing still worse and the time
may not be far distant when the United
States must seriously consider whether its
rights and interests. as well as it's interna-
tional duties, in view of it's peculiar relations
to the island. do not call for some decided
change in the policy hitherto pursued"
TO begin with, the secretary makes
it plain that the present insurrection
is far more formidable than the famous
''ten-year insurrection." which began
III 1868. He says that startling in the
same portion of the island, it very
early took proportions beyond its pre-
deceSsof and Herewith assumed an
aggressive phase. Passing the defen-
slve lines or trochas, traversing the
Island from north to the south. for
mldable bodies Of the revolutionary
forces early in the year established
themselves in the rich sugar. planting
district of Santa Clara and 'Cienfuegos,
made hostile forays. almost in sight or
Havana itself, and advancing west
ward effected a lodgment in the fertile
tobacco fields of Pinar del Rio, which
has so far resisted all efforts of the
Spanish forces to overcome
GUERRILLA WARFARE.
The secretary says that while no
prominent seaport has been attacked
by the 1nsurgents,a large part of the
200 miles of sea-coast is practically
III their hands, and from it's rugged
and wild character, is peculiarly fitted
Tor guerilla warfare and affords easy
means of receiving clandestine sup
plies OF men and arms. The secretary
adds:
While thus, in fact, controlling the large
area OF the whole Island of Cuba, from Cape
San Antonio to Cape Maisi, and enjoying
practically unlimited use of an equally large
part OF the coast, the revolutionary forces are
scattered, being nowhere united for any
length of time to form an army capable of
attack or siege, and fit to take the defen-
denly at given point often in a single
night, they make unexpected sallies or carry
destruction to the tobacco and cane fields of
Cuba, and at first signs Of pursuit or organ
lied assault, they disperse only to reassembie
in Ike manner at some other spot"
As bearing upon the question of the
recognition of the insurgents, prob
ably soon to come before congress, In
some shape the following statement by
Secretary Olney is of Importance as
explaining his reasons for declining
recognition:
$50 far as our information shows there is
not only no effective government by the in
SurgentS in the territories they overrun, but
there is not even a tangible pretense to es-
tablish administration anywhere. Their or
ganiZaton confined to the shifting exigencies
of the military operations of the hour is
nomadic, without definite centers and lacking
the most elementary features of government.
There nowhere appears the nucleus of state
hood The machinery for exercising the le--
gtimate rights and powers of the sovereign
ty and responding to the obligations which
de facto sovereignty entails in the face of
equal rights Of other states, is conspicuously
lacking. 1t is not possible to discern homo
geneous political entity of possessing and ex-
ercising the functions of administration and
capable, il left to itself, of maintaining or
derly government in its own territory, and
sustaining normal relations with the external
family of governments.
The secretary illustrates his point as
to the irresponsibility Of the insurgents
by citing their destruction of Ameri-
can plantations and the oppression of
American planters who grind cane,
which he characterizes as acts Of an
archy. On the other hand he shows
that in the capital cities and seaports
and all parts of the island with which
the United States or it's citizens main
tain legitimate normal intercourse, the
Spanish power is supreme, though
often exercised in vexatious and arbi-
trary way, calling for just remon-
STRANGE, and most Of the functions of
government proceed as in time of peace.
SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTS.
Recurring to his comparison of this
inS1rrectiOn with those that have Dre-
ceded 1t, Secretary Olney makes this
significant statement:
From every accessible indication 1t is clear
that the present rebellion is on a far more
formidable scale as to numbers, intelligence
and representative features than any Of the
preceding revolts of this century, that the
corresponding effort of Spain for its repres-
sion has been enormously augmented; and
that, despite the important influx of fresh
armies and material of war from the metrop-
oils, the rebellion, after nearly two years of
successful resistance, appears today to be
in condition. to indefinitely prolong the con-
test on its present lines.
He also compliments the tactical skill
displayed by the leaders Of the insur-
rection, saying that when the disparity
of numbers and the comparatively in
defensible character of the central and
Western Vega country are considered,
the passage of a considerable force into
Pinar del Rio, followed by its success
full maintenance there for many
months, must be regarded as a mill
tary success of a pronounced character
He adds:
The insurgent armies fairly represent the
intelligent aspirations OF a large proportion
of the people of the whole island; and it is
shown that they propose to wage this con-
test. on these better grounds OF vantage, to
the end and to make the present struggle
a supreme test of the capacity of the Cuban
people to win for themselves and their chill
dren the heritage OF Eelf-goyernment.