The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-05-25


and from country to country.
Our new acquaintance then launched |
into TRADE on the war in Cuba.
His words flowed like a swollen tor
rent, and the essence was:
"The Americans have never ceased to
give aid and comfort to Cuban revolu-
tionists-not openly, but secretly, prac-
tically and morally. The United States
Government have always been correct
apparently, maintaining automatically
strictly neutral attitude but | am sure
the sympathies of the people and the
press have been with the rebels, to our
great detriment; the rebels have been en-
couraged, sustained, melted to pro-
longed resistance.
THE Cuban insurrection lives only
from the munitions of war, provisions
and volunteers sent to Cuba by Ameri-
can filibusters.
"Canovas when Prime Minister never
would listen to propositions embracing
American intervention Sagasta is actu-
ated by the same sentiments, and no
chief of the Spanish government dare do
otherwise. Public opinion will never
tolerate any interference by foreign
power in the affairs of Spain and her
colonies.
Il like the Americans, personally,
very much, but we can never allow their
pretenSiOnS to dominate all America and
dictate to European powers their treat
ment of American colonies.
"To judge from the interviews and
speeches of some American statesmen
we must believe that your land has an
abundance of desperadoes and brag-
CARTS, for their constant talk is of driv-
ing the Spaniards out OF Cuba, the Eng
lish out of Canada, and to make the
French relinquish every foot of land
they own in the New World Your
newspapers call them jingoes-he pro-
nounced the word hin-go-es, with the
gutteral Spanish jota).
81 have always believed the Ameri-
cans are serious, practical people, that
they will come to an amicable under
standing with us; that we shall mutually
arrange a favorable commercial treaty,
and that in reciprocation, Americans
would preserve strict neutrality and pre-
vent the formation and departure of fill
clustering expeditions to Cuba.
AS to war between the United States
and Cuba, | don't believe it for a mo-
ment No one can make me believe that
sensible people like the Americans
would seek to indulge in such an adven-
ture.
"War with us would mean the ruin of
your maritime interests for years;
Spain has an excellent navy; she could
give letters Of marque to her many ship
builders of the Mediterranean and the
ocean, fill the seas with her corsairs, and
ruin American commerce.
"Our men-of-war could burn New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore by
throwing shells into the heart of those
cities. AS to Cuba, the United States
would have to mobilize 100000 or 500,-
600 men, and even then all their at
tempts to land there would be useless
for there are 100000 regular troops in
Cuba, Havana is impregnable and we
can send vast re-inforcernents, if neces-
sary. You Americans had better look
twice before you leap. "Buenas tardes."
He was getting fiery hot, and | could
see from the faces and gestures of the
Caballeros at the adjoining tables that
they were neglecting their dominoes,
were becoming interested in his speech,
and that unpleasant consequences might
follow an unwise extension of the talk.
Rennyson, who does not understand
Spanish, was nudging my knee, making
sinister gestures, and so | ended the cpl
sode by telling the Cubaphile that | was
10 politician, that | had not been in
America for several months, and that all
the United States desired was speedy
end to the Cuban difficulty.
My professor told me that he was a
large manufacturer Of generos-silk and
cotton fabrics-and that my hot-headed
friend" had suffered heavy depression
in orders because of Cuban hostilities.
Estamos en- Espana, land of revolt
clones y pronunciamientos,' was not
there to discuss, to quarrel, but to ascer-
tain the true condition of things. Pru-
dence!
1t is remarkable fact that nine-tenths
of the revolutions in Spain break out
in the North, and in the majority Of
cases first see light in Catalonia.
The principal fort at Barcelona, Mont
Juich Jews' Mountain), is the place of
incarceration of the anarchist prisoners,
and here they were tortured so that they
said anything in order to escape the rack,
about which the European newspapers
published narrowing reports for months.
This inquisicion may be said to have
ended with the assassination of Canovas
| 4 Il l.. L. A.