Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-06
POST.INTELLIGENcER



that strange difficulty assame rather
serious aspect. The Germans have
ssized the principal island. While the
Spanish feet vas lying at anchor IN TIE
harbor Of Zap preparing to land tr"oTs
With becoming pomp and ceremony
German Qunboat ran into the haroof
and in half an hours time bad isnasc
a force without any pomp or ceremony
a. all. Then, when the Spanish ofhsiais
could do nothing more than protest. toe
German Gag vas fang to the breeze
and the captains Of the Spanish vessels
avoks 20 the realization that they had
been outxiitsd in a most hnmiiiatInR
manner. The Spanish people swoke TO
the same realix ation when the news
reached Europe. and cry Of rage went
M from the hasghty, exeiiable people
which 70 echoes from Gibraltar TO ,hs
Pyrenees. The result Of IT all "a. a. II
generally agreed, that King Alfonso VIII
have to yield 10 the demand for War or
loss his throne. War or rsvoia'ion u
all but inevitable, and revolution would
bring var With II.
The result Of var between Germany
and Spain cannot be considered doubt
fol. while the spsnizrds might at hrss
win some cheap victories at asa, which
al
stronger, more compact and more az
ereseive power would soon assert ITS
supremacy. The only difficulty that
Germany would have TO contend with
would be that Of striking Spain IN a
vulnerable point. Germany Is not able
To al out such q naval expedition as the
sraniards could not successfully resist,
and Spain can be approached by land
only through France. The resistance
Of the spaniards, however, must soon
break down for lack OF money and
credit. Spain already labors under =
national deb. which che oan never hope
10 pay. Several years ago this debt
reached the enormous total OF $3.50,
100000. The interest on this could mot
possibly be met. 20 the debt Was oos-
verted" into new securities to the
amount Of 81 .29O,00o,Ooo at four per
cent. The total revenue in 1883 was
sl7e.c6s, 80, and the total expenditure,
er7sy 04s, $50. leaving the magnificent
sum OF $4,000 TO be applied TO the
sinking fund. OF course no sensible
government would dream OF andertak-
ing a great var when oppressed by saeh
m enormous and hopeless debt. The
danger lies In the fact that the govern
msnt Of Alfonso will be forced into wal
by the intensity Of she popular feeling
or that IL will be overthrovn and that I
new government pledged to war vii
take its place. The spanish army on 4
peace footing numbers lb2, ss5, whicf
In time of var can be increased TO |
nominal strength OF 100000. The pres
ent German military establishment OF
Q peace footing includes AS 02 men
or on war footing l.t92,l0+. In nava
strength the two countries are nearl!
equal. The spanish navy consists o
124 vessels OF all kinds. including seve
raj formidable ironclads Of improved
pattern, and q .G7s men. Germany ha
81 vessels of all classes. and force o
l5.i00 men.
10 10 scarcely probable that the Ger
man Government, or mere properl
Bismarck, would care TO figh, for tn
sake Of a gronp OF islands which Gal
be of no possible use to anybody; bu
the forcible seizure of zap under th'
circumstances can scarcely be inter
preted a. anything but willingness Il
provoke var. II may be that Bismarci
hopes to strip Spain Of her colonies, an.
In due time to add TO them the colonies
Of Holland. and thus establish Ger
man colonial system second only 10 tina
of England. Indeed IL 10 scarcely prob
able that the war nov threatened couls
end without the loss TO Spain at least OF
Cuba. II that magnificent colony
should be in danger Of falling inta tn,
hand Of Germany serious question
would present itself TO the United State,
Government. Time and again our Gov
ernment has declared that IL Cubs
should ever PASS from the power Of
spain II must not be into the hands oi
any other Earopean power. As earl,
a. 1895 Mr.. Clay, Secretary Of State. in
q communication 10 Mr.. Brown, the
American Minister TO France. after re.
fcrring 10 the relations between that
country and the Usited States. said:
''In the same spirit and with the hope
Of guarding, beforehand. against any
possible difficulties on that subject that
may arise, yoa will nov add that We
could not consent 10 the occupation OF
those islands Cuba and Porto Rico) by
any other power than spain whatever"
In 1869 Edward Everett, Secretary Of
State, In note to the English and
French Governments, reiterated this
declaration in the most forcibie terms,
and the principle has been maintained
30 resolutely that both Of the great
powers which for 30 losg coveted Cuba
have long since given up all idea OF
secnring IL. Ia view Of the fact that
the party now 10 control Of national
anairs has always claimed 10 be the
especial champion Of the Monroe Doe
trins. u will be interesting 10 see
vhssher thu old policy OF that party
wiz be maintained and whether, shoaid
the contingency arise, Germany will be
warned away from The West Indies.
The Grant monamens fund increases
with disgraeefnl slowness. The amount
needed Is QUE million dollars: the