The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-12

y
from ambuscade and when all the adj
vantages Of position and numbers are
on its side. In country where all that
| Is Indispensable to life in the way OF
food, Clothing and she!tar is so easily
| obtainable, especially by those born and
! bred on the soil, it is obvious that there
| Is partly limit to the time during
which hostilities Of this sort may be
prolonged. Meanwhile, as in all cases
| OF protracted civil strife, the passions
OF the combatants grow mere ard more
unnamed and excuses on both sides be-
come FREQUENT and NOR, deplorable.
Inay are al:o PARTICIPATED in by bands
Ct 1na!aNters who now In the name Of
org parry, ana low i3 the name OF the
o'her as may bes, suit the occasion, har-
'aas the country at will and plumber its
"sesch2d inhabitants for their own ad-
vantage. Such a condition cf things
would inevitably entail immense de-
structlon Of property even if it We're the
pollcy Of both parties to prevent it as
TAR as practicab:e.' Bat while such
seemed to be TIE original policy CT the
spanish government, it has now appar-
emily abandoned it, and is acting upon
me same theory as the insurgents,
namely, that the exieencies OF the con-
test requires the wholesale humiliation
Oh property, that it may not prove of
use ana advantage to the enemy. It is
lor the same end that in pursuance of
general orders, Spanish garrisons are
no" celns Withdrawn from plantations
ana the rural population required to
concentrate itself in the towns The
result would seem to be that The indus
tflal value CT the island is fast dinin-
lshing and that unlsss there is a speed;
ana radical change in existing cona,-
t.oas 1t Will soon disappear altogether,
as the value consists very largely of
course ny its capacity, already much re-
ouced ny the Interruptions to tillace.
"hlch nave taken place during tho last
Two years. It is reliably asserted that
should the Interruptions be continued
curing the current Year and practically
extend, as IS now threatened, to the en-
IRE sugar producing territory Of the'is
lalld' SO much time and SO much money
VIII be required to restore the land TO
us normal rroductiveEess that If is cx-
trsme!y doubtful if capital can be in
duced to even make the attempt. The
spectacle CT the ute: ruin Of an adioin-
ing country, by nature one Of the mos.
fertile and charming on the Globe, would
engage The serious attention Of the gov
eminent and people Of the United States
IN any circumstance. In point Of fac
they have concern with it which IS
ny no means Of a wholly sentimental
or phlIanthropic character It lies 50
near to US as to be hardly separated
from our territory Our actual pecu-
mary interest in it second only to
that of the people and government of
spain. 1t is reasonably estimated that
at least from $4,000 900 to $4,000, 900 Of
American capital are invested IN pan
tations and railroads, mining. and the
other business enterprises on the island.
The volume Of trade between the United
States and Cuba which in 1889 amount
ed to about $G4,0OO,0 O0 rose in 1893 to
about $l0S,0C0,C0o, ard in 1894, the year
before the present instruction broke
out, amounted TO nearly SOC, 900, coo. Be
SIDES this large pecuniary stake in the
fortunes of Cuba, the United States
!inds Itself inextricably involved in the
present contest in other ways, both vex-
a,io@s and costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country
and indirectly promote the instruction
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-
tons and the tenor Of our laws do not
permit to be made the subject Of crItai-
nal prosecutions. Some OF them, though
Cubans at heart and in all their feel
ings and interests, have taken out nat
uraliZat!on papers as citizens Of the
United tSates, proceeding resorted to
with view Of possible protection by
this government and not unnaturally
regarded with much indignation by the
country Of their origin. The insurgents
are undoubtedly encouraged and sup
ported by the widespread sympathy the
people Of this country always and in
stinctively feel for every struggle for
better and freer government, and
which, in the case Of the more ad-
venturous and restless elements Of our
population, leads, in only too many in
stances, to active participation in the
contest. The result is that this Gov
eminent is constantly called upon to
protect American citizens, to claim
damages for injuries to person and
property, now estimated at many mil
lions Of dollars and to ask explanations
and apologies for the acts Of Spanish
officials whose zeal for the oppression
Of rebellion sometimes blinds them to
immunities belonging to the unoffend-
ing citizens OF a friendly power It fol-
lows 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 al
ways suffice to prevent. These newt
ably entangle the United States with
the rebellion in Cuba. American prop
erty interest affected, a consideration Of
philanthropy and humanity in general
have led to vehement demand in "a
riOl)S nuerfers for Some SORT ~. nno;Y{Tnn