Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-08
PROMISES CunA EVENTUAL AID.
If spnin Fails or Refuses to Wake
Peace Intervention VIII Follow.

II spnin Fails or Refuses to Mike
Peace Intervention VIII Follow.
The insurrection In Cuba still continues
with all its perpeXties. II Is diihcult to
perceive that any progress has thus far been
made towards the pacihcation OF the island,
or that the situation Of affairs as depicted
In my last annual message has In the least
improved. If Spain still holds Havana and
the seaports and all the considerable towns
the insurgents still roam at vii over az
least two-thlrds of the island country. III
the determination OF Spain to put down the
insurrection seems but to strengthen with
the lapse of time and Is evinced by her un-
hestating devotion of largely increased mil
itary and naval forces to the task, there is
much reason to believe that the insurgents
have gained in point of numbers and char
acter and resources and are none the less
in1exible in their resolve not to succumb
without practically securing the great OBJ
ject for which they took up arms. III spain
has not yet re-established her authority,
neither have the Insurgents yet made good
their title to be regarded an independent
state. Indeed as the contest has gone on
the pretense that civil government exists
on the island, except so lar as Spain is aDlc
to maintain 1t, has been practically aban-
doned. Spain does keep on foot such gov
ernment more or less ;mperfectiy, in the
large towns and their immediate suburbs
But that exception being made, the entire
country Is either given over to anarchy or
is subject to the military occupation OF one
or the other party II is reported, indeed
on reliable authority, that at the demand of
the commander n-chief of the insurgent
army, the putative Cuban government has
now given up all attempt to exercise It's
functions. leaving that government confes-
sedly what there is the best reason for
supposing it always to have been in facO
a government merely on paper. Were the
Spanish armies able to meet their antag-
onists in the open or in pitched battle
prompt and decisive results might be looked
for and the immense superiority OF the
Spanish forces in numbers, discipline and
equipment could hardly fail to tell greatly
to their advantage; but they are called upon
to face a foe that shuns general engage
ments, that can choose, and does choose,
it's own ground, that from the nature OF
the country is visible or il visible at pleas
ure and that fights only from ambuscade
and when all the advantages of position and
numbers are on its side. In a country where
all this ia indispensable to life in the way
OF food clothing and shelter Is so easily
obtalnable. especially by those born and
bred on the soil It Is obvious that there
Is hardly limit to the time during when
hostllltios OF this sort may be prolonged
Exccsscs Frequent and Deplornbie.
Meanwhile in all cases of protracted civil
strife the passions OF the combatants grow
more and more inhamed and eXcessos on
both sides become more frequent and more
deplorabe. They are also participated In by
bands OF marauders, who now, in the name
OF one party. and now In the name of the
other as may best suit the occasion, harry
the country at will and plunder Its wretched
inhabitants for their own advantage Such
a condition of things would inevitably entail
immense destruction of property. even II 1t
were the policy OF both parties to prevent
II as far as practicable. But while such
seemed to be the original policy OF the
Spanish government. 1t has now apparently
han 1 nd iC
theory as the insurgents, namely, that the |
exgencles of the contest require the whole |
sale annihilation of property that 1t may not |
prove OF use and advantage to the enemy. |
II is to the same end that in pursuance Of |
general ORDERS Spanish garrisons now |
being withdrawn from plaptations, and the |
rural population required to concentrate |
itself in the towns. The sure result would |
seem to be that the industrial value of the |
island Is fast diminishing, and that unless |
there is a speedy and radical change In eX-
listing conditions, 1t will soon disappear alto |
gether That value consists very largely OF |
course, In its capacity TO produce sugar-a
capacity already much reduced by the inter
ruptlono to tlllage, which have taken place
during the last two years. Ii Is reliably as
serted that should these Interruptions con-
tinue during the current year, and prac-
tically extend, as is now threatened, to the
entire sugar producing territory of the |
island. so much time and so much moaey
Will be required to restore the land to It's
llOTIlldl lIbuutlNtIlNSS luhl IL lb tAlItlntly
doubtful IL capital can be induced to even
make the attempt. The spectacle of the
utter ruin OF AN adjoining country by ma
ture one Of the most fertile and charming
on the globe. would engage the serious
attention of the government and the people
of the United States in any circumstances.
In point OF fact they have a concern with 1t
which Ia by no means OF wholly sentimental
or philanthropic character. II lies near
to us as to be hardly separated from our
territory
Amcricn's Pccuninry Interest.
Our actual pecuniary interest in it is
second only to that of the people and gov
ernment of Spain. 1t is reasonably esti-
0O0, 900 of American capital are invested in
plantations and in railroad. mining and
other business enterprises on the island,
The volume of trade between the United |
States and Cuba, which in 1889 amounted to
about $4,000 900. rose in 1898 to about $l03-
100000, and in 1894. the year before the
present insurrection broke out, amounted
TO nearly S96, 00,000. Besides this large | ;
pecuniary stake in the fortunes of Cuba the
United States finds itself ineXtrcably in
volved in the present contest in other ways | 8
both veXatious and costly Many Cubans |
reside in this country, and indirectly pro- | ,
mote the instruction through the press by /
public meetings, by the purchase and ship !
ment of arms by the raising of funds, and !
by other means, which the spirit of our | 1
institutions and the tenor of our laws do |
inal prosecutions Some of them though (,
Cubans at heart, and in all their feelings !
and interests, have taken out papers as ,
naturGlized citizens OF the United States ,
proceeding resorted to with a view to pos ;
sible protection by this government and ;
not unnaturally regarded with much In, :
dlgnaton by the country of their origin. ;
The insurgents are undoubtedly encouraged !
and supported by the widespread :
the people Of this country aiway. !
and instinctiyely feel for every struggle for =
better and freer government and which, In a
the case Of the more adventurous and rest q
less element OF our population leads in only a
too many instances to active and personal I
In the contest. r
The result is that this government is con- i
stantly called upon to protect American p
citizens, to claim damages for injuries to per- Z,
sons and property now estimated at many a
millions Of dollars and to ask explanations /