Evening journal., 1898-04-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
SPANS RIGHTS.


The aforesaid sympathy" consists OF
the editorials OF few London news
papers, editorials which can in no wise |
be accepted as rejecting the real feel
ings OF the British Government. But |
what does England care about the |
Cubans or their cause? Nothing what |
ever England's supposed sympathy |
with the United States in this matter |
does not extend beyond her, Eng |
lands, desire to see Spain wiped from |
of the map of Europe. That is all. The
demise OF Spain would mean one Power
the less in the galaxy Of European
nations to reckon with. England's dis
like of the Spanish nation is an antip-
athy of long standing; it dates from
the period when her mighty navy,
mightier to-day than. ever, scattered
the Spanish Armada. Therefore, Eng
lands sympathy provided that
Great commercial and intensely prac-
tical nation is endowed with the least
sentimental feeling-with the United
States, re the Spanish-Cuban question,
counts for little and can safely be re-
garded as being most damnably ul-
terror in purpose.
If this country has demanded Of
| Spain, as is popularity supposed, that
she should evacuate Cuba and cede that
undeniaIble Spanish possession to the
| Cubans, then 1t is difficult to perceive
how Spain could peacefully accede to
such a demand, or in other words, tran
GULLY adopt such a cutting-of-its-oWn-
throat policy. Did Cuba belong to
| either of our other esteemed friends
across the seas-Eng gland, for instance
would the nation possessing it give it
up at the dictate of either this or any
other country? Why certainly not.
| None but fools would imagine other
| wise. President Grant, in the 70s, de-
| clared that Cuba, by reason of discov-
/ cry and long occupation, belonged to
| Spain, and that this country had no
| right to interfere. If that declaration
| held good in the 70's, then it holds
| equally good in the 90's-for nothing
has transpired since then to either i'm
peach the validity of Spain's right to
| Cuba or warrant any Power to en-
deaYor to dispossess her Of that island.
If this country declares war against
Spain, then Spain must fight. She
would have no alternative, unless the
alternative of a commune upon her
home territory be accepted; for II Spain
failed to fight to retain Cuba, then the
temper OF the Spanish populace would
| undoubtedly overthrow the existing or
reigning dynasty. Apart from all this,
Spain's pretensions to rank as a ma
tion, with Cuba taken from her, would
be pitiable in the extreme Therefore
In case OF a declaration of war ema-
mating from this country, Spain might
just as well immediate herself upon the
altar OF War as tamely submit to being
stripped OF her almost sole possession
We quote the exact words of an able
writer when we say-"But by what law
OF nations can Congress be justified in
declaring war against Spain solely be-
cause of her refusal to surrender for
ever one of her richest territorial pos
| sessions? Assuming the satisfactory
settlement Of the Maine and concen-
trados questions, what right would
Congress have to say to Spain: You
shall get off the American continent
you shall give up Cuba as a Spanish
possession? The law OF nations which
would give us bond and warrant Il
drive Spain from this continent, tx
compel her by force OF arms to sur
render Cuba to the insurgents merel!
because her presence and control ther
/ are offensive to us, has yet TO be writ
ten"
We are constantly reminded OF thu
pitiable condition of the concentrates
most of whom have taken no actlv'
r part in the insuTrection. Well, this i
one of the deplorable, but unavoidable
incidents of war; and it is also
} state OF affairs which would not hav,
existed had there been no insurrec
tion. Spain cannot, however be hel,
responsible for the thousand and on
sufferings incident to the self-impose
rebellion of her subjects.
Again, this country is being urged b.
Q | the sensational section Of the press
section which, like Banquo's ghost, will
. not down-to declare war against Spail
3 on the Maine question. The report O
the Court OF Inquiry, beyond statinl
e | that the explosion was external, delhi
erately states that it cannot fix there
{ | sponsibility upon any person or per
g sons. Therefore, so far as the loss c
] | the Maine is concerned, and with tn
official report OF the Court of InQuir
to guide one, what grounds exist I
warrant this country in declaring wa
a against Spain? There would be jus
d as much justice, equity and reason e1
l hibited in hanging man upon the bar
suspicion OF his having committed
: given murder as there would be wer
this country, in the face of the officis
q report OF the Court of Inquiry, to max
the loss OF the Maine casus belli,
2 cause for war. Spain has already sis
: nified her willingness for the questio
! of indemnity to go to arbitration. AZ
suming Spain to be officially innOcer
;. Of the cause OF the loss of the Maine
and. in the absence of the least proc
to the contrary, we must assume tn;
she is innocent-what more can Spai
y offer? Can this country afford to il
is more certain evidence, evidence whiC
Is is down in black and white, and d,
N clare war upon what it ''thinks?" III
IS oft-repeated declaration, both by ce
Sc tain newspapers and either this or tn;
p perambulating idiot, Spain blew II
- Maine up" is alike foolish, childish an
irresponsible chatter, so much inaI
vaporing. The persistent and insei
safe exclamation let us have wal
falls upon the ear with a most dan
nable iteration. But whence comes tn
cry? From what source or class do'
1t emanate? Do these rampant ind
vidrala ever nauep 10 reflect that thp