New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-16
THE SPANISH NOTE.

It Is to he regretted, chiefly for her own
sake. that Spain's latest appeal to the Powers
should be so largely devoted to an attack upon
the good faith Of the United States. The SUB
stitution OF abuse for argument Is a mark OF
bad and falling cause. Her TRADES will not
persuade any one that the United States has
acted otherwise than in a Straightforward and
honorable manner. They will inevitably arouse
remembrances Of more than one recent incl
dent in which the good faith Of Spain has been
subjected 10 suspicion. and that not only Of the
United. States The misleading reports put
forth about the mediation Of the Pope and the
announcement at Washington Of "an armistice
without conditions which at Madrid was at
the same moment declared to be not an arms
tice and to be burdened with most important
conditions. are still fresh In mind Conscious
ness Of them should surely have restrained the
Spanish Government from making attacks
which 1t must know to be unfounded upon the
Government and people Of the United States.
The complaint of fbusterng Is renewed.
We have repeatedly shown It's baselessness
Senior Dupuy de LONE was surely not preju-
diced In this country's favor. and he admitted
that there was not nearly so much Hbustcrns
as was currently reported. Here are the facts
1885, down to December. 1897, only sixty ex-
petitions are alleged to have been attempted
or these the United States Government frus
traed thirty three. and ten others failed through
other causes Seventeen were said to have
been successful. but in every one Of them this
Government proved its good faith by prosecut
ing and Furnishing the principals. If any ma
ton has better record than that Of fidelity
to its neutrality laws 1t would be Interesting
to know which 1t Is. To say ia the face Of II
that flibustering has been permitted by this
Government without moestatiOn Is to utter a
particularly barefaced libel. 1t is to her own
incompetency that Spain has to charge the
damage she has suffered. If any. from Amer
can filibusters. For while this Government has
patrolled its $40 miles Of coasts to such ef
feet Spain has SO slackly guarded her-Or
Cuba's-2,200 miles that she has captured or
prevented from landing only four expeditions
among all those mentioned. II Spain blames
US for not doing her police and customs service
for her let the fact be plainly stated In those
terms.
Even more unjust II that be possible, Is the
complaint that the United States opposed the
offer OF autonomy and sent warshlps to Cuba
to encourage the rebels 10 reject 1t. President
Mckinley commended the offer Of autonomy
vouched for It's good faith, and bespoke for 1t a
fair trial. and that was and has been the atti-
tude of this Government and OF the thoughtful
part Of the Nation. The general sentiment was
as expressed months ago In these columns that
while the scheme was not perfect 1t was highly
commendabe and worthy OF the most careful
consideration by the insurgents; and that for the
insurgents to say they would not consider 1t,
but would put to death any one who suggested
that they should. would place them outside the
pale Of reasonable beings. And yet Spain at
tributes the failure Of the scheme to American
opposition 1t Is wicked for a nation thus to
distort truth and inter untruth-to base warka
action upon gratuitous falsehood. It is not only
wicked. but It IL supremely foolish for the
truth cannot be concealed. 1t will come out.
1t Is already ont and known to all the world
that cares for 1t.
The only possible excuse for such a note as
this which Spain has issued Is that she is wild
with panic and does not realize what she IL
saying. That Is not a commendable frame Of
mind for nation to be In at a time when peace
and war, her own life and death. are trembling
in the balance. Has she no cool-headed and
ciear-sighted man who can perceive things as
they are and dare to act upon them? The world
has snnDnsNd abe had. II will regret TO and