The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20

in which the United States has yielded in
the past. II is expected mere that the de-
mands Will be conceded. and. in fact, the
Spanish people are convinced that the
United States will concede anything rather
than submit to the alternative of war. In
fact the. readers of the Globe-D Democrat
need not be astonished If a demand is made
by the Madrid government to stop the sup
ply Of American relief to the reconcentrados
on the ground that it is merely benefiting
the insurgents in the field.
Meanwhile the situation of the Cabinet,
ana incidentally of tie dynasty is consld-
erabiy better than 1t was last week. since
the people are gradually being brought 10
believe by the mildsterialists that Sagasta
has managed to down the United States and
to humble its pride without the splitting OF
drop of Spanish blood.
OF course, note is being taken here of the
continuance of the war preparations in the
United States. and of the endeavors of the
latter to compete. with Spain in the pur-
chase Of cruisers EuTope But not not much M en-
partly a species of bluff on the part of the
United States government, designed to sat
igaton to make good use of of the $50 900 600
voted by Congress the other day for pur-
poses of defense. AS to any question of toll
Grating American Intervention in CUBA,
there is less idea of that now than ever
before. Indeed. people are now beginning TO
doubt whether the United States has ever
thing
At no time throughout the present crisis
have the hidagos been more arrogant and
aggressive with regard to the Urited States
than at present. and it is worthy OF, note
that. although England comes in for much
For o the EnPed States in the
present affair, 1t is accorded a respect very
different to the contempt that falls to the
share of America.
Another cablegram from the same cor
respondent at Madrid says: whether
Prime Minister Sagasta himself really be-
lieves that the United States has drawn in
its horns and has become reluaant 10 GO
to war with SPAIN am unable to say. AT
first sight 1t would seem Impossible that ne
should do so, taking into consideration the
fact that he is a remarkably clever man.
and that he has at his disposal plenty OF
means Of information that ought to be re
liable since the new Spanish envoy is IN
daily telegraphic intercourse with the min
lister sof state here. Yet the fact that en-,
voys often live in a FOOLS paradise ana
don 1T keep their government properly post
ed as to the true condition of affairs and
exact situation was shown in character
istic manner through the publication or the
letter of Senior De Lone which led TO MS
recall. De- LONE has spent many years IN
the United States, and has always been es-
teemed a more clever than scrupulous dip
lornat. Yet, somehow or another, ne seems
to have been unable to gauge the situation
in the United States and far from insist
ing upon its gravity, takes the utmost pans
to belittle and deride the idea of the United
States ever doing anything else than buster
and talk In this he is supported by ms
former naval attache, whose opinion ABOUT
America is probably almost as low ana as
prejudiced as his own.
These two men are regarded as the prln-
cipal authorities on the present situation IN
the United States, and as such are consult
ed by the ministers, who, with the eXcep-
ton of Moret, are woefully ignorant or
everything american Mpfet; in fact aea is IS
English perfectly and who is most V0ra-
cious reader. All his colleagues in the Cab
met, from Sagasta to Count Xiquenna, are
mere takers and do no reading whatsoever
excepting to glance through the Madrilene
papers Sagasta is a politician, while
Xiquenna is club man and society
tanned about America is either through con-
versation or through the Madrid newspa-
pers, and not one of them has either time
or inclination to study the subject.
People in America who know so much
about foreign countries have no conception
continental Europe with regard to Ameri-
can affairs, and in Spain the ignorance
with regard to the United States excels
that of every other European country. since
the Spaniards have the most profound con-
tempt and aversion for anything foreign,
considering that they have more than
enough to do to keep track of what they so
fondly and jealousy describe as ''cosas Es-
-panas' and have so little idea of their true
position in the civilized world that at the
time of the dispute with Germany about the
Caroline islands, during the reign of the
late King Alphonso XII, they were actually
dscussing the policy of sending nd s spanish 81
march on Berlin. The people, in one word,
are several centuries behind the rest of the
Civilized world, ana seem 10 De pima 10 the
fact that Spain is no longer the mistress of
the civilized world, as she was at the time
of the discovery of America.
That is why it is just possible that Sa-
gasta. foxy and astute as he is, may really
believe that the United States is afraid of
going to war with Spain, while on the other
hand it is equally possible that. he does
not credit any such thing, but that he is
only propa eating the story with the object
of strengthening the position of his Cabi-
net, which is living merely from day to day,
every twenty-fOur hours that passes with
out its being driven out of office being so
much gained for himself and for the dy-
nasty. If, therefore the United States sud-
denly decided on any such action as the
recognition of the independence of Cuba, or
upon armed Intervention in the island, or
even If there is any ultimatum in connec-
ton with a demand for indemnity for the
loss of the Maine, it will fall here like a
bombshell. since government and people
are living just at present in a species of
FOOLS paradise as far as the United States
is concerned.
Van Dyke COpperplate.