Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-11

In numbers, discipline and .equipmen
|, could hardly fail to tell greatly to tbei
advantage.
"But they are rallied upon to face
foe that shuns general engagements
that can choose and does choose its owr
ground, that from the nature OF the
country is visible or invisible at pleas
ure, and that fights only from ambus.
cade and when all the advantages of po-
sition and numbers are on its side. In
country where all that is indispensa-
! bic to life in the way of food, clothing
2 and shelter is SO easily obtainable, es-
} peciall' by those born and bred on the
soil. II is obvious that there'is hardly a
limit to the time during which hostil-
tiles of this sort may be prolonged.
Meanwhile in all cases of protracted
civil strife, the passions of the combat
ants grow more and more inhamed and
excuses on both sides become more fire.
bue1t and more deplorable. They are
also participated In by bands of marau-
ders who now in the name of one party
and now In the name of the other, as
may best suit the occasion, harrass the |
country at will and plumber its wretched |
inhabitants for their own advantage. |
Such condition of affairs would newt
ably entail much destruction of property
even If 1t were the policy of both parties
to prevent 1t as far as practicable. But
while such seemed to be the original
policy of the Spanish government, 1t has
apparently abandoned 1t, and is acting
upon the same theory as the insurgents.
namely, that the exigencles of the con-
test require the wholesale humiliation
OF property that 1t may not prove of any
use and advantage to the enemy.
1t is to the same end that in pursu- '
ance of general orders, Spanish garri-
sons are now being withdrawn from P
plantations and the rural population re-
quired to concentrate itself In the towns. .
The sure result would seem to be that
he industrial value of the island Is fast
and that unless there is a 7
speedy and radical change in existing 81
conditions, 1t will soon disappear alto
yether. That value consists largely.
II course, In its capacity to produce ~
ugar, capacity already much rednced y
" the Interruptions to tillage which ~'
AVE taken place during the past two II
ears. II Is reliably asserted that those %
Interruptions continue during the cur r.
ent year and practically extend as is r
ow threatened to the entire sugar pro- -
ucing territory of the island, so much =
me and so much money will be re- :,
uired to restore the land to its normal =
roeuctiveness that 1t is extremely
oubtful If capital can be induced even -
} make the attempt. W.
The spectacle of the utter ruin of an ,-
Joining country, by nature one of the
ost fertile and charming on the whole J.,
ODE, would engage the serious atten- -,
on OF the Government and the people sar
the United States In any circum- A.,
ances. In point of fact, they have 7
ncern with II which is by no means of 90,
wholly sentimental or philanthropic c.
aracter. II lies so near to us as to be ..r
rdly separated from our territory. Our
tual pecuniary interest in II is second .
ly to that of the people and Govern g..
ent of 81 ain. 1t is reasonably esti- -.
' %oo'ooo'00o ~ the
sted in plantations and in railroad,
ming and other business enterprises
the island The volume of trade be-
cen the United States and Cuba.
ich in 1850 amounted to about S64,-
1000, rose In 1898 to about 100000. VIZ
,, anc In 1894, the year before the 'N'N
sent instruction broke out, amount "''
to nearly 100000. 900. Besides this 'ne
&c Pecuniary stake in the fortunes of eA"'
ba, the United States finds itself in OPP"
ricably involved in the present con- Wv
In other WAYS both vexatious and ~
tiy Many Cubans reside In this the
ntry, and indirectly promote the in faile
rection through the press, by public cede
atings, by the purchase and ship pres
ut of arms, BY the raising of funds, Spai
by other means, which the spirit of Que
institutions and the tenor of our by Il
S do not permit to be made the sub OF 81
OF criminal prosecutions. Some of party
m, though Cubans at heart and in all ropo
II feelings and interests, have taken ply
papers as naturalized citizens of the Gov
ted States, proceeding resorted to temp
a view to possible protection by Cove
Government. and not unnecessarily ancei