The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-08

out definite centres, and lacking the most Gle
mentary feature .of municipal government.
There nowhere appears the nucleus OF stats
hood. The machinery for exercising the loziti-
rsSon FiTats 70 and nc. p pSwers of s9 %Sich and
sovereignty entails in the face OF equal RIGHTS
OF other states, is conspicuously lacking, 1t is
calSpntity. possessing and exercising tho func-
lions of administration aud capable. IL left
70 itself, OF maintaining. orderly government
In. it's own territory, and sustaining normal
relations with tho external family Of govern
ITO illustrate these conditions the insurgent
chiefs assert Tho military power TO compel
pcaceable citizens of the United States within
their reach TO desist from planting. or grinding
cane, under tho decreed penalty of death and
of destruction of their crops and mills: but the
measure g one of sheer force. without iustit-
cation under public law. The wrongs 30 com.
mitted against the citizens of n foreign state
are without an international forum of redress
TO which the Government of the United States
NAV have recourse as regards Its relation to
the perpetrators. The acts are those of anar-
facto statehood In the case. there remains only
tho territorial, accountability OF the titular
sovereign within the limits OF it's competency
to repress the wrongs complained of.
In opposition to, the nomadic control o: the
Interior and the undefend"d coast by the insur-
gents, the Spanish authority continues In the
capital cities and seaports. Its Enrrisons are
thore established; from them its naval opera
lions are directed and executed. Most OF its
functions proceed as " in time OF peace. Its Gus
toms and municipal revenues arc regularly col
lected, ard with tho exception of the temper
AIRY restraints. alleged to he due to the admitted
existence of a state OF hostilities, foreign COM
nerco with tho island IL kept up, although
largely diminished by the natural con .raction
or the Cuban market of supply and demand.
Al to those parts of the island with which
this country and Its citizens maintain leuiti-
mately normal intercourse. tho Spanish power
is supreme, although often exercised in a vex-
monstrance.
"sn far, therefore. as the relative position of
the Spanish and insurgent forces is compatible
with the situation during the farn insurrec-
ton, while the same phases of organized adj
ministration I'm the capital and seaports and
enective relations OF trade with the outside
world on the one hand and on the other a no.
madic association without tho Insignia of or
derby government and strong Lnly to wage
harassing warfare in the interior are now as
then apparent. the present insurrcction stands
in notable contrast with its predecessors both
as to force and scale of operations.
Although statistics OF their military
aot always trustworthy when obtained. enough
is certainly known to show that the revolu-
tionists in the field greatly exceed in numbers
with large accessions from the central and
western districts of the island n better milf
that instead OF mainly drawing as heretofore
upon the comparatively primitive population
Of eastern cuba, tho insurgent armies fairly
represent the Intelligent aspirations OF 4 large
proportion. of The peonle OF the whole island;
and that they purpose to wage this contest on
these better grounds OF vantage to the end.
and to make the present struggle a supreme
test of the capacity of the Cuban people to win
for themselves and their children the heritage
or self-g )vernment.
A notable feature Of the actual situation is
the tactical. skill displayed by its leaders.
When the disparity OF numbers and the com
pa ,ativeiy indefensible character o; the CEN
trail and western Vega country are considered.
the passage OF u considerable force into Pinar
del Rio. followed by its successful mainte-
nance there for many months. mus. be regard
90 asa military success OF q pronounced char
aeteE; .oo ~. sn,,,.,
garrison on the island or on its way thither
from the-mo,her country, Is largely beyond
any military display yet called for by a Cuban
rising, thus ntiording an independent measure
OF the strength or Il 9 Insured ton.
From every accessible indication 1t is clear
that the present rebellion is on a for more for
midable scale AS TO numbers, intelligence, and
representative features than any OF the pre-
ccding %revolts OF this century; that the cor
respondinE effort of Spain for its repression
has been enormously AUGMENTED. and that,
despite the constant influx OF fresh armies and
material Of war from the metropolis, the re-
belllon, after nearly two years OF successful
resistance. appears to-day TO be m n condition
to Indefinitely proloaS the contest on its pres-
ent lines.
The nature of the struggle. however. de-
serves most earnest consideration. The in
ooluer relief oil tho appalling phases which
often appear to mark contests for supremacy
ahong The Lntin races OF the Western Henri
stherc. Excuses before confined to IA portion
OF the island become more impressive when
Mmrought throughout its whole extent. as now.
me insurseht authority. rs has been seen,
finds 10 regular administrative expressions; it
Is asserted only by tine sporadic and irresponsi-
Die force OF arms. The Spanish power. out
side OF the larger towns and their immediate
suburbs, when manifested at all, is equally
%rorcrful and arbitrary.
The only apparent aim on either side is to
cripple the adversary by indiscriminate de-
struction OF all that hy any chance may banetit
him. Tho pOpu.ous and wealthy districts of
the centre and the west, which have escaped
hnrin IN former contests, are now rayaHcd and
laid waste by the blind fury of the respective
rartisans. The PRINCIPLES OF civilized war;
fare according to the code made sacred by the
often violated with impunity by Irresponsible
suoord'nates, nctihg al a distance from the
selves from Just ccnsure or punishment by
false or falsined versions OF the facts.
The killing aud summary execution of
while the circumstances or the strife are such
as to preclude accurate or general information
In this regard. enough is known 10 show that
the number of such cases is considerable. In
some Instances, happily few, American citizens
have fallen victims 10 these savage acts.
"A large parI of the correspondence OF the
state Department with its agents In Cuba has
been devoted to these cases OF assaui, upon the
nights OF our citizens. In no Instance has earn
est remonstrnnce and energetic appeal been
omit ed. But the representatives OF the Span
postpune explanations and reparation on the
ground OF alleged Ignorance OF facts or for
other plausible reasons.
Its effect upon the personal security OF our
citizens III Cuha is not the only alarming fca-
island. It's influence UPON Tho fortunes ne ." of
those who have invested their capital and ell
%terprise there, on the assumed assurance OF
respect for law and treaty rights, is no less In
point. In the nature Of things, AMI having re-
gard to the normal productions and trade OF
the island, most OF these ventures have been
made In. Tho sugar and tobacco growing and
stock raising districts now given over 10 civil
war. Exact statistics OF the amount of such
investments are not readily nttainablc. but an
approximate statement shows that American
interests in actual property in the district of
ticntucgOs reach some ST.. 900. 900: in the
province Of Matanzas some 5000, 900; IN
Sagua, for estates and crops alone not less than |
SJ.@?H.OCo. while in Santiago the investments
IN mining operations probably exceed Sl5 ,000,-
900. For Plnar del Rio. Santa Clara. ana the
other interior Districts tnbulated statements
are wanting, and so ~also.with regard to com-
mrrcial and MANUFACTURING Establishments.
railway enterprises, aud the Ike. y gross cs-
innate or 500. OOO,0 900 would be more likely TO
fhll under than over the mark. \ large pro-
portion OF these Investments IL now exposed to
the exceptional vicissitudes of the war. Es-
I ties have been d%csolated and crops destroyed
BY the insurt ents and Spaniards alike. Upon
those not actually rnNagcu operations have
been comDulsorily suspended owing to the
warnings served by the revolutiOnists or the
withdrawal of protection by the Spanish au-
thoritles, often accompanied by q similar pro-
bibition against continuing work thereon or by
forbidding communication md residence. thus
enforced abandonment OF the prem
Uses. Provisions and stock have been seized |