The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-24

informed pefBouaSebs the AtsfFbShH PSS'
ole do not dream that this nation has
been in one Of having to fight three of
the strongest powers OF continental Eu-
rope. The incident forms a most inter-
es,lng chapter in the history OF the per-
iod, that can not now be written.
For a long time certain nations OF COM
tInsntal Europe have looked upon the
prosperity and growth of the United
States with sentiment of hardly con-
cealed enmlty. We were In their eyes
a rich nation, growing richer yearly, to
be plundsred whenever continental COM
blnatlon, called in diplomacy European
concert, OF three or four Of the powers
might conclude we were ripe for plum
dering. These countries reasoned speci-
ously enough for Americas undoIng.
The United States had no army worth
,aklng into account They said navy
could not be improvIssd. Therefore. on
the very first occasion that furnished
the shadow OF an excuse. the concert of
the powers was to attack America, with
a view to ultimate plumber in the form
Of great indemnity.
The Maine was blown up in Havana
harbOr February i5 The noment this
news reached Europe the movement was
set on foot to make a great attack on
the United states. The finding of the
board of American navy officers would
Furnish the excuse. 1t is positively
known that Spain, backed by the naval
strength ofFrance and Austria. was to
notify the United States that any view
of the Names destruction other than
that 1t occurred from some inward OK
piosIen. would be considered as an Insult
10 the honor of Spain Gas implying that
she would be guilty of an act that was
regarded with horror by all civilization
of sufficient moment to justify declar-
alton of war against US. 1t is now
known that as early as FEBRUARY our
government was confidenually Informed
BY a member of the British foreign office
tina. France, backed by Austria, had de-
termined to notify this country that II
mus, not interfere further in the loca!
affairs of Cuba. The feeding of the re-
concentrates was to be made the cause
OF this step, aggravated by the reports
published IN responsible American jour
mails. describing the awful condition to
which 100000 or 100000 helpless people
had been reduced under Captain Gem
eral weyler's method OF suppresslng the
Cuban insurrectIou. but shutting all the
people Of the island up in towns, and
pr,yidrng no means by which they could
lie, thus begging the government OF
sra:n and the administration of local
affairs in Cuba into disgrace and con-
tempt before all Europe.
The excuse since given to. General
Horace Porter for Frances conduct by
Mr. Delcasse, the French minister of for
eIrn AFFAIRS. is that Spanish securities
OF one sort and another, to the amount
OF s75O.OOO. 900, were held by the French
people, and the sum was so enormous
and go vital 10 France that the govern
ment simply had to interfere to protect
its citizens, otherwise a defeat of the
present administration ina France was
inevitable with a posst5 revolution
meantime) at the next election. No hui
man being is so sensitive to whatever
touches his pocket as is the average
middle and lower class Frenchman. 1t
was enough to say to him that America
was about doing that which would re-
duce the Yalueof his holdings to cause.-the
rrcnchman to forget everything but the
great staring fact that his pocket was
being touched. SO much for Frances
reasons for interfering in SPANS quar-
rel with America.
Austrla's conduct is easily understood
from drastic reasons
Every EFFORT was made In France 20
induce Russia to Join In thIs-coalition.
Finally, out OF Difference to her French
ally. the Russian government did not
agree to send America a note, saying, in
effect. that Americas interference with
any OF SPANS colonies would be wit
messed by Russia with regret. Further
than this Russia would not go.
1t had been supposed that the young
emperor OF Germany would be eager to
strike at America. SO he was asked 10
come into the combination. II may be
recalled that the German Kaiser paid a
visit to Prince Bismarck a little while
before the latter died. The public cup
posed that 1t was the last duttul token
OF respect the young sovereign was pay
ing TO the man Of blood and iron. the
statesman who linked together the
states of Germany into mighty en-
pire.
But It was not this alone. Young VIII
liam OF Germany Is a pretty long-hcaded
sovereign. deCpito his rather foolish no.
lions about the divine rights OF kings
anu kindred nonsense. The American
question had Just been presented TO him.
lie had the thrift Of his race, and he did
not see why Germany should lose so
many hundred millions thalers' worth OF
good buGlness for Spain, and pnssibiy In
volve the nation in war, but as to
that. I and my army" would see to II.
1t could do no harm to talk the matter
over with old Won Bismarck. Learn
how England stands" Astd the veneer
able prince, "and follow EnSiands
30, - 81. tsi-.-., Ill