Arizona republican., 1897-10-31
THE ATTITUDE OF SPAIN.

THE ATTITUDE OF SPAIN.
 The answer of Spain to the United States is attracting considerable at tention. The United States is charg- ed with violating it's treaty obliga- lions and practically with aiding and abetting the Cubans. Spain does not admit the right of any foreign power Ii. e., the United States-"to inter fere in any of her affairs"
 Well, there is nothing startling in all this. There is nothing said or de- manded or threatened that can change the attitude of the United States. As matter of fact Spain would be laugh ed out of any international court should it's alleged dispute be present. ed to a board of arbitration. The United States, as we understand, simply suggested to Spain that it would be we'll for the best interests of that country and of this country to end the war as soon as possible. There was no hint of interference in the sense that this country proposed to take hand in the fight.
 The Cubans have as much right to buy their arms and ammunition in the United States as the Spaniards have. There is nothing in our treaty relations with Spain to prevent the manufacturers in this country selling their goods to any buyer who comes o1o is to prevent, so far as it is within our power, the embarkaltion of armed bod ies of men bound for Cuba with hos tile intent. As to vessels loaded with arms and ammunition and medicine and food it remains for Spain herself to intercept them in Cuban waters if she can. This country has already so 1t is estimated in Washington spent two millions of dollars in at tempts to prevent violations of our treaty. For two years the vessels of the United States navy and the rev. enue service have been skimming hither and thither along the Atlantic coast, chasing every phantom that
 
 minister at Washington and his spies and detectives in all the ports on the eastern seaboard. The revenue cut ters, the men of war, the United States marshals and their deputies, the prosecuting officers of the federal courts, and the courts themselves have been kept busy proceeding against imaginary viOlators of our treaty laws. A score or more of cases have been tried and two or three score of vessels have been seized There have been some accused men convicted. The entire legal machinery of the national government, a portion of the navy department, representatives of the treasury department and the state department have been pestered for months by Spain's agents All this is matter of record, and yet Spain has the impotence to declare that we have failed to do our duty and that We ought to do more.
 The attitude of that moribund na- tion is becoming irritating. The United States have been patient and long suffering, and we have treated Spain with forbearance, just as a strong man permits considerable li- cense upon the part of a sick and pet ulant man. We are anxious to have the war ended, both upon the grounds of humanity and upon the grounds of national interests. The business men of this country have lost mil lions of dollars and are now losing | millions more as the resum of the war. In addition, the government is spend 1 ing money every day simply to assure Spain that we are bound by our trea- 1 ty. Yet we are snubbed and insulted. Not one of the great l-ations of Eu- rope would have taken from Spain one-haf of what we have taken. The
 more conscientious and accommodate i ing we are the more we are upbraid- i ed. The time is at ha. when Spain
 should be given to understand that
 this country has reached the limi.
 of it's patience.