The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-30
PATRIOTIC SPANIARDS.
A Wave of Popular Feeling sweeps
All Before Ii.


Madrid March so-Passionate patriot
ism and a bankrupt treasury are two
great facts which stand out clear and dis
tinct in Madrid at this moment. Public
sentiment is rising fast, and anyone who
thinks that Spaniards do not want to fight
has only TO come here now to be unde-
ceived.
II is only her absolute inability to raise
more money from her detected and des-
pairing foreign creditors that prevents
Spain from taking an aggressive attitude
and forcing war on the United States as
the best way out of the hopeless struggle
to retain Cuba.
The slightest suggestion from a news
paper inviting the people to aid the gov
eminent in war preparations is eagerly
supported, and there is no protest from
stock gamblers or Tories, as in New
York
From Barcelona, Burgos and other
towns the governments has received pri-
vate offers of volunteer battalions for gar
rison service in order that the regular
troops stationed there may be transferred
for service against the United States if
necessary. The organizers of these bat
talions declare that no man will be en-
rolled unless he has a profession and is
known for his good conduct
The fact is, that with the Carlssts armed
to the teeth and signs of revolution every
where half suppressed, the gOvernmen
looks with suspicion on all private at
tempts to organize volunteer soldiery. \
volunteer force might be an embarrassing
thing in Spain unless its loyalty 10 the
reigning dynasty was assured beyond
doubt
The idea Of every Spaniard giving to the
war fund a sum of money equal to his
earnings for one day is in high favor.
Such a suggestion in New York would
be met by an indignant cutlery from the
stock spectators and trusts, but here it
stirs the deepest sentiment of the people.
! The original plan WAS that this should be
done on May >, the anniversary of the
rising of Madrid against French domina-
ton in 1898, but the people are too inn
patient to wait till then. and many have
already written Offering their money.
Committees for promoting this subscrip-
ton have been formed in several places,
and at a meeting held in Toledo a large
body Of workingmen offered to contribute
one days earnings.
A committee has been organized to re-
ceive subscriptions for making a present
10 the Government Of a warship TO be
called The Second of May. The direc-
tors OF this fund are Emilio CASTELAR,,
Marshal Lopez Dominguez. the Mar
Quis Commillar, chief owner of the
Spanish transatlantic company; the
Bishop Of Sion, chaplain general 10 the
queen and army and the presidents OF
several corporations. The first sub
scription received was from Don Luis
Delgardo. a Spaniard residing in Biz
mingham.
On Thursday a special performance
will be given at the Royal Opera House
in aid Of the national fund for strength
ening the navy. All seats have been
sold The performers volunteered their
services; eminent painters, sculptors and
writers will take part in a pageant rep
resenting Spanish heroes and herOines
from the Cid 10 Maria Pitara. the woman
defender of Corunna against the Eng
lish and Augustine de Aragon, the wom-
an defender of Saragossa against
France. a similar performance in Ha-
vana a few days ago produced $4,000.
kilograms from South American re-
pUblics have been received by the min
! lister Of marine announcing that Span
! iards have already subscribed enough
/ TO build a warship to be christened Rio
/ de Ia Plata"
/ Similar cablegrams came from Mexico.
! The enthusiasm there is said TO be so
/ great that one subscriber has given $780,
/ 600 to help Spain buy warships. The
I Spanish army will also contribute one
/ days pay. the initiative having been ia
! ken by the High Military Academy. This
movement is being delicately engineered.
and the purpose is to gradually work up
TO a great outburst, ending i'm street de-
mOnstrations. Then the Spanish govern
ment viii launch a popular domestic
loan.
1t is pi'iful to see how Spain is strug-
Cling TO conceal her bankruptcy and loss
Of credit abroad. Her corrupt system Of
government and ruthless war have
drained her treasury, destroyed her re-
sources and exhausted her people.