The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-03
THE SPANISH DEMONSTRATIONS.

and lnStructing the president to ten
der the good offices of our government
to secure the independence of Cuba
seems to have furnished the Spaniards
of Barcelona and Madrid an oppor-
tunity TO lash themselves into a very
tempest of war passion. the excited
populace going so far in Barcelona as
to attack the United States consulate
in that city Nothing in the dispatches
however, indicates that the Spanish
government approves the conduct of
the people. On the contrary it is evident
that all was done that could be done
by the Spanish authorities to give pro-
lection to the American consul and his
residence. and as the United States
/ is seeking no cause of quarrel with
Spain, and war with no nation, our
government can afford to keep its head
! and seek rather to be a little blind
than otherwise to the actions of an
| irresponsible mob of hot-tempered
Spaniards. The Spanish government
will undoubtedly volunteer a disavow-
al of the action Of the mob, with such
other satisfaction as is usual in such
cases, and with that our own govern
ment will certainly be satisfied, and
make much allowance for Spanish tes-
ffpocc of 1,r,,,,o,
The only danger from this popular
outburst of temper on the part of the
heated Spanish populace is that If it
continues the Spanish government may
be forced by that sentiment to resist
what its people are pleased to regard
as an unwarranted interference on our
part in an affair that they suppose
concerns Spain alone. Otherwise Sun
days demonstrations in Spain are not
to be taken seriously.
But if public sentiment in Spain
continues at its present fever heat,
and the government is forced into a
resistance of our interference, the
Spaniards have a serious piece of bust
ness in hand; and if arguing the cause
make them sweat. the proof of it will
turn to redder drops"
Meantime the house will do well to
act promptly on the senate resolution.
to be followed by prompt measures on
the part Of the executive; for what
the senate has done is right. If our
government is to be censured for any
thing it is not the present proposed
action, but its hardness of action. It
is not an unusual thing for a nation
to recognize rebelHous subjects of
other nations when they have succeed
ed in maintaining their rebellion to
certain point; and If Spain is foolish
enough to see casus belH in our &C
ton, so much the worse for Spain.
Since writing the above we learn that
the Spanish minister at Washington,
Senior Don Enrique Dupuy de LONE,
has handed to Secretary of State Olney
a dispatch from the Spanish minister
of foreign affairs at Madrid saying
his government insists that the United
States government disaYow the action
of the senate in the matter of the
Cuban beIligerent resolutions as a
condition precedent to the continuance
of friendly relations. This is a most
serious matter and marks a decidedly
acute stage in our relations with
Spain. It is an ultimatum to this gov
eminent and if not complied with
means nothing less than war with
Spain. Spain does not seem to realize
that the war making power of this
country lies with congress and not
with the president. Then how does
she expect the executive branch of
the government to disavow the acts of
the legislative whose power is in every
respect coordinate and co-equal with
the executives? What the president
win do in the premises we cannot pre-
tend to say, but that he will disavow
the act of the senate is the very last
thing we look for him to do. and were
he to it would bring down upon his
head the condemnation of the entire
American people That the honor of
the country is in perfectly cafe hands
no one doubts. and on this point there
VIII be no uneasiness.
We believe we utter the public senti-
ment when we say that congress can
do no more popular thing than to pass
a joint resolution granting the Cuban
insurgents belligerent rights, and we
are not certain that spain's peremptory
tone would not. in the minds of the
people. justify a recognition of Cuban
independence. There must be no com
plying with this demand 1t would be
much better to send Minister Taylor
his letters Of recall and let Spain do
what she chooses. The public temper
over the Cuban business is such that
war with Spain would not be wholly
unwelcome.
SUNnAY-S AGEnv