The herald., 1898-04-30
AN INTERNATIONAL VIEW

Whereas the probabilities are thai
Spain and the United States will be the
only actors in the drama that is being
played in the waters of two hemlspheres
the attitude of the auditors, in dress
circle, parquette and gallery, constitutes
an ever interesting study, and furnishes
abundant field for speculation and con-
lecture.
Because the first attempts to secure
a concert of the powers We're abortlVe
does not initiate against further eHorts
in that behalf, and so long as sympathy
for Spain is in evidence, so long VIII
those who entertain it seek to make 1t
effective, in one way or another.
Those who are not for us are against
US, and it is obvious that sympathy for
our cause and friendliness for us as
people are confined to very narrow
boundaries. One has but to make
cursory study of the genealogy Of the
reigning families of Europe to realize
the strength of the ties of consanguinity
that bind them one to another-Austrla
England, Belgium to Prussia, Denmark
to Great Britain. Dynastc sympathy,
contemporaneou peril, financial and
commercial interests, in some cases a
common religion, and with all. or nearly
all, the fear of western aggression, born
Of Increasing power, make for more or
less cohesive alliance in the interest of
the Spanish monarchy, against the
threatened supremacy of the Anglo
Saxon over the Latin, and the menaced
disturbance of the balance of power on
the continent.
But for the abnormal celerity of Great
Britain in lining up with the United
States, the success of the European con-
cert inspired by Madrid, can now
scarcely be doubted. The danger of
partial concert has not yet entirely
passed. 1t will be limited in power and
moderated in purpose by the attitude Of
the mistress Of the seas, if it should ma
terialize at all, and, should successive
efforts fail altogether, it is likely that
Spain will receive more or less support
anu cICOul IL Jill lllQ4N
tons-the fullest measure of support. !
from some of them, consistent with the
obligations of neutrality laws. Indeed, !
with some of them, neutrality will be
simulated only, the declaration mis-
nomer.
At Madrid it is believed that the people
and government of Great Britain hold
divergent opinions, and Spanish officials
declare that the official acts of that gov
ernment are due to secret compact
with the United States.
Austria. the dispatches tell US, main
tains the strictest neutrality" but her
emperor contributes 100000 to the ma
tional naval subscription of Spain, and
sends a number of Austrian officers to
fight under her flag. Further, he as
sures the queen regent that the army of
the empire will be at her command in
the contingency of Carlist uprising.
His government has delayed proclaiming
neutrality, and Spain is presumably
drawing substantial help from Austria
in the interim.
Portugal has been loath to act with
promptness in declaring neutrality, and
has continued to harbor the Spanish
fo;illa at Cape Verde islands and to fur
nish it with all its requirements, until
peremptorily called down by the Wash
lngton government.
We have had an abundance of semi
official assurances of the Intention of
Germany to maintain the strictest neu- :