Evening star., 1896-12-07
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S MESSAGE
Spain Asked to ConCede Genuine Home
Rule to Cuba.

longed. Meanwhile, as in all cases of pro-
tracted civil strife, the passions of the
combatants grow more and more tnfiamed
ana eXcesses on both sides become more
frequent and more deplorable. They are
also participated in by bands Of marauders
VINO, now in the name of one party and
now IN the name of the other as NAV best
suit the occasion. harry the country at will
ana plunder Its wretched Inhabitants for
.neif own advantage. Such a condition of
things would inevitably entail immense de-
stoct4oh OF property, even If it were the
pohcy OF both parties to prevent it as far q g
practicable. But while such seemed to h.
the original policy of the Spanish poyer,
ment 1t has now apparently abandoned If
anu IS acting upon the same theory as the
Insurgents, namely, that the exigencies of
.ife contest require the wholesale annfhiIa
'ioii VI the property that it may not prove
VI use ana advantage to the enemy,
destruction of Sugar Interests.
u Is 10 tEe same end that in pursuance
VI general orders, Spanish garrisons ,ra
no" pelns Withdrawn from plantations and
''e rural population required to concen-
pate tseH IN the towns. The sure result
WIN" seem 10 be that the industrial value
Oh the island is fast diminishing. and thai
unless there is a speedy and radical chance
IN existing conditions, it will soon disan-
pear altogether. That value consists verv
largely or course in its capacity to pro-
uuce susar-a capacity already much re-
uuced by the interruptions TO tillage which
nave taken place during the last two wears
II IS reliatly asserted that should thase
interruptions continue during the current
threatened, to the entire sugar produ.i,p
territory OF the island, so much time and
so much money will be required to re-
store the land to its normal productivenass
that 1t is extremely doubtful if capital can
be induced to even make the attempt
The spectacle of the utter ruin of an ID
joining country, by nature one of the most
fertile and charming on the globe would
engage the serious attention of the gov
ernment and people of the United States
in any circumstances. In point of fact
they have concern with it which is by 70
means Of wholly sentimental or philan-
thropic character. 1t lies so near to us s
to be hardly separated from our territory
Our actual pecuniary interest In 1t is second
only to that of the people and government
of Spain. 1t is reasonably estimated that
at least from s3O.OO,0OO to $5O,COU,OOO of
American capital are invested in pla 1ta-
tions 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
$64, 100000 rose in 1893 to about $103, 600, 600,
in 1894, the year before the present insur-
rection broke out, amounted to nearly s96, 4
O00OOO. Besides this large pecuniary stake
in the fortunes Of Cuba the United States
present contest In other ways both vexa-
tious and costly.
Sympathy With the Insurgents.
Many Cubans reside in this country, and
indirectly promote the insurrection through
the press. by public meetings, by the pur-
chase 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 sub
ject Of criminal prosecutions Some of
them. though Cubars at heart and in all
their feelings and interests, have taken out
papers as naturalfzed citizens of the Unit
Ell States, proceeding resorted to with a
view to possible protection by this gov
erhment, and not unnaturally regarded
with much Indignation by the country of
their origin The insurgents are undoubt-
eGly encouraged and supported by the wide
spread sympathy the people of this country
always ard instinctively feel for every
struggle for better and freer government
and which, in the case of the more adven-
turous and restless elements of our popula-
ton. leads in only too many instances TO
active and personal participation in the
contest The result is that this government
Is constantly called upon to protect Ameri-
can citizens. to claim damages for injuries
10 persons and property, now estimated at
many millions OF dollars. and to ask ex-
plantations and apologies for the acts Of
Spanish officials, whose zeal for the repres-
sion Of rebellion sometimes blinds them to
the imnunities belonging to the unoffend-
Ing citizens Of friendly power 1t follows
from the same causes that the United
States Is compelled to actively police a long
line Of sea coast against unlawful expedi-
lions, the escape Of which the utmost vigi-
lance will not always suffice to prevent.
These inevitable entanglements of the
United States with the rebellion in Cuba.
the large American property interests af-
fected and considerations of philanthropy
and humanity in general have led to a
vehement demand in various Quarters for
some sort OF positive Intervention on the
part or the United States. 1t was at hrs1
proposed that bellfgerent rights should be |
accoroed 10 the nsurgents-a proposition no
longer urged because untimely and in prac-
teal operation clearly perilous and iniur
ious to our own interests
No Independent Government.
1t has since been and is now sometimes
contended that the independence of the in
surgents should be recognized. But INNER
feet and restricted as the Spanish govern.
ment Of the island may be- no other ex.
lists there-unless the will OF the military
officer in temporary command of a partic-
ular district can be dignified as snecies
of government. 1t is now also suggested
that the United States should buy the ISL
and-a suggestion possibly worthy of con-
sideration II there were any evidence of a
desire or willingness on the part of Spain