Year: 1876

THE INFLUENCES WHICH PRoLoNG THE CON-


TEsT-vIEws OF DIPLoMATIsTs IN WASH
nGToN.


The Cuban situation and the future OF our relations
with Spain frequent topics of conversation here
among dplcmatists and travellers, and in such circle
to-day some opinions given and suggestions made
by persons having exceptional opportunities for know
ing the OF events in tho island by recent OBJ
servation and by knowledge its people and resources
which, while in official, seem TO shed light
upon phases of what appears to everybody hero
intricate problem. Tho President in
his Message, showed in the most conclu-
sive manner that neither the granting OF bel
ligeren rights recognition of Cuban independence
possible for warranted by the condition of the
insurgents But. having with singular clearness made
this demonstration, he went to say that the stua-
tion would unless 1t were materially changed, force
him propose other to Congress before
| its adjournment Now what other measure ne
| PROPOSE except with SpainY is what everybody
asks


''Prim," said diplomatist who knew him very
well, and thinks he the ablest statesman Spain has
had in recent years. ''Prim I happen to know would
have forced war on the United States, IT, while he
the head OF affairs he had that Spain
lose Cuba His idea that be beaten by so great


Power the Union not disgracefu; to surrender
Cuba the insurgents would be ruinous and shameful
Whether the present rulers OF Spain equal to such
an idea remains to be seen, whether the President
may not have done his best give them hint to such
an end"


"t is useless to expect Mr. Fish apparently does
that Spain will make any reforms in Cuba, restore
the island to peace except by abandoning it," said
gentleman who has been more than a member Of
a diplomatic corps and who knows Cuba and Spain ex
tremey well and long 'The struggle will so on, it
went on many years the Spanish American colo
MES More and more Of tho cultivated parts Of tho
island will be destroyed by the insurgents; last year
they devastated over forty plantations. Within six
weeks they have laid several This is their
course and they will pursue it, for the Spanish forces
prevent them Cuba is OF the most fertile
spots globe; its 1900 900 Of people-not all
producers by any means-turn out an export every
year of from 500 O000 600 to $l20 000 900 in value.
You this country to forget that this is the
product of slave labor II is remarkable that, with all
the destruction worked by the insurgents, the Island
has not until the present year yielded much less than
its average product during peace. As the rebels ad-
vance the planters have drawn their slave gangs back
they have more encrgetcay and skilfully cultivated
narrower area, and there is doubt that they have
made a great deal OF money in spite OF the fact that
they had submit to the exactons not only Of
the Spanish authorities hand, but OF the nsur
gents on the other to whom many planters secretly





industry. Unless am much mistaken the next year
will show a large decrease the product of sugar
The destruction continues and increases; tho
exhaustion Of heavy cxactions begins TO be felt and
there will come day-no can tell how far Il Is
ofwhen tho Spanish proprietors will try to sell out
and go back to Spain. This the course Of events
In all the old Spanish American colonies Spain
not prevent IT, She loses, OF the Captain Gen.
erals told himself seventy per cont OF the SOL
ders she sends by disease the FIRST year Of their
arrival and constantly more numerous.
Its a fatal land for campaigning, you will nnd If
ever an American army is sent there"


sThe insurgents" continued tins speaker, "have not
much brains among them Their idea is TO be free OF
Spain like the Central American republics. They have
hit on the right pohcy-of destruction. Nothing else
would serve them The spaniards in the meantime
like all Shareholders look only to making as much
money as they can. You must remember that the inn
mense yield OF island goes into but few pockets
the Of these pockets getting tired OF pay
ing out much they do for they largely support both
sides In the war Cuba is longer source OF reve
nue. to SPAIN but rather Of loss The volunteers OF tho
Casino rule; Spain furnishes them with successive
armies and they allow Spanish officers to enrich them
selves That Is the process" "


s'But, 4" asked another, under these circumstances
what we dol"


"You can do nothing; for the moment you move in
tho matter you get yourselves into mess which will
cost you great deal OF money and many lives and
bring you honor profit Mediation is out OF the
question; Spain will ask II and the United States
cannot force IT, Simple Intervention means war. IL
means that you shall seno a feet and an army to Cuba
You are to do this the Presidents Message hints,
because Of interruption the production OF the
island by the long struggle But do you not that
tho moment an American force lands in Cuba you
utterly disorganizo and stop all productionS Sugar
and tobacco grown In that island entirely by slave
labor Your nrst DO to free the slaves, and,
they are mainly savage native Afrcsns II they
free in that tropical hand goodby the sugar crop


"Tnere have been at different times in Madrid" be
continued, persons not without authority who sug-
gested that the last resort IL might bo possible for
Spain to set the island FREQ the condition that the
President Of the United States who has so long taken
such an extraordinary interest in It's fate should agree
| to guarantee such part Of the Spanish debt Cuba
| might be made 10 There spanlards
/ who would think Il good bargain thus
! 10 get rid Of a part Of their troublesome
national debt and the creditors Of Spain would never
think Of discouragng the idea II such negoa-
tion begins II will receive the favor OF Spanish
public men, but should think u would hardly get
much favor here. except among annexatonists and
specuaiors and don't believe the President iavors
annexation"


$50 long as the production OF sugar continues In the
island and profitable so long the pantors the
volunteers OF the Casino and the officials will unite to
urN Spain to prolong the struggle. That Is the whole
situation. when It Is longer profitable, and very
profitable to produce sugar there-prontable mean,
not only the planters but to the officials who live on
the pianters-then the struggle will draw to close
Now. this may happen in OF two ways-either the
insurgents may and destroy large part OF
the cultivated area OF the island that the
mainder will not yield surplus, for the spaniards,
or you who are by the largest consumers Of Cuban
products, may buy elsewhere Suppose the President
should recommend TO Congress TO adopt heavy differ
ental duty against cuoan and slave grown sugar and
in favor OF the sugar Of Mexico and Central America,
grown by free abors Those countries undoubtedly