The record-union., 1898-11-15
A VIEW OF SPAIN.
PESSIMISTIC CRITIsM BY "A
SPANIARD..
The Dynastic Crisis-An Article of
Vivid CoIor-SeIfishness and
Ignorance.

author purporting to be "a Spaniard.
Sinister comments made by an irrl-
tated American newspaper are color
less when compared with this paper
Though yelled as far as language is
concerned, "A Spaniard's" illusions on
the Queen are most uncomplimentary'
and her poor little boy is hardly
spared. We are told that in the choice
of the young Kings name, "Alfonso
KILL the selection was most un-
fortunate one, as thirteen is "a Word
of ill-omen in Spain, and should Tor
that very reason have been avoided.
When the name and number were de-
cided on then ''pious people significant
ly shook their heads, reverently
crossed themselves, and sadly prophe-
sled that there could be nae luck
about the royal house"
A model German fhausfrau, "A
Spaniard" writes, is parsonage
wasted. The Spaniards want outward
splendor, visible majesty, sumptuous
pageantry, and generous hospitality
Large heartedness, strength OF
will, splendid generosity, and self-re-
lance cover multitude of sins IN
Spanish monarch, and cannot be re-
placed by any number of austere and
domestic virtues" "a Spaniard" finds
fault with the poor woman because
neither she nor her son have honored
the bullfights with their presence.
No doubt there is much in bull
fight which is neither attractive nor
edifying, and court society and Madrid
may at times be a trif1ing trying"
AS to the Cuban army sent to CUBA
"a Spaniard" declares that their in
competency arose from the pred1lec-
ton the Queen had for Senor Moret,
her Colonial Minister. "The army, IN
stead of being allowed to attack and
defeat the insurgents, was employed
in bribing them to lay down their
arms, and in nursing the reconcen-
trados. who had kept the rebellion
alive. The money which the state
owed the troops was paid away IN
bribes to the rebel chiefs, and all those
Spanish officers who were opposed to
the concession of home rule were snip
ped off to the peninsula, with pad
note in their papers of service. Ana
while the self-sacrificing officers were
being dealt with as Offenders, one OF
+he most unsavory Cuban autonomists,
whose notoriety should have closed the
gates of every palace in Europe TO hli't'
was graciously received by her maJes-
+v who presented him with her por-
trait" "a Spaniard" is by no means
disrespectful to the Yankees. Possibly
w. L. Courtney, the editor or me
Fortnightly." vigorously policed the
article. His anger is all directed TO-
ward the Spanish Cabinet. The writer
of the article continues as folloWs:
"Crass ignorance, selfshness which
II n l.
piditv which played into the enemy's
hand and cunning which thwarted the
best efforts Of our patriots, marked
every step taken by that fH-omeneo
Cabinet of Sagasta In diplomacy, war
and peace, they did everything Wnlcn
they should not have done and omitted
everything which it was their duty TO
undertake. Peace might have beer
preserved by the Government, whose
avowed object was to prevent war. had
they yielded to Mr.. Woodford's de-
mands which were insignificant as
compared with the conditions to which
we must now give our assent; but TO
accept the challenge to sanguinary
war, knowing as they did the utter un-
preparedness of the country, was trea-
son to the nation and a violation of the
elementary laws of humanity. This
Cabinet. whose specially was peace. ac-
tually provoked the warlilSe spirit OF
the people into almost Chauvinist ma
nipulation in order TO intimidate the
nation of Yankee shopkeepers, and
then they experienced the greatest dift1-
Guilty in laying the fierce spirits which
they had foolishly conjured up. The
comic opera is the proper place for the
doings of a Cabinet whose President
had to inquire where the Mariana ISL
ands are situate, and whose War Minis
ter enthusiastically exclaimed on hos
tilities being declared: I wish to God
we had not even one ship'-and this
in a war which was essentially naval!
The Marine Minister explained in Par
lament on learning Of the disaster at
Cavite, that gunboats and destroyers
were utterly useless there, but added
that a considerable number of them
had just been dispatched; and when in
one of the Cabinet councils held later
General Blanco's dispatches were read
enumerating all the American ships
which were blockading Havana he ex-
claimed in despair: o, my mother,
what a hole we have got into!'"
As to the conduct of the war "a
Spaniard" writes:
I'VE never once wagcd real war since
the United States Embassador left
Madrid Our Government refused to
take the offensive, refused 30 prepare
for an energetic defense, and refused
to sue for peace. The best Generals in
the kingdom were forced to stay at
home to expiate their supposed lack of
affection for the dynasty, and the troops
which were soreIy needed for the Phil
ippines were kept in the peninsula for
the defense of the Queen and the King
against the anticipated rising of Span
iards. The news of the disaster at Ca
vite was followed by energetic measures
throughout the country against the
hungry but patriotic population, whose
bread winners were being wantonly sac
rificed in the colonies. The destruction
of Cervera's squadron was no sooner
known than General Martinez Campos.
the champion of the Queen, called Cor
fourteen additional regiments of troops
for the defense of the Sonora against
her patient people. He obviously felt
that if they had not yet revolted they
ought to do So"
Describing Spain's resources, its agri-
culture, commerce, industries, the
scathing article thus comments on
them:
The much vaunted prosperity of the
SS EnR RnHHnhO