Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-14
YANKEES IN CUBA
The Opinion the Spaniards Have of
This Nation.
THEY ONLY WANT TEE DOLLARS
BoastfuI Character of the Pamph-
ieteers in Havana.
DON QUIXOTE Rolls
Copyright, 1898, by Charles NJ. Pepper.)
)ecial Correspondence of The Evening Star

HAVANA, February II, 1898.
Yankees in Cuba havs for half a century
been the bane of the Spanish government
That was the term given to all people from
the United States. 1t is yet used The
Sraniards believe that in some way it is a
term of reproach. Formerly the official
classes thought the Yankee was poor trash
compared with the hidalgos and the gran
dees of Spain. They talk of themselves as
nation of Don Quixotes and of the Yam
KEGS as a nation of shopkeepers. An echo
of this talk is sometimes heard in ths
Spanish cortes. Canovas was the last
premier who employed it, unless Sagasta
has done so in the latest note. 1t is of
passing moment that the notion has be-
lieVers among thu Spanish official classes,
more particularly the old families who may
have influence in shaping the course of
their government.
An idea of this feeling Is had from per-
sCnal intercourse, but this Is only a sur
face impression. The Spanish official is
always polite. He is too courteous to Of
fend an American friend by blunt asse1-
t1ons OF superiority. He contents himself
with knightly condescension such as be-
fits Don Quixote. With foreigners of
other countries he may be more blunt.
Recently an Englishman, half in banter
and half in earnest, was commiserating an
official of high degree on the presence Of
the warship Maine.
If Uncle Sam undertakes to bulldoze
you,' he said, John Bull won't allow it."
Thanks, Senor John Bull was he
frigid reply, but the navy of Spain is able
to take care of Mister Uncle Sans boats
ard of your English navy, :oo."
This Englishman Is a boaster but he
supposed the strength Of the British navy
was so well understood that he has never
thought to boast of 1t among his Spanish
friends. He tells the story himself
General Opinion of the Yankees.
Besides the talk that may he heard In
personal intercourse, a fair understanding
OF this feeling regarding the Yankees is
had from the newspapers. They reflect the
sentiment accurately. A better impression
may be had from pamphlets. Pamphletee
ing Is not lost art among the Spanish
writer's 1t Is a weapon Of political ccntro-
Versy possibly considered more weighty
and dignified than the newspapers. In an
afternoon stroll among the old bookstores
OF Havana I picked up half dozen
pamphlets, the reading Of which enIivened
what otherwise might have been a dull
evening, for 1t was raining without and the
company within the hotel was not con-
genial Through all these pamphlets runs
a central idea This Is the unconquered
and unconquerable valor Of Spain and the
scrdld character of the Yankees A COL
iateral deduction seems to be that in the
event OF trouble with the United States
Europe would come to the rescue of Spain
FROM these documents l learn that
spain's history lever constitutes the grand
est and most glorious page of universal his
Tory Spanish patriotism is invincible
she only understands TO wash out In blood
arronts received. On the other hand IL is
"a fact well known" that the North Amer
leans, the Yankees, love dollars more than
country. When they seek to "meddle" In
the affairs of Cuba, Spain, the invincible
Will teach them a lesson in international
manners. Our heroic troops" "our Illus
trious soldiers "our valiant army." will
then have the opportunity to distinguish
themselves, which they have been so long
denied. Meantime, the money-grasping
Yankees are reminded that when it comes
TO war Valor is necessary element. They
must not think they can fight with dollars
alone. And they had better have an eye to
their own "turoid populace3
One of these pamphlets, patterned after a
Famous English book, describes the inya-
sion of Cuba by American troops. 1t re-
counts battle after battle, in which the i'm
mense superiority of the Americans in num-
bers gives them the victory. An uIbroken
chain OF military triumphs extends through
series of months. Ther after these are
eliminated by a stunning defeat for the
Spanish troops, the United States Lnex-
pectedly sues for peace, pays Spain q
heavy indemnity and withdraws frcm the
island. The reason Is simple. The Yankees
have learned that Spain is unconqucrable
They may win battles because they have
an immeasurably larger Amy, bu. they
can never vanQuish Spanish patriotism.
So, being a people in whom the CONNER
clal instinct Is strong, they get out of the
scrape as best they may. They apologize
to Spain for the Inconvenience they have
caused her, pay for Ire damage they have
done, and retire with lean pocket book.
This is what might be called a view of the
power of resistance which Spanish valor is
able to show.
Willing for War.
Another view is Of the willingness of the
peninsula to enter upon a clash of arms
-.
This pamphlet is entitled Long Live Spain
the War With the United States" 1t is
good reading. Among other things the au-
thor says: Spain. that nation poor and in
significant, which would wish to illtreat no
one. would not delay in making felt the
deadly lead of its bullets and the effect OF
the tempered Toledo blades, and, above all,
the valor of Its sons, which no nation can
equal And II the United States ever
reaches the point of recognizing the bel
ligerency Of the insurgents or of intervening
Spain will at once declare war without ask
ing herself whether she can lose. Such
patriotism the North Americans do not
know, cannot know and cannot appreciate
because they recognize no love OF country
as they recognize the love Of millions OF
dollars" And il Spain lacks ships and
money she possesses valor in abundance,
which gushes forth whenever the cali
comes to open the gateways of her heart,
I do not attach too much Importance to
the extravagant terms in which these ideas
are given utterance. The Castiiian language
is what we call high flown" A local pa
Per in the United States speaking Of the
temperance in public OF a well-known
citizen. would say: Judge Smith, who broke