New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
"COSAS ESPANAS."
WILFUL PROVINCiALISM OF THE SPAN
ISH GOVERNMENT POLICY.

ISH GOVERNMENT POLICY.
STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT MAY LEAD To A WAR
LIKE THE FRANCO -PRUssIAN WAR. TO
AVERT REvOLUToN-ITrENsE
BIGOTRY AND PETTY rOI.IT-
ICAL IDEAS OF THE
PEOPLE.
Twenty-seven years ago the most liberal and
progressive administration that had ever until
then he'd office in monarchical France went to
war with Germany as the sole means left of avert
ing revolution and preserving the Napolccnic
dynasty from overthrow. To-day the equally lib
eral and progressive Cabinet of Senior Sasasta, at
Madrid. is adopting dentcally the same fatal
policy. and is seeking in a conflict with the
United States buoy of safety for young Don
Alfonso XIII and for his estimabc mother. the
Queen Regent. in the popular storm that Is GER
tain to result from the now inevitable loss OF
Cuba. 1t is only necessary to read over the
history of the events that Immediately preceded
the great struggle of 1870 in order to realize
how closely the tactics then employed by the
olivier Cabinet to goad the Germans inio
either declaring war or Offering some dow To
national dignity that would constitute In the
eyes of the people a casus belli are now being
made of at Madrid in connection with the
United States. The latter is manifesting more
patience and tolerance than Germany dld In
1870 presumably in consequence OF that re-
luctanoe which is invariably felt by strong
and prosperous man to strike an lndlNidua
weakened by want and suffering. no matter how
acute the evaporation But the blow mas got
TO come at last since it is that for which the
ti,,y ,hrlG al
riding.
Were France to endeavOr. like Spain. to buy
cruisers from foreign shipbulders. and offer.
by way of getting Tie necessary credit from the
vendors. an official assurance on the part OF
her Minister of the Navy that the money would
be forthcoming through the patriotism 81 the
neople as soon as ever the war broke out-this
argument having been used only the other day
nv the Spanish Admiral. Bermejo. in his en-
deavor to purchase warships from Engl5h
buiIders-the German Government would long
since have demanded explanations. and con
sidered the provocation sufficient 10 break OF
diplomatic relations, and perhaps even to de-
clare war When the war does come. ana IL Is
difficult looking at the matter from spanish
point Of view, to see any other issue TO the pres
ent impasse. there is but little DOUBT that II VIII
resuIt ca far as the now regning Spanish
DYNASTY is concerned. in identicaliy the same
NOV, &c tho conflict of 1870 when the first dis
asters suffered by the French were followed by
the outbreak Of that very revolution to avert
which the war had been brought about I'M
bued with pride as are the Spaniards high ana
lou, tbev will take to heart defeat more deeply
and with less elasticity OF spirit than did the
French and in seeking scaIetoat Tor inc
modification to which they are subjected NH
inevitably turn upon their boy King. now Du'
twelve years old. and upon his mother. the
Regent Christine. who is the one person III
Spain deserving Of consideration abroad by
reason Of her sagacity her strict regard Tor
popular rights and her constitutional oblIsa-
lions for her sterling honesty and hatred Of in
1rigue and. above all. for her breadth OF we"
and purity Of life.
AN INSULAR PENINSULA.
For paradoxical though it may seem to use
such an expression in speaking oi 'he po'p''
~ tho Iberian Peninsula. the Spaniards are the
most insular nation that il Is possible To hhd
anvwbere i'm the world. Provincialism prevails
o, Madrid TO a degree that passes all belief;
and inst in tie same way that the untraveIled
Rriton in bis blind contempt for the foreigner
heIicves that the entire universe revolvcs around
Tho particular county which he affects IN the
limited Kingdom so the Spaniards have eyes
for nothing but what they describe as 'CosaS
renanas" a phrase which they are fohd 81
using for the purpose Of choking OIL protest
and argument on the part OF foreigners ny
,ntimatlng that an alien is utterly iLcapaDe oi
understanding or gauging correctly Spanish al
fairs "Cosas Espahas" is likewise a sentence
that the Standards are fond Of using TO put
. e,on to what they regard as unwarrantable