New-York tribune., 1896-12-08

success OF ,he Snanish force In the field in gar
So 'v, a~ the island. or on Its way thither from
Tso. country. Is largely peyono any mill
the ins,sriav vet called for by a Cuban rising,
tary "~aerding an independent measure OF the
taasusneth of the insurrectlon. :.
~ the present rebellion is on Iar more Tor.
ina. he scale as to numbers. intelligence and
miuaoan,atiye features than any OF the preced-
rep rsvots of this century. that the correspond
ihe wort OF Spain for its repression has been
ins sously augmented. and that. despite the
enol. influx of fresh armies and material of
c colS from the metropolis. the rebellion. after
va, so-,v two years of successful resistance. ap-
mes to-day to be in a condition to indefinitely
Pea,orr the contest on its present lines.
ExCEssEs OF THE CONTEST.
Tho nature of the struggle. however. deserves
... earnest consideration. The increased scale
- which it is waged brings into bolder relief all
W ". annalling phases which often appear to mark
.,ntests for supremacy among the Latin races
- tho Western Hemisphere. Excesses before
@Sred 10 portion Of the island become more
c~nressiye when wrought throughout its whole
s,snt as now. The insurgent authority, as has
v,n seen. finds no regular Administrative eX-
"Ssson: IL is asserted only blythe sporadic and
Es~nonsible force of arms. The Spanish power
atside Of the larger towns and their immediate
~Surbs when manifested at all, is equally force
mi and arbitrary.
~ The only apparent aim either side Is to
.,inne the adversary by indscrmnate destruc-
.nn of all that by any chance may benefit him.
The populous and wealthy districts Of the centre
md the west which have escaped harm in former
contests are now ravaged and laid waste by the
Hind fury Of the respective partisans. The prin-
cnles of civilized warfare. according to the code
made sacred by the universal acQuiescence of
Nations are only too often violated with i'm
nunity by irresponsible subordinates. acting at a
distance from the central authority and able to
shield themselves from just cenSure or punish
ment bv false or falsihed versions of the facts
The killing and summary execution of nom
combatants Is frequently reported. and while the
circumstances OF the strife such as to pre-
cude accurate or general information in this re-
gard enough is known to show that the number
Of such cases Is considerable. In some instances.
happily few. American citizens have fallen VIC
tins to these savage acts.
INJURIES TO AMERICAN CITIZENS.
large part Of the correspondence Of the State
Department. with its agents in Cuba has been
devoted to these cases Of assault upon the rights
Of our citizens. In no instance has earnest
remonstrance and energetic appeal been omitted
But the representatives of the Spanish power
often find il easily practicable to postpone ex-
plantations and reparation on the ground of al
legged ignorance of facts. or for other plausible
reasons.
citizens in Cuba is not the only alarming feat
ure Of the reign Of arbitrary anarchy In that
island. It's influence upon the fortunes Of those
who have invested their capital and enterprise
there, on the assumed assurance of respect for
law and treaty rights is no less in point. In
the nature Of things. and having regard to the
normal productions and trade Of the island.
most Of these ventures have been made in the
sugar and tobacco growing and stcck-raisng
districts now given over to civil war. Exact
statistics of the amount Of such investments
are rot readily attainable but an approximate
statement shows that American interests in
actual property in the district of Cienfuegos
reach some Sl2OOO.OOO: in the Province of
Matanzas some 50 100000: in Sagua. for estates
and crops alone not less than $9.229.OO0. while
in Santiago the investments in mining opera
tons probably exceed S1J.000.OOO For Pinar
del Rio. Santa Clara and the other interior dis
trcts tabulated statements wanting. and so
also with regard to commercial and manufact-
uring establishments. railway enterprises and
the like. gross estimate of $50 900 900 would
be more likely to fall under than over the mark.
GREAT INVESTMENTS IN PERIL.
A large proportion OF these investments Is
now exposed to the exceptional vicissitudes of
the war. Estates have been desolated and
crops destroyed by the insurgents and Spaniards
alike. Upon those not actually ravaged opera
tons have been compulsorily suspended. owing
to the warnings served by the revolutonists or
the withdrawal Of protection by the Spanish
authorities. often accompanied by similar pro-
hibition against continuing work thereon Dy
torbidding communication and residence, thus
utaling enforced abandonment Of the prem
es Provisions and stock have been seized by
ether force for military use without compensa-
In short the cessation OF all remuneratlVe
production accompanies actual or probable loss
Of the invested capital Numerous claims on
these several accounts have been flied. but IN
many instances the sufferers are known 10 alb
stain from formal claim or complaint FOR pru-
Dental reasons lest worse should Defal tnefh
at the hands Of the insurgents and the Span
iards in turn accordingly as either may gain
temporary control Of their property. partiai
estimate Of material claims and injuries OF tnis
class already aggregates trine under Sl''-
10000.
Nor does the loss fall upon capital alone
Large numbers Of the agricultural iaborine
classes are driven from the fields to the nearest
towns partly by the pcremptory orders OF the
local military commanders and partly by the
cessation or destruction Of their only means OK
livelihood. They are well-nigh destitute, Amons
them are many citizens Of the United states.
Some idea Of the extent Of this caamitous con-
don Is given by the reports which reach the
Department from single district
DANGEROUS STATE OF AFFAIRS
It is officially reported that there are In one
provincial city alone some 4.OO0 necessitous
refugees from the surrounding country, to whom
the municipal authorities can afford little or no
relief Over three hundred Of these are Amer-
can citizens engaged in prosperous farming ana
stock-raising a. the beginning OK the outbreak
whose employment and resources have peeh
reducing them from afiiuence TO penury. anu
throwing them upon the charity or an eA-
hausted community in devastated iano.
All these disastrous conditions. WIN the EVE i
and disorders necessarily following in their
uain are interfering with the insular avenues
OF trade, and very gravely impairing the pusi
ness operations Of Cuba. measure OF .ie
general falling Off is instru ctively found IN !he
monthly returns Of the customs receipts at tne
niteen ports Of entry OF Cuba. '"hicn, irolis
S9io32oo q during tire first seven mohtnS mS, o
lo3o sank to x372S 1U7 80 in the correspondents
period of 1896. This is but one or the i n.aiIy
accessible examples 10 show that the ira ihuusst,a
value OF the island of Cuba Is fast oecrea'"e
under the prevalent conditions. A..
From whatever point Of view we REGARD o ane
matter. 1t is impossible not to discern that s.a.e
Of things exists at doors alike dangerous ~
coed relations destructive of legitimate com
merce. fatal TO the internal resources OF Cupa,
ana most vexatious and trying because en'aI'',s az,