Evening journal., 1895-10-14
The Deoadenos Of sp sin.

The Decadence of Spain.
When we look back at the Spain of the
past and consider that Cuba. the "Queen
Of the Antilles, is the last Of her posses
sions in America, Is it a wonder that she
is making superhuman efforts to retain
an island which has added both glory
and profit to her In her decripitude7 The
story OF the discovery and conquest Of
America Is familiar to all lit is one that
added glory as well as shame to Spain,
for her iDbuman treatment OF the
natives will never cease to mar
the proud record OF the achieve
ments Of the Spainards who followed
Columbus for conquest and spoils
The stolen riches of America, espe
cially Of Mexico, made Spain great She
became intoxicated with success and for
years revellsd in the glory OF her con
quests and the voiuptuousness Of her
wealth. Her American possessions In
cluded Florida and Louisiana on the
North to Terra del Fuego on the fRpth
At that time Spain stood 6rst &raopg
European nations And, now, In lesa
than century, what a transition has
taken place In the proud monarchy that
claimed to rule the world Years do not
count iu the history Of nations, and when
we look back the time looks linfnltesimal
since all this glory, all this splendor and
national power began to crumbls with a
rapidity that seems to us must have bsen
controlled by divine authority.
SpAln's first great loss occurred In 1914
when Buenos Ayres established her
Independence. It was about the time OF
the close Of cur war with England, and
many Americans were In a somewhat
warlike mood, and so turned their eyes In
that direction The sympathles OF our
people we're all with the revolutionists.
and the Unitsd States under President
Madison WAS the FIRST government to
accord belligerent rights to the In
surgents and to acknowledge the In
dependence Of the rising people During
the contest Spain complained that War
vessels were fitsd out In the United
States 10 aid Of "the rebels" and that
they we're allowed to sail under the in
surgent flag. But this, though doubtless
true, WAS not with the consent OF tho
government, for Congress passed severe
laws against such violation OF the oomlty
OF nations. and they we're vigorously
enforced.
This break having been made the spirit
OF freedom spread throughout South
AmericA, and one Spanish colony after
another revolted against the mother
country. Brazil. q Portuguese colony,
also threw of the foreign yoke and
established an impsrial government 1t
was during this period that President
Monroe announced his famous edict
which was. and stu is approved by our
people. and which sets apart Am erica for
American control. without the inter-
ference Of Europe AS In the case Of
Bsunos Ayres, the United States first
recognized, one by one. the whole group
OF South American republics This action
was taken under the lead Of Henry Clay,
the foremost statesman Of his time, and
was quickly followed by a recognition
on the part Of European nations. And
so almost at one fell swoop South
America WAS lost forever to Spanish con
troll
Cuba, Florida and Louisiana were then
all that wers left to Spain, and as the
United States treated for and bought
these two latter nSmed states, Spain lost
her entire footing On the mainland Of
this continent, Cuba being the only
thing left Of her vast American posses.
sions. Is It any wonder that she wants
to keep ii7