The Yale expositor., 1898-02-25
r~T~~-c~~~I-oIc-~I~
E This Is a Menace to Peace. 5
q Two Spanish GunbOats Sail Into New York Har-
e Dor and Are Ready for War.


Several late events tend to prove that
the trouble that has been so long at
high tension will at an early date end
in war with Spain. One of these in
dications is the condition of the stock
markets. Never before have markets
risen while securities were being UNI
loaded by foreigners. The foreigners
have sent advices from European
courts at which 1t is known that Spain
and the United States must fight. An
other indication is the wheat market.
One American known to have the most
confidential connections with the Brit
lsh foreign Office has "cornered' the
American wheat supply. He mas TOT
weeks been buying all that has been
offered. He has put the greater por-
ton of $50,000,O 900 into the cereal. A
break would mean ruin, desolation ana
a life of poverty for this man. lie
laughs at those who warn him. lie
knows a thing or two.
Another very forcible indication OF
war with Spain is the presence IN new
York harbor of two warships OF the
Spanish nation. Their arrival was
marked by delay and misunderstand-
Ing about firing the customary salute
from the forts about New YORK mar
Dor. They were given a sullen salute
Of twenty-one guns. But the men that
gave them, 1t is safe to say, would
much prefer that the shots were aimed
at the hulks of the foreign naval Wis
ltors"
What does this "visit" really mean
Is being asked in every quarter. Is 1t
a friendly one? Echo answers no, 1t
is not friendly. There is no occasion
for a friendly visit. We do not like
Spain. Spaniards are fully aware OF
the truth of this statement. We have
just sent a couple of our gunboats to
Havana, as a menace to Spanish ag-
erosion in Cuba. Spain returns the
compliment by sending two OF her
most powerful warships into New York
harbor. The Vizcaya and Infanta Ma
ria are heavily laden with munitions
of war. When they left Spain their
commander said that he would prob
ably need his ammunition before re-
turning to Spain. Most likely he will
People Know Little of impending War.
The people at large have no idea
how near we have been to actual war
with Spain for several months. Every
strand Of diplomacy has been strained
with a view of averting a crisis. The
money power" of the world has been
busy at Washington, Madrid and all
the courts of Europe. Spain is greatly
indebted to the money power" A
war between Spain and the United
States could end in one way only. The
Spanish nation would be virtually
wiped out. She could never pay the
indemnity. A new European republic
would rise from its ashes. That would
never do, say the money kings of Eu-
rope, for it would mean the repudia-
ton of their securities. If war we
must have with Spain land 1t looks
that way the money power will be the
chief loser. Although it has vast in
terests in this country, its influence
will go to Spain. 1t is now unloading
its American securities (see Wall street
d,spatches) with a view of being in a
position to aid Spain when the final
Struggle comes.
The New York Press, a staunch ad-
ministration paper, calls the visit Of
the Spanish gunboats a fragrant vio-
lation of comfy and a menace to
peace" The Spanish commander has
been advised that an early departure
would be advisable. 1t Is said that this
bit Of ADVICE came to him direct from
The White House.
Size of the War Engines.
They are two noble ships, the In
fanta Maria Teresa and the Vizcaya
much alike in build, dimensions and
armament, and remarkable in several
ways. First. They were built wholly
in Spain, of Spanish material by Span
ish men, as a direct result of an ad-
mirable burst of patriotism, which is
the same fine thing In every latitude
and longitude. Second. There Is con-
siderable speculation as to their arma-
ment If they are armed as stated by
semi-official authorities, they carry an
enormous weight of weapon for their
size and must have sacrificed some
thing somewhere to make up for it.
Third. They come in a time when the
warship market is decidedly feverish,
and international law fails to state in
clear and precise terms just what
would happen to whom, should war
between Spain and the United States
be declared while the two ships lay in
the North river. Would the United
States seize them? Would they ham
mer New York?
Could DO Great Damage.