The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-03
sPANIsH CHARACTERISTICS.

If the public mind We're not wholly alb
sorbed at present with the investigation go
ing on at Havana good deal Of amusement
might be found in the current revelations
of Spanish character. Poor and proud
has been the characterization of the people
for long time. and they have been noted
for impossible knight-errantry since the
days of Don Quixote. Captain Bobadil, a
mock hero il one of Ben Jonsons comedies.
was a SpaniarG, and Bombastes Furioso
must have been. Don AGriano de Armada
is a hero of Shakspeare's creation, POM
pous, fantastical Spaniard in Loves La
boris Lost" who has mint of phrases in
his BRAIN Not to mention other incidents
of recent occurrence Indicative of the ma
ticnal character, two are particularly So
the challenge sent to Senator Mason by the
Marquis dAltavilla and General Weyler's
demand upon the Queen that she demand
satisfaction from the United States. The
Journal is obliged to confess its ignorance
in regard TO the Marquis d'Altavilla beyond
the fact that he was formerly chief cham
berlain to the Queen-mark you, chief
chamberlain-and he is now willing to meet
Senator Mason half way" for the purpose
of fighting a duel. AS the chief chamber
lain. has charge of the direction and man
agement of all the private apartments and
chambers Of the Queen, except those con-
trolled by the ladies of the Queens bed
chamber. he must be very important per
son, and presumably fighting man. The
Marquis d'Altavilla probably inherits his
courage with his title from a long line of
poor and proud ancestors, and his thirst for
blood is probably hereditary Anyhow, he
dares Senator Mason to meet him in mortal
combat half way between the United States
and Spain. Don Quixote himself never Of
fered to so that far to meet an enemy.
General Weyler's petition to the Queen
shows that he is also very mad and full of
fight. He wants her TO demand from the
United States an immediate apology for
President McKinley's illusions in his mes
sage to Congress to Weyler's methods of
warfare The President gave it to Weyler
strong, and the latter wants the Spanish
government to resent the insult. He says
From his high position the executive of a
foreign power, at the solemn moment of the
opening of its Congress, has uttered insults
against the army of Spain of SO gross
ture that / can hardly believe they will be
permitted to pass without the energetic
protest of the government of your Majesty.
The heroic soldiers who are shedding their
generous blood in the fields of Cuba to de-
fend the sovereignty of Spain have been in
suited in coarse and cOwardly manner be-
fore the whole civilized world and treated
as though they were on the same level with
rebellious hordes of bandits who do not de-
serve an honorable mention.
General Weyler does not challenge Nc
Kinley to meet him half way and
fight it out, but he intimates that he would
like to get at him. 1.-The man who has in
suited u.s. he says, "has spoken his words
at such a distance that cannot personally
punish him. 1 come, therefore, to your
Majesty demanding reparation for our mill
tary honor trampled upon by the for
eigner." He says nothing will answer but
an apology, public, complete and imme-
date" and he concludes:
Therefore not as q favor. but as an act
of justice which your Majesty cannot re-
fuse, the undersigned demands from your
Majesty that you advise your government
to ask the satisfaction that is so necessary
10 the honor of the Spanish arms.
This is worthy of the hero who made re-
lentless war against Cuban women and chill
dren The fact that the Queen Regent has
not demanded satisfaction from Mr.. Nc
Kinley would seem to indicate that she is
not as anxious to take up Weyler's quar-
rels as he is to have her. 1t is all very
Spanish