The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-16
AMI

Recent advices from Cuba state that
the Spaniards are outspoken in their hos
tility to the United States, and make
open threats of what they will do after
they have suppressed the Cuban insur-
rection. They will invade the United
States. ~recapture Florida and give the
Americans a lesson thev will not soon
forget, etc. An American citizen of
Spanish birth who recently returned
from an extended trip through Spain
says he found much of the same feeling
there. THE sentiment against Ameri-
ca" he says. lis exceedingly bitter.
Every ~Spaniard says there would have
been no Cuban revolt had it not been for
American suppor and assistance. The
Dons would rather see Cuba SUM in the
blue Caribbean sea than that the United
States should get it. They are extremely
proud Of their navy. The more hot
headed would like TO match 1t against
our White Squadron"
This feeling is unjust from one point
Of view and absurd from another. 1t is
unjust because, so far from having
fome lted or encouraged the uprising in
Cuba. this government has enforced the
neutrality laws very strictly, not only
during this rebellion but in former ones.
The Cuban insurgents have more u
to complain of it's course in this regard
h the Spaniards have, for popular
sympathy is with the former. and the
a much less rigid enforcement of the
neutrality laws. If the government had
kept hands off" or winked at a viola
ton of the neutrality laws Cuba would
have been free before now Instead of
abusing this country and people,
Spaniards ought to feel very grateful
for the course that has been pursued
toward Cuba. and they would if they
were capable of any right feeling.
The talk about attacking and punish
Ing the United States, recapturing Flor
ida, etc, is so absurd that it would be
incredible If anything in the shape of
buster and bravado could be incredible
Of the Spanish character. Eighty years
ago Spain was much stronger than she
is now and the United States vastly
weaker. yet we practically captured
Florida then, and Spain was finally glad
to accept s., ZOO, 900 for her claim. She
could come about as near recapturing
Florida now as a battalion of native
troops from the Congo State could to
capturing London or occupying Gibral-
tar. Spain has a population of 20, 900, 900
and a debt of SIS per caplta. The United
States has a population of So, 000, 900 and
a debt Of SIS per capita. Spain was
bankrupt even before the Cuban insur-
rection began, and her debt has been
largely increased since. Her credit is
strained to the breaking point, and for
the last year she has been begging loans
on ruinous terms in all the money Gen.
tiers of Europe. A government whose
Ginning for two hundred years, which has
been compelled through sheer weakness
and impotence to relinquish one after
another all its Central and South Amer
lean colonies. to recognize the indie
pendence of Mexico and part with Flor
ida, and which is scarcely able to hold
it's own against an inferior force Of poor
ly armed insurgents in Cuba, would not
make much Roadway in r~ecapturipg Flor
ida and h~umiliating the United States.
A war between Spain and the United
States would end in wiping out the last
vestige of Spanish power in the western
hemisphere, and, If Spain did not sooner
sue for terms, in a treaty Of peace die
tated in Madrid.