The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-27

up While ne minister's were sslH de-
batsng Il. the captain-gsneral OF Madrid
arrived and declared mat the army was
resolved l.her 10 listen 10 nor 20 consent
any talk of peace. saying that II there
were no other reason. IL was due 70 me
soldiers who had fought so heroicaily Al
Santiago. dispueing the ground with the
enemy inch By inch. that the war should
go on.
The opinion finally prevailed in ne coun
ell tha, in view OF rhs fact thai there Is
Al army OF 1So.e1o men In Cuba. II Was
not possible to abandon the fight in de-
fence Of the rights OF the nation in THAI
island so long as I, could be carried OF.
Leaving TIE council chamber. one Of ehs
ministers said: I'VE must oppose
serene from; 20 .he reverses OF fortune.
ana with a high heart. yielding neither 20
disbursement nor fear. continue the
fight against those who are striving 20
deprive US OF our possessions. until re-
verses against which we can no longer
contend obligs Us 20 surrender. We can
then say thai We fought as Ions Is We
were able in defence OF The integrity Of
the nation. yielding only when our forces
were destroyed. not while we had q pow
erful army. with weapons in cheir hands.
II. however. the country should require
Us 10 adopt a different course. We must
bow 20 its will and obey
Such. IN brief. are the principal incidents
which marked the day on which the catas-
,rophe OF the humiliation OF Admiral Ger
vera's squadron became known in Madrid
"a day that will be remembered as ono
OF the darkest for Spain OF the dark DAYS
Of the closing century. Pubic excitenent
mas since then cuieted down 20 some ex-
tent. or at least its existence IS less appar-
ent But perhaps. while the feeling
against the government is less apparent,
ii has in reality grown stronger; now that
the people are able 20 lock ~ the sttua-
ton more calmly. they are able 70 reaii1S
more fully TIE extent OF cfelr misfortune.
and also the culpabillty OF the govern
ment In preci plating the disaster. What
the outcome OF rhe situation viii be.
whether the government vii decide for
peace or war. y is as YET impossible to
guess. on the one hand arethecommer-
ciA and manufacturing classes Of C2tz-
lonia, eager 10 start again on the path
OF industrial prosperity and progress so
rudely interrupted by the war. who were
almost unanimous for peace before ths
declaration OF the American government
OF its intention TO send fleet 10 lombard
the coast c. Spain. but who are now d.
v!ded in opinion; the Labor-socisiist party
which is loud and insis;ent In It's demand
for immediate peace. and a few among rhs
practical minded Of all classes. who see
in further prolongation OF the war the
utter exhaustion Of Spain.
On the other hand. are the idealists,
the army. and the great body OF the peo-
pie. who regard ths honor OF the army as
their own. since each OF them has now.
o. has had. or expects 70 have a son. or
a brother. or a father. or a husband. n
the army. and who holds i,s honor. which
they consider one with mat os the nation.
higher than any material good. This Is
a powerful force from tho fact that ;hs
Spanish peasant IS almost independent OF
material prosperity. which consequently
counts for litle with him Frugal in his
habits. with few material wants to sup
ply, he is able 70 live on almost moth
ing: and the customs OF the country
prevent him from feeling any degrade
ton in his poverty As a man. he ls tie
equal OF the highest. and no l.randes of
Spain would venture. even II he felt 20 in
clined. TO treat with contumely the lowest
OF his countrymen. Even the beggAF "a
the street receives from the man who
perhaps refuses an aims the courtesy
which Is given and demanded by every
Spaniard.
Then. there are other forces On this side
OF the question To be taken into account.
The Carlisis. while not strong enough "a
overthrow the government. could yet crs-
ate considerable disturbance in che prov
iuces in which Don Carlos has a following.
and in the event Of peace disbcuorAbis
for Spain being concluded, there - ilttie
doubt that they would DO
Besides these. there are the rep IblicanE.
without counting among them. however.
tho former president Of the republic. Senior
Pl Margall. who came out boldly not
long since in defence OF the government.
accusing the press OF being mainly instru-
mental in creating the preSen; situation.
And there are the revoluti0nists. without
leaders or programme. These make 10
secret OF their opinions. and declare OPEN
IL that me time 4 drawing near when
Spain must be regenerated 81 a revolution
like that which took place a. me end q
the last century In France These VII
blame the government equally vhleheVeS
course II adopts and are BY no means too
least dlficult factor OF ne problem