Evening star., 1898-10-17
Spain's Ignorance.

One has only to read the cables from
Madrid to see how stepped in Ignorance
the average Spaniard is in discussing the
controversy between Spain and the United
States. Nothing else than Spanish ignor-
ance. confused by the trickery of Spanish
officials and diplomats. can explain the
talk about arbitration. with some European
power as arbitrator: about the assumption
of the Cuban debt by the United States;
about the guaranteeing of Spanish inter
csts in Cuba after the Spanish flag comes
down: about the illegality of the American
occupation of Manila and the control which
goes with il of the whole Philippine queS-
tion.
% There is nothing to arbitrate between
the United States and Spain. The appeal
was to the sword, and the sword has
brought the two governments to the coun-
Gil table with the Americans as victors.
The services of Ambassador Cambon were
occupied merely in the nature of those of
an attorney for Spain. No European right
to interCede was recognized by that act.
The United States will not permit any Eu-
ropean power. or all of them combined, TO
shape any feature of the terms of perma-
nent peace with Spain.
% The so-calIed Cuban debt is in reality
a part of Spain's debt. The Cuban people
owe the world nothing but good behavio:
now that they have been released from
Spanish tyranny The idea that they
should be called upon, or the United States
for them. to discharge moneyed obligations
incurred by Spain in prosecuting them is
both monstrOus and preposterous.
90 When the Spanish flag comes down
at Havana there will remain Spanish
iyl,r IN, cub of
Spain who remain will possess individual
rights and these of course will be respect
Ell by the United States while its flag flies
in the island. But no special guaranty IS
necessary, or will be given. Spain need not
concern herself about Cuba. either as to
the probable length of American occupancy
or control the kind or condition of gov
ernment to be set up when the United
States. if the Cuban people desire it. de-
cides to withdraw. Spain's present solici-
tude about Cuba would be pathetic if 1t
was not hypocritical and ridiculous.
~ As for the Philippines, from that Sun
day morning when Commodore Dewey sent
the Spanish fleet to the bottom and first
held the city of Manila at his mercy Ameri
can authority and supremacy there have
been unquestionable. The Spanish army
remained in the city merely as a tribute OF
the. American commander to humanity.
He could have knocked the city down and
filled the streets with blood at any hour
Of the day or night from that time to the
hour Of actual surrender. Besides. the
protocol deprives the Spanish authorities
OF all legitimate contention on this point
The whole trouble arises. as one may
discover easily, from the rigid press CEN
sorsilIp maintained at Madrid. The proto-
co. explains everything. but the people of
Spain are not permitted to know the truth.
on.y statements filtered through minis
terial sources find their way around. These
are snapped up and made the base of all
opinion Even the managers of the news
papers, though aware that they are being
Kept in the dark about many things are
unable to penetrate the mystery sufficiently
10 solve ii. and they make up in bIuster
what they lack in fact