The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-08
OLNEY ON CUBA.
The Secretary Of State Sends n
Report to Congress
AND DETAILS THE SITUATION.
Takes Stronger Ground than the PIe'i'
dent Docs-oniy II Question Of n Short
Time untii tho United States Must Inter-
frrr-NEHr n Surcrssion or MRs,ncres on
Hoih sldes-IHir.t Report Direct to Con
%rrA. by y Secretary or State.

NSlll NuloN, ~, ~, DOC. I--fpT
the first time within memory OF old Of
ilcials the secretary OF state has made
u regular report 10 the President for
transmission TO Congress, like the rG-
ports OF other officers OF the cabinet
This report was laid before Congress
to-day ns nm appendix to the 'presl-
DENTS message. II treats OF many de-
tails OF our relations during the past
year with foreign governments that
either were not touched upon at all In
the message or were more briefly treat
cd.
Under the head OF Spain, Secretary
Olncy has much to say In reference TO
Cuba and In his report he sets out In
great detail the history OF the growth
Of the rebellion: the present evil state
OF affairs on the island and other
facts upon which the President bases
Ills broad statements and conclusions.
No reference is made TO n report from
Consul General Lee, but the secretary
intimates that his Information comes
principally from tho United States con-
sulS and TO must be regarded as conii-
dental as 10 Its source. The secrG-
tary's estimate OF the present sItoltion
Is disclosed In the following paragraph
made under a preliminary statement
OF the destruction OF the industrial re-
sources OF Cuba:
From whatever point OF view we re-
gard the matter. II is impossible not 10
discern that state OF things exists at
our doors alike dangerous 10 ebJl re-
lationS, destructive OF legitimate COM
merce. fatal to the internal resources
Of Cuba, and most vaXatiouS and try
ing, because entailing upon this gov
cramcnt excessive burdens In Its do
nestle administration and In It's out
ward relations. This situation cannot
indefinitely continue without growing
stiL worse. and the time may not be far
distant when the United States must
seriously consider whether Its rights
and interests as well as It's intcrnatiOn-
nj duties In view OF It's peculiar rela-
tons 10 the island do not call FOR some
decided change in the policy hitherto
pursued"
To begin with the secretary makes It
plain that the present lnsurrecion Is
far more formidable than the famous
Ten year insurrect!on." which began at
Yara In 1865. He says that, starting
in the same portion OF the Island, 1t
very early took proportions beyond It's
predecessor and herewith assumed an
aggressive phase. Passing the defen-
S!vc lines or trOchaS traversinE the
| Island from north TO south, forTnlda Bile
bodies OF the revolutionary forces carly
IN the year established themselves in
the rich sugar-planting districts Of.
Santa Clara. Iienfuegos, and Natan-
zas. made hostile forays almost in sight
OF Havana itself, and. advancing west
ward, effected n lOdgmcnt in the fertile
tobacco fields Of Rio del Plnar which
has 40 far resisted all OF the Span
iSh efforts to overcome.
The secretary says that while no
prominent seaport has been attacked
by the insurgents. 4 large part OF the
$500 miles Of seaport Is practically In
their hands. and from its rugged ard
wild character is peculiarly lifted for
guerrilla warfare and affords easy
means Of receiving land and supplies
OF men and arms. The secretary adds:
While thus In fact controlling the
larger part OF the internal area OF the
whole Island of Cuba from Cape San
Antonio 10 Cape Maisi. and enjoying
practically unlimited use OF an equally
large part or the coast. tie revolution
ary forces are scattered. being nowhere
united for any length OF time to form
an army capable OF attack or siege
and III to take part In Il pictred bat
tie. Assembling suddenly Mt a given
point. Often In T. single night. they
make unexpected sallIcs or carry de-
struction to the tobacco and cane fields
OF Cuba, and at the first sign OF pursuit
or organized assault they dispense only
20 rc-asScmOlc In like manner al some
Other sput.'
The secretary Illustrated his point aq
TO the Responsibility OF the insurgents
by citing their destruction OF American
plantations and the oppression OF Amcri-
can planters who grind cane, which he
characterized as acts OF anarchy.
Recurring to hi comparison Of this in
surrcctiOn with those that have pr-ccled
IL. Secretary Olney makes this siguiti-
cant statement:
Prom every accessible Indication Il Is
clear that the present rebellion Is OF Il
far more formidable scale as to num-
hcrs, intelligence and representative fen-
turcs than any OF the preceding revolts
OF this century; that the corresponding
effort OF Spain for Its repression has been
enormously nugmrntcd; and that. de-
spite the constant Influx OF fresh armies
and material Of war from the metropolis.
the rebellion, after nearly two years of
successful resistance, appears to-day 10
be In a condition to indefinitely prolonE
the contest on its present lines"
The secretary says: "a large part OF
the correspondence of the state depart
mcnt with Its agents In Cuba has been
devoted 10 cases IF assault upon the
rights Of our citizens. In no instance
has earnest rcmonStrance and energetic
appeal been omitted. But the rcprcsen-
taiivcs Of the Spanish power often find