The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-09-05
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The ravages Of the cholera in Spain,
terrible as they are, have not been sufti-
eient to prevent the outbreak Of wal
fever as violent, in its way, as the raging
Of the epidemic. Spain is poor and weak
but as proud as poor, and willing, in
spite Of her weokness,to measure swords
with any power on earth that dares to
trespass on her .rights-or what she
chooses TO regard as her rights. Hence
when Germany, no doubt presuming on
Spanish infcriority TO herself In military
resources, ventures 70 ley violent hands
on certain of the Caroline Islands, the
fiery Spanish blood is UP in trice, and
nothing but instant withdrawal or the
alternative Of war can satisfy the excit-
able populace. King Alphonso, who
has had friendly leanings toward Ger
many, and was not long ago insulted in
Paris as an "Uhlau King" has had
grave doubts, so the dispatches say,
whether his Teutonic predictions
might not cost him his crown. As he
presumably cares a good deal more for
his crown than for the friendship of
Germany, the poor Kings indignation
has naturally not Jagged behind that of
his subjects. 1t would not take much,
therefore, to fan the spark of war into
a flame, and set the two nations to fight
ing each other, like ours snarling over q
bone, in furious earnest.
But such quarrel, il 1t should really
take place, would be as absurd as II
would be shocking. The cause is by no
means adequate 10 justify an appeal to
arms. The Caroline Islands are not
worth a war between two such countries
ns Spain and Germany. They constitute
widelY-scattered archipelago in the
Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines,
with small population and a moderate
commerce. The entire value of the
group would probably not equal the cost
OF the first few months Of preparation
for hostilities, and certainly the waste of
blood and treasure, and the misery re-
sulting from war would far exceed
their utmost worth. No doubt if Ger
many should persist, with the obstinacy
characteristic of her, in planting her
flag on some part of this remote terri
tory, Spanish pride would be deeply
wounded. Spain has never relinquished
a foot of territory over which she had
any sort of jurisdiction without bitter
struggle. But it would be simply bar
harous for the two nations TO stumble
into war over so improbable matter.
And the absurdity of such a contingen-
cy is not dlmished when it is considered
that the Spanish assertion of sovereign
ty over the Caroline Islands is, after all, |
only nominal. They do not belong to
Spain, in the sense that Cuba or even
the Philippine Islands do, so that a war
on their account would be for barely
more than an empty shadow.
We trust the world will be spared so
terrible spectacle of human folly and
nnreasoning anger as such war would
present. German aggression is no doubt
coming to be very initiating matter,
md her growing lust for territory, which
bids fair to stir up bad blood in more
-han one quarter, may yet need to have
some check applied to it. But if that
lime should come, it is to be hoped the
cause for chastisemcnt and the strength
of the administrator will both exceed
hose of the present instance. Spain
With her $50 war-vessels of all sorts.
thirteen of them iron-clads, could un-
luestionably make a gallant fight even
against so superior foe as Germany, for
he fighting would be mainly on the sea,
where Germany's peculiar strength could
lot be exerted: yet the issue would not
'e doubtful, and she could i'll afford, in
Ter broken, impoverished condition, to
ndure the loss and suffering of pro-
onged and fruitless war.-Eraminer.
velc York.