The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-08

to main It. has been practically aban-
doned. Spain does keep on foot such
government, more or less imper1ectly,
in the large towns and their immediate
suburbs But, that exception being made,
the entire country Is either given over 10
anarchy or is subject to the military
occupation of one or the other party. IL
that, at the demand of the commander in
chief of the insurgent army, the puta-
tive Cuban government has now given up
all attempts to exercise Its functions.
leaving that government confeSsedly
(what there is the best reason for sup
posing it always to have been in facD
government merely on paper.
Were the Spanish armies able to meet
their antagonists in the open, or in pitched
battle. prompt and decisive results might
be looked for. and the immense superior
ity 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 engagements, that
cen chooee and does choose It's Own
ground. that from the nature of the coun-
try is visible or invisible at pleasure, and
that fights only from ambuscade and
when all the advantages of position anu
numbers are on its side. In country
where all that is Indispensable to life in
the way Of food. clothing, and shelter is
so easily obtainable. especially by those
born apd bred on the soil, it is obvious
that there is hardly a limit to the time
during which hostitlities of this sort may
be prolonged. Meanwhile, as in all cases
of protracted civil strife, the passions or
the combatants grow more and more IN
famed and excesses on both sides become
more frequent and more deplorable. 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
country at will and plunder its wretched
inhabitants for their own advantage.
Such condition of things would inevlt-
ably entail immense destruction or prop
erty even II it were the policy of both
parties to prevent it as far as practicable:
But while such seemed to be the original
policy of the Spanish government, 1t has
now apparently abandoned 1t and is act
ents, namely. that the exigencies of the
contest require the wholesale annihilation
of property, that it may not prove of use
and advantage to the enemy.
VALUE IS DIMINISHING.
1t Is to the same end that in pursuance
of general orders, Spanish garrisons are
now being withdrawn from plantations
and the rural population required to con-
centrate itself in the towns. The sure ie.
suit would seem to be that the industrial
value of the island Is fast diminishing.
and that unless there Is speedy and
radical change i'm existing conditions, 1t
will soon disappear altogether That
value consists very largely, of course, in
its capacity to produce sugar-a capacity
already much reduced by the Interrupt
tions to tillage, which have taken place
during the last two years. 1t Is reliably
asserted that should these Interruptions
continue during the current year and
practically extend, as Is now threatened.
to the entire Sugar-produclng territory
of the island, so much time and so mucn
money will be required to restore the land
to its normal productiveness that II Is eX-
tremely doubtful If capital can be induced
to even make the attempt.
The spectacle OF the utter rum OF an
adjoining country. by nature one OF the
most fertile and charming on the globe.
would engage the serious attention OF the
government and people of the United
States in any circumstance. In point ct
fact, they have u concern with 1t which
is by no means of a wholly sentimental or
phlanthropic character. 1t lies so near
to us as 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 reason
ably estimated that at least from S3O,o :
600 to $5oOOo,Oo OF american capital are
invested in plantations and in railroad.
mining, and other business enterprises on
the island. The voiume of trade between
the United States and Cuba, which in
1883 amounted to about SGi,OOO,0OO, rose In
1893 to about SlO3,0O0,oOO and in 1891, the
year before the present inSurrection broke
out, amounted to nearly ,OOO lie
sides this large pecuniary stake in the FOR
tunes OF 'uDd, tllt l iliitu ototts iihb' u
self inextricably involved in the present
contest in other ways both veXatious ana
costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country and
through the press. by public meetings,
by the purchase and shipment of arms.
by the raising of funds, and by other
means, which the spirit of our institu-
tionS and the tenor of our laws do not
permit to be made the subject of criminal
prosecutions. Some of them though Gu
bans at heart and in all their feelings and
interests. have taken out papers as ma
turalizad citizens of the United states, a
proceeding rcsorted to with view to
possible protection by this government,
and not unnaturally regarded with much
Indignation by the country OF their origin.
The insurgents are undoubtedly encour-
aged and supported by the widespread
sympathy the people of this country al
ways and instinctively feel for every
struggle for better and freer government,
and which, in the ease of the more adj
venturous and restless elements of our
population. leads in only too many in
stances to active ana personal partiripa-
ton in the contest. The result Is that this
government Is constantly called upon to
protect American citizens. to claim dam
ages for injuries to persons and property.
now estimated at many millions of dollars,
and to ask explanations and apologies for
the acts of Spanish officials, whose zeal
for the repression of rebellion sometimes
blinds them to the immunities belonging
to the unoffending citizens of a 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 expeditions. the escape
of which the utmost vigilance will not
always suffice to prevent.
A VEHEMENT DEMAND.
These inevitable entanglements of the
United States with the rebellion in Cuba,
the large American property interests af-
fccted, and considerations of philanthropy
and humanity in general. have led to Il
vehement demand in various quarters,
for some sort of positive intervention on
the part of the United States. 1t was at
first proposed that bellgerent rights
should BE- accorded to the insurgents-:l
proposition no longer urged because un-
timely and in practical operation clearly
perilous and injurious to our own inter-
ests. 1t has since been and Is now some
times contendci that the independence
of the insurgents should be recognized.
But imperfect and restricted as the Span
ish government of the island may b., no
other exists there-unless the will of the
military officer in temporary command of
a particular district. can be digniiied as
a species of government. 1t Is now also
suggested that the United States should
buy the island-a suggestion possibly wor-
thy of consideration If there were any
evidence of a desire or Willingness on the
part Of Spain to entertain such a pro-
posal. 1t is urged. finally. that. all other
methods failing. the existing internecine
strife in Cuba should be terminated by
our intervention, even at the cost of a
war between the United States and Spain
"a war which its advocates confidently
prophecy could be neither large in its
proportions nor doubtful in its issue.
The correctness of this forecast need he
neither affirmed nor denied. The United
States has nevertheless character to
maintain as a nation, which plainly die
tates that right and not might should be
the rule of its conduct. Further though
IA United States ic not nation fn Whip IN
peace IL a necessity. IL Is in truth the
most pacific Of powers. and desires moth
ing so much as to live in amty with all
the world. Its own ample and diversified
do md satisfy all Inssihle lnnniIlrs for