The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-12-10

ssOsvilq AuVAnLdSe.sg Snch $a%cOndttton OF things
would inevitab bly, entail immense destruction
4 of property. even if 1t were the policy OF
4 both parties to prevent 1t as far as prac-
ticable. But, while such seems to be the
original policy Of, the Spanish government,
It has now, apparently abandoned IL and
Il ~ acting upon the 81 me theory as the in
Ssurgents, namely, that the exigencies OF
the contest require the wholesale annihila-
tion Of property, that 1t may not prove OF
use and advantage to the enemy .5s $s Il
B ~ Is to the same end, and In pursuance
5of general orders, that Spanish garrisons
\ are AZ. now being withdrawn from plallta-
4 llo ' and! the rural population required to
concentrate Itself in the towns. The sure
result would Seen. to be that the industrial
value OF the island is fast diminishing, and
that, unless there IS a speedy and radical
change IN existing conditions, it will soon
disappear altogether. That value consists
very largely, of5course, in its capacity to
produce sugar, capacity already much re-
&duced by the Interruptions to the tillaee
W s nave taken place during the last two
years. Ii Is reliably asserted that. should
these Interruptions continue during the
current year, and practically extend. as is
now now threatened. to the entire sugar produc-
ing territory Of the island, SO much time
and SO much money will be required to re-
store the island to its normal productive
ness, that 1t is extremely doubtful IL ca pi-
q tai can be induced to even make the at
tempt. The spectacle Of the utter ruin of
an adJo1nlng country, BY nature one of the
most fertile and charming. aon the globe
would engage the serious attention Of the
government and the people OF the United
states under any circums tances.$ In point
or TACT, they have a concern with it which
is Dy no means OF a wholly sentimental or
5 phllanthropics character. 1t lies SO near to
+ rltory. Our actual pecuniary interest in 1t
Is only second to that of the people and
government Of Spain. 1t is reasonably esti-
mated that at least from $4,000, 600 to
So0,OOO, 600 of American capital are invested
in plantations, and in railroad, mining and
Z oIher business enterprises in the island
The volume of trade between the United
States and Cuba, which in 1889 amounted
to about $S0, 900, rose in 1893 to about
SlO3, OOOOOO, and in 1894, the year before
the present instruction broke out, amount
ed to nearly $4,000, 600. Besides this large
pecunlary stake in the fortunes Of Cuba,
the United States finds itself
1nextricabIy Involved
in the present contest in other ways both
veAatious and costly, Many Cubans reside
IN this country. and Indirectly promote the
Instruction throughout the press, by pub
Tic meetings, by the purchase and shipment
OF arms, BY the raising of funds, and by
other means, which the spirit Of our in
situations and the tenor Of our laws do not
permit to be made the subject Of criminal
prosecution Some of them, though Cubans
at heart and in all their feelings and inter-
ests, have taken out papers Of naturalized
citizens of the United States, q proceeding
resorted to with view to possible protec-
ton by this government and not Immature
ally regarded with much Indignation by tt e
country Of their origin. The insurgents are
undoubtedly encouraged and supported ly
the widespread sympathy the people Of this
country always and instinctiyely felt for
every struggle for better and freer govern
ment. and which in the case Of the more
adventurous and restless elements Of our
population leads in only too many instances
to active participation In the contest The
result is that this government is constantly
called upon to protect American citizens
to claim damages for injuries to persons
and property now estimated at many mil
lions OF dollars, and to ask explanations
and apologies for the acts Of Spanish Of
fcials whose zeal for the repression Of the
rebellion sometimes blinds them to the i'm
lnunltles belonging to the unoffending cit
liens Of a friendly power. It follows from
the same causes that the United States is
compelled to Sactiyely police long line of
sea coast against unlawful expeditions, the
escape of Which the utmost vigilance will
not always suffice to prevent.
These invariable entanglements Of the
United States with the rebellion In Cuba.
u
fected, and considerations Of philanthrophy
and humanity in general, have led to j
vehement demand in various quarters for
some sort Of positive Intervention on the
part OF the United States. 1t was 1t first
proposed that belligerent rights should be
5acco acc, to the Insurgents proposition
no longer urged because untimely and in
practical operation clearly perilous and in
furious to our own interest 1t has since
been and Is now sometimes 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 exist there-unless the will
OF the military officer in temporary cons
mand OF particular district can be Dig
nlheu as species Of government It is now
also suggested that the United States sholllli1
bug the island-a suggestion possibly worthy
of consideration If there were any evidence
of a desire or willingness on the part OF
Spain to entertain such a proposal. 1t is;
urged, finally, that, all other methods fail
Ing, the existing internectine strife in Cuba
should be terminated by our intervention
even at the cost of war between Tic
United States and Spain-a war which its
advocates confidently 3prophesy could be
neither large in its proportions nor doubtful
IL its issue. ~
The correctness Of this forecast need be
neither affirmed nor denied. The United
States has nevertheless a character to main
tain as nation, which plainly dictates
that right and not might should be the
rule of Its conduct
Further, though the United States is not
a nation to which peace is necessity. It
Is In truth the most pacific of powers. aud
desires nothing so much as to live in amity
with all the world It's own ample and di-
versifed domains satisfy all possible long
ings for territory, preclude all lrems Of
conquest, and prevent any casting Of coyet-
Gus eyes upon neighboring regions, how
ever attractive. That our conduct towards
Spain and her dominio9s has constituted j @
exception to this national disposition is
made manifest by the course of our govern
ment, not only thus far during the present
insnrrectiOn, but during the ten years that
followed the rising at Yara in 1868.
No other great power, 1t may safely he
said, under circumstances Of similear rcr-
plexity would have manifested the same re-
straint and the same patient endurance.
It may also be said that this persistent
attitude Of the United States towards
Spain in connection with Cuba unquestion-
ably evinces no slight respect and regard
for Spain on the part Of the American peo-
pie They, In truth, do not forget her
connection with the discovery of the West
ern hemisphere. nor do they under esti-
mate the great qualities of the Spanish peO-
pie, nor fail to fully recognize their splendid
patriotism and their chivalrous devotion
to the national honor. ~ "a
M -. - " E