The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-12
THE SPANISH PEOPLE AND THEIR LEADERS.

have = 6Ianer 70 give or evsn 70 eas-
When be comes hack from his daily drive
ard aiIgSts ar MS apr Re may retire into
the recesxes Of his chamber ard there
partase q TIE nearest food 81 satisfy tire
cravings Of hunger and nobody be the
wiser TIE SpaniaFds have 3 prgyerc that
the stomach has 70 windows What
man wears On his back IS exposed 10 the
gaze of al men. bat what be eats nobody
sees. and II Re does no. eat ali ali nobody
can see that his stomach is empty when
he r7uffles his cloak about hIr1 ard saiies
forth 10 neet the world with ar unrgffled
counsenance. S9ue 81 the stories that
were tod ire In Madrid Ok the petty ecouo-
mics 20 whici7 gentlemen Of good society
were reduced were quite equal 20 any
thing IN the shifts e Don Quixote.
They All Want Pensions.
''But the cavalier has one resource iefs.
There Is enc prize far him 10 gain and his
happiness VIII be complete. IL IS 10 get "a
psnstoE-a hope that would be chimerical
In a country where such rewards were be-
slowed only for distinguished services 10
the state But they Go these things differ
emily In Spain. 4 pension is granted for
every kind OF service. or for meme II may
be very. very small. but no matter for that
1T Is fixed; and 50 long as IL secures the
recipient from absolute want il IS enough
From tnat moment be VIII set Up as a gem
t.enan ard not do another stroke Of work
10 the end Of his days. The pension roll
OF Spain Is very large, and the number
swells from year 20 year. All this is
burden which the state has TO carry and
as ii takes the labor OF two able-bod.e3
nleE 10 support a third in tdleness the
drain upon its resources is enormous.
Il have been told that even intelligent
sraniards cherish the belief that thelr
country Is sTiil the first power in Europe.
When I was in Madrid there had been
some difficulty with Germany over the
Caroline Islands. and fer a week the talk
In the cafes WAS % war. Not doubt was
expressed thai If it came 20 blows Ger
many would soon find out what a formula
bic enemy she had 10 deal with, Perhaps
this little incident vii. throw some light
upon the way the inErained Snaniarf re-
CARDS this present conflict with the United
States. II Germany was 10 be their easy
victim doubtless they look upon the United
States as absolutely powerleSs against
them. There fs something pathetic in this
Inconsistencies Of ore who Is so full OF
the ancient glories OF his country that ne
cannot perceive It's decay and who lives
In dreams. keeping up his fallen dignity
by an Increased se.f-appreciation that shall
make up for the loss OF appreciation hy
the rest Of the world. one can but look
have stepped out Of the sixteenth century
and that even IN it's well-.orn and faded
raiment preserves the traces Of ancient
splendor.
spain Is Not Played Out
Some Of our hasiy countrymen say
h!ppant1 ths Spain is played OUT Never
were IN + more mistaken. The country
Is still there. as strorg by nature as ever
with resources uneNhausted and almost I'M
touched II France be richer in soil. Spain
is richer In mineral wealth. and. indeed is
said 10 be the richest country In Eurape
II is overrunning with natural wealth; it's
hills bring forth brass and It's mountains
iron. while its magnificent coast line opens
It's hroad-armed ports 10 invite the COM
merce Of the world
Thus situated. no country In Eurone
has greater opportunities. II needs only
that the Snantard5 of today should come
Down to the hard ground Of reality. and
on this solid basis reconstruct the fabric.
Of their eouniry's greatness. A nation il
made up or tndi iduais. its strength is
merely the combined strength Of millions
or men; and the weakness of character
thai makes a man too proud to work Is a
weakness OF the state. Herein is the weak
ness Of Spain; She has too many knights.
and they carry too much armor. so that
she Is sadly overweighted with dignity
in this busting century. If he would Law
aside his helmet and shield and be CON
tent simply 10 do a mans work IN this
work-a-day world the effect would show
itself in the general prosperity Of the conn
try. TAis awakening Is sure - come: il
may come as a result Of the present war
II viii bee rude one az first. but II Spain
loses her colonies and Is thrown On her
own resources il may result in a great
change for the better I'm her own condition.
Personal Freedom In spain
As Madrid ia the center Of spain con
t:nued pr. Fled. so Is the puerta del Sol
the center Of Madrid. the place where it's
heart beats. into which all streams flow
aud from waich they pour. fIitner foclz
The g0ss.p-loviu1 Madtienos of evenings
II tax over the news Of the day, 10 cx-
charge views on the political situation,
- t4SelSs with the same eagerness the last
bull hgat or The last emeute or the pros
pect OF another To one accustomed ID
regard Spain as q land Il spies and -fero
repression iho tree1pm IF these discussions
Is revocation. tn fact. $50 far as tile ex-
preston et opinions IS concerned St,sfa %,
as zee as any country. II / wer, ii s.
49,. burg ara Neut i@to e4Ff sel =
stranger tVEne ana sat down az the same
1ao-v ana c1nEf rsed wlth me. | should in
Stfr-ly Suspect bsr % b5 a say and
though rniraS rsp!y Ia rs INQUIRIES 50
far a. - &ivt az opinion aboJt the ue.tshtr
ans Whether }1erc Wa llkev I'd BE-. a
storm on the Balt.e. Yet - 90 .he czsr
% }a~ SoVtFrmt ~ / sholl3 lee "a Silent
IS though dlt not know th5t th.v wrr.
n existence. And even iu berlin ar ..a
rs under the trees in the t'nt.~ eau
linden ho needs fo be careful II his words
II SIC asss anE to say of tAe eun+~or In
A3irla There 81 ua7e If thiS tf csf.r-a