The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-08
MR.. OLNEY'S MESSAGE
The Secretary Has fuch 10 Say About
the Cuban IusurrsctOn
IT is A FEARFUL STRUGGLE
He Lauds the insurgents for Their
Military Shrewdness and In
telllGence, Yet Says
They're irresponsible.

I Nts uidhtH W lARN Anhl AlAf ll'HhhA
lnsurrection is Cor more formidable
than the famous Ten year iusurrec-
ton which begaIfat Yara in 1858. lie
says. starting in The same portion of
the island il very early took proper
tions beyond its predecessor and as
sumed an aggressive phase. Passing
defensive lines of tfochas. travelling the
4 island from north 10 south the fOrmid-
able bodies Of revolutionary forces ear
ly In the year established themselves
In the rich sugar planting districts of
santa Clara and Cienfugos, made hos
| tile toraEes almost In sight of Havana
itself and advancing forward, effected
lodsment In the fertile tobacco fields
of Pinnr del Rio, where they have
| frustrated ali efforts of the Spanish
| army 10 overcome them.
| The secretary says that while as yet
no prominent seaports have been at
tackled boy the insurgents and large
/ portion ~ the ., 500 miles coast Is prac-
ticalIy In their hands, and from It's
/ rugged and wild character Is peculiarly
fitted for guerilla warfare and affords
an easy means ~ lnnding clandestine
supplies % men and arms. The sccrc-
tary adds. while thus In fact con-
trolling the large pArt of the island of
Cuba from Cape son Antano 10 Cape
Maisi. and enjoying practically the un-
limited use Of an equally large part of
the coast, the revolutionary forces are
scattered. being never united for
length Of time To form an army capa-
BILE Of attack and seigc and til Ia take
defensive action IN a pitched battle.
Assembling suddenly at n given point
often In a single night. they make un
expected sallies or carry destruction TO
the tobacco and cane fields Of Cuba,
and at the first sign of pursuit or or
ganized assault they dispersc only TO
reassemble In lilo, manner at some
other point
As bearing upon the question Of rec
ognltion Of the insurgents which is To
come up In some shapt before congress
the following statement from Sccrc-
tary Olncy Is OF Importance In eN-
planning his reasons Cor declining rec
ognition: $50 far ns our information
shows. there Is not only no effective
local government by the insurgents In
the territory they OVerrun. but there
Is not even "A prctense to establish adj
ministraii0n anywhere. Their opera
tions are confined To- the shifting cXi-
gencies of military operations of the
hour. They are nomadlc. without def
mite cpnters. and lacking the most elp-
mcntary features Of municipal govern
ment There nowhere appears the nu-
cleus of statehood. The machinery for
the exercising OF legitimate rights and
powers uf sovereignty and responding
10 the obligations which de facto soy
erelgnty entails In the fact Of equal
rights OF other states, Is colspicuously
lacking"
The secretary Illustrates his point as
Ia the irrespousihiliiy Of the insurgents
by citing their destruction of American
plantations and oppression of AmeriC an
planters who grind cane. which h.
characteri2cs as acts II anarchy. pli
the other hand, II Is shown that in the
capital cities and sea ports and all
parts of the island with which the
United States on iis citizcns maintain
legitimatey formed intercourse thr
Spanish power Is supreme though often
exercised in n vexnttnns aud arbitrary
way, calling forth just remonstrancc
and that most Of the functions Of tho
government proceed as in time ol
peace. Recurring tu his comparison of
this insurrccti0n with those that have
preceded II, Secretary Dlncy makes this
significant statement:
From every accessible Indication. n
f. clear that the present rebellion is on
n far more formidable scale. az "a
numbers, intelligence and representa-
tive features than any OF the prcced-
ing revOlts Of this century: that tho
corresponding effect of Spain for It's
repression has been enormously aug
mented and that. despite the constant
influx of fresh armies and material oi
war. this rebellion, after nearly tWG
years of successful resistance appears
to-day 20 be In "A condition to indcfl-
nitely prolong the contest on It's present
lines"
He also compliments the tactical skill
displayed by the leaders of the insur.
rection. saying, when the disparity ot
numbers and the comparatively indie,
fsnsible character of M" central and
western country are considered. the
passage 81 "A considerable force intt
Pinar del Rio. followed by its success
ful maintenance there for manS
months. must be regarded as a military
success n a pronounced character
The insurgent armies. says the secre.
tary. fairly represent a f0tCliigcnI
aspirations Of a large prOpi4.. pro
pie 0f the whole island. and IL ..swf
that they purpose to wage n ~ ltes
on these better grounds of W, =, I,
the end and 10 make the presc ..gg
gle a supreme test ~ the capictty o
the Cuban people Ia win for themselvel
ard their children the heritage 81 self
government"
The secretary speaks ~ the appall
ing phases ~ IN. struggle as such AZ
often appear ~ contests among IN,
Latin races of the western henisphere
of the eYcesses and forceful and arbi
trary acts ot the military; of the raw