Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-12-11

OF Illlldlllurppic cIdTactcT. III lies So
near to us as to be hardly separated
from our territory. Our actual pecu-
MARY interest in it is second only to
that of the people and government of
Spain. 1t is reasonably estimated
that at least from $50, 900, 600 to $780,
100000 OF American capital are in
vested in plantations and railroading,
mining and other business enterprises
on the island The volume of trade
between the United States and Cuba,
which in 1889 amounted to about $64,-
100000, rose in 1890 to about $l03,-
100000, and in 1894, the year before
the present insurrection broke out,
amounted to nearly $9G,O00,000.
Besides this large pecuniary stake
in the fortunes of Cuba, the United
States finds itself inextricably involved
in the present contest in other ways,
both vexatious and costly. Many
Cubans reside in this country and in
directly promote the instruction
through the press, by public meeting,
by the purchase and shipment of
arms, by the raising of funds and by
other means, which the spirit of our
institutions and the tenor OF our laws
do not permit to be made the subject
OF criminal prosecutions. Some of
them, thorough Cubans at heart and
in all their feelings and interests, have
taken out papers as naturalized citi-
zens of the United States, proceed
ing resorted to with a view to possible
protection of this government and not
unnaturally regarded with much in
dlgnatlon by the country of their orr
gin. The insurgents are undoubtedly
encouraged and supported by the
widespread sympathy of the people of
this country always and instinctively
feel for every struggle for better and
freer government, and which, in the
case of the more adventurous and rest
less elements Of our population, leads
III only too many instances to active
and personal participation in the con-
test. The result is that the govern
ment Is constantly called upon to pro-
tect American citizens to claim dam
ages for injuries of person and property
now estimated at many millions of
dollars, and to ask explanations and
apologies for the acts of Spanish Off
Gals whose zeal for the repression of
the rebellion sometimes blinds them
to the immunities belonging to the
unoilending citizens of a friendly
power. 1t follows from the same
causes that the United States is COM
PEELED to actively police long line of
sea coast against unlawful expeditions,
the escape OF which the utmost vigil
lance will not always suffice to pre-
vent.
These inevitable en.anglements of
the United States with the rebellion
IN Cuba, the large American property
interests affected and considerations
OF philanthropy and humanity in
general have led to a vehement de-
mand in various quarters for some
sort OF positive intervention on the
part OF the United States. 1t was at
first proposed that belligerent rights
should be accorded the insurgents
proposition no longer weighed, be-
cause untimely and impmcticable, an
operation, clearly perilous and iniuri-
Gus to our interests. 1t has since
been and is now sometimes contended
that the independence of the insur-
gents should be recognized. But inn
perfect and restricted as the Spanish
government of the island may be, no
other exists there, unless the will of
the military officer in temporary
command OF particular district can
be dignified rs species of govern
ment. 1t Is now also suggested that
the United States should buy the
island, a suggestion possibly worthy
OF consideration if there were any
evidence of desire or willingness on
the part of Spain to entertain such
proposal. 1t is urged, finally, that
all other methods failing, the existing
internecine strife in Cuba should be
terminated by our intervention, even
ut the cost of a war between the
United States and Spain-a war
which its advocates confidentialy
prOphesy could neither be large in its
proportions or doubtful in its issue.
The correctness of this forecast need
be neither affirmed nor denied. The
United States has, nevertheless, a
character to maintain as a 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 and desires nothing
so much as to live in amity with all
the world. Its own ample and diver
sified domain satisfies all possible
longings for territory. precludes all
claims OF conquest and prevents any
casting of covetous eyes upon neigh
boring regions, however attractive.
That our conduct toward Spain and
her dOminions has constituted no ex-
ception to this national disposition is
made manifest by the course of our
government, not only thus far during
the present insurrection, but during
the ten years that followed the rising
at Yara in 1865. No other great
power, it may safely be said, under
circumstances of similar perplexity,
would have manifested the same re.
straint and the same patient endur-
ance. 1t may also be said that this
persistent attitude of the United States
towards Spain in connection with
Cuba unquestionably evinces no slight
respect and regard for Spain on the
part of the American people. They,
in truth, do not forget her connection
with the discovery of the western hem
isphere, nor do they underestimate
the great qualities of the Spanish peo-
pie nor fail to fully recognize their
splendid patriotism and their chival-
rOus devotion to the national honor.
They view with wonder and admira-
ton the cheerful resolution with
which vast bodies of men are sent
across thousands of miles OF ocean and
an enormous debt accumulated, that
the costly possession of the Gem of
the Antilles may still hold its place in
the Spanish crown.
And yet neither the government nor
the people in the United States have