The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1896-12-10

nnamed and excesses on both sides be-
'ome ffvquent and more deplorable. 4
rhsg ura also participated IN by bands |
lf uSfauders who now IN the name Of I
Drc party. and row IN the name OF the l
other as may best suit the occasion, har- /
rass the country at viii and piunder rs
wretch d inhabitants for their own adj !
vantage. .Such a condition II things
would Inevitably entail immense de- !
struction ~ property even II II were the
policy OF both parties TO prevent Il as
far as practicable. Bot While such
seemed 10 be tie original policy of the
Spanish government, it has now aprar-
enily abandoned It, and Is acting ufon
the same theory as the Insurgents,
namely. that the exisencies Of tn con-
test requires the Whols sale annihilation
Of property, that Il may not prove OF
use and advantage TO the enemy. II Is
for tho same end that IN pursuance OF
general 0rlers. Spanish garrisons are
now being Withdrawn from plantations
and the rural population required 10
concentrate itself IN lhs towns. The
result would seem to be that the indus
trial value Of the island Il fast dmin-
ishing and that uni IS rhere - a speedy
and radical change IN existing condi-
Tors Il VIII soon disappear altogether
as the value consists very largely Of
course by ITS capacity, already much re-
ducad BY the Interruptions to tiliage,
watch have talen place during tho last
two years. il IS reliably asss srted that
ahoul the Interruptions D. con .lnued
during the current year ard practically
extend, as is row threatened. % the en-
tise sugar producing territory of the IS
lend, 50 much time and So much money
VIII be required 20 restore the aud to
its romal rrOductivenee that Il Is eX-
u me.y doubtful II capital can be IN
duced 20 even make the attempt. The
spectacle of the utter ruin of an adjoin-
ing country, by nature one OF the moss
fertile and charming on the flobe. would
engage the serious attention u the gov
eminent and people Of the United States
In any circumstance. In point OF fac.
th Y have q concern with ID which Is
by no means OF a wholly sentimental
or philanthropic character II lies so
near TO Us as 10 be hardly separated
from our territory. Our actual pecu-
MARY interest Ia Il second only 10
that OF the people ard government OF
Span. IL Is reasonably estimlted that
al least from $4,000 00) to $4,000 000 OK
American capital are invested in p an
tatisns and railroads, mining. and the
other business enterprises on the island.
The volume OF trade between the United
States and Cuba which in 1889 amount
Ell to about $4,000 900. rose In 1898 10
about SlO8. .Oc0.c09. and In 1894 the year
before the present insursection broke
out. amounted to rearly s9s,000c COO. Pc
s.des this large pecunlary stake Ia the
fortunes of cuba, the United States
finds itsef inextrlfably involved I'm the
prcsent contest in other WAYS, both vex-
a.ions and costly.
Many Cubans reside IN this country
and indirectly promote the insurrection
through the press. by public meetings.,
by the purchase and shipment OF arms.
By the raising Of funds and by other
means, which the spirit Of our institu-
tions and the tenor OF our laws do not
permit TO be made the subject OF crlmi-
nal prosecutions. Some OF them. though
Cubans at heart and in oil their feel
ings and interests. have taken out nat
uralization papers as citizens OF the
u
with a view OF possible protection by
this government and not unnaturally
regarded with much indignation by the
country OF their origin. The insurgents
are undoubtedly encouraged and sup
ported by the widespread sympathy the
people or this country always and In
stinctively feel for every struggle for
better and freer government, and
which, in the case Of the more ad-
yenturous and restless elements Of our
population, leads. in only too many in
stances, to active participation in the
contest. The result Is that this gov
ernment IS constantly called upon to
protect American citizens, to claim
damages for injuries 20 person and
property. now estimated at many mill
lions Of dollars and 10 ask explanations
and apologies for the acts Of Spanish
officials whose zeal for the oppression
Of rebellion sometimes blinds them to
Immunities belonging TO the unodend-
fnp citizens OF q friendly power. IL fol-
lows from the same causes that the
United States is compelled 70 actively
police a long line Of sea coast against
unlawful expeditions. the escape Of
ways suffice to prevent. These inevit-
ably entangle the United States with
the rebellion In Cuba. American prop
erty interest affected, a consideration Of
philanthropy and humanity in general,
have led to q vehement demand In va
rlous quarters for some sort OF positive
Intervention on the part Of the United
States. 1t was at first proposed that
belIigerent rights should be accorded 10
the insurgents, q proposition no longer
urged, because its untimely and imprac-
tlcabie operation would clearly be per-
iIous and injurious to our own interests.
IL has since been, and ls 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
or the military officer IN temporary
command OF a particular district can be
dlgnided as a species Of government.
1t Is now also suggested that the Uni
ted States should buy the island, sug-
gestion possibly worthy Of considera-
ton X there were any evidence Of q
desire or willingness on the part Of
Spain 10 entertain such q proposition.
II Is urged, finally, that all oher meth
DDS failing the existing internecine
strife be terminated by our Intervention,
even at the cost Of war between the
United States and Spain, war, which
It's advocates sconhdently prophssy ,coald
be neither long In its proportion nor
doubtful In it's issues. Correctness OF
this forecast need be neither affirmed
or denied The United States has new
ertheless a character 70 mninain as o
nation. which plainly dictates thatright
and not might should be the rule Of Its
conduct Further than the right the
United States, II not q nation 20 which
which peace As a necessity, is in truth
the most pacific Of powers, and there is
nothing 10 desirable ag tD fivn fu nunftv