Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-23
A Typical Spanish Censor.

A remarkable but by no means improb-
able tale comes from Ponce from the lips
OF Editor Lopez, of the principal news
paper of Porto Rico, published at San Juan.
who tells of the extraordinary efforts of
Macias captain general of the COLONY to
prevent the Inhabitants from learning of
the progress of the war. Macas was alb
solute master of what was printed in the
journals and he could thus in G. large meas
IRE control the information obtained by the
people. But he could not prevent rumors
of the steady collapse of the Spanish power
from reaching the more intelligent inhabi-
tants, who had occasional communication
with the outside through mercantile YES
sells touching here and there on the coast
1t was many weeks after May l before
the news of the battle of Manila began to
filter in through these unofficial channels
Edltor Lopez heard of the destruction of
Cervera's squadron the day after 1t hap
pened, but could not print a line Of the
news for ten days. Meanwhile Macias is
sued an official bulletin announcing that a
naval battle had been fought off Santiago
and that six American vessels, including
two battle ships, had been destroyed In
stead of acknowledging the fall of San
tiago the officials fed the people with an
es. and large proportion of the population
believed these canards.
One consequence of this deception was
that VIXEN the full truth dawned upon the
people they turned quickly from the old,
false guides and shifted their allegiance to
the conquering nation without a qualm.
They Lad been fooled once too often. Their
experience has merely been that of Spain's
world he of
GUAM in the Ladrone Islands, did not
know war had been declared when the
Charleston arrived to take possession in
the name of the United States. He had
been kept in ignorance of the progress of
the ante-bellum negotiations, and was not
even apprehensive that a rupture of rela-
tiCns vas imminent Other colonies were
equally in the dark as to the true state OF
case. The great majority of the Spanish
population is illiterate. Public education is
practically unknown. The governments
IDEAL has always been to maintain the ma
ton in as dense state of ignorance as
possible and thus to prevent the spread
of those disturbing doctrines supposed to
accompany enlightenment The result is
now apparent Spain, ignorant of the true
issues involved IN the struggle with Cuba,
and of the motives of the United States,
permitted her ministers to involve the coun-
try in d war which was popularity believed
to foreshadow glorious victory. The
Americans were confidently considered
commercial towards. There was means
by which the truth could penetrate the
dense ignorance of the populace. Only an
insignificant fraction of the people knew
history, a smaller fraction had Travelled,
the newspapers were under the domination
of the government, the facts were persist
emily distorted to suit the immediate pur-
poses of the ministry and thus the way
was prepared for national disaster.
Captain General Macias is not to be exc
Grated for his stupid performance. He was
following his traditions when he lied about
the progress of the war and bolstered up
the courage of his charges by suppressing
the truth He would not have truly repre-
scented his government had he done other
wise.