The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-03

MORAL ssFFECT OF VICTORY.
Gratifying an the victory 70 our
forces II. on account of it's material
advantage. II has a much higher value
for the moral effect II VIII have upon
Europe. The mere destruction OF a
number OF vessels. the relative strength
Of which 10 ours might be difficult 20
estimate. would not be so striking In
itself. But there was daring and an
intelligent precneerted action which
win compel the admiration Of foreign
naval authorities, and wiring from the
nasses Of the people respect for the
courage and mastrrfulness Of our navy.
We have not had an opportunity 10
show any foreign power what We could
do on the ocean since ISLE. No war
that we have waged has been on the
aea and although we had some notable
naval engagements during the civil war
they were only with the vessels OF our
own country. aud did not leave that
impression which an encounter with
3 foreign foe must always have.
Spain has declined In ~ aser. but the
ya.or of her soldiers and sailors or coo
years ago s,ill lives In tbs :nemory OF
the people OF Europe. II must be re-
mcmnered that the bulk OF the popn-
lation Of provincial Europe does not
read much. II stu relies npGn tradition
Spain was powerful empire and left
the Impress OF It's strength upon the
whole Of Middle Europe. tn the Meth
erisnds Spain is still! regarded as one
of the great powers. because for so long
that country suffered under the Arm
hand of spanish rulers. Through
Southern Germany and In Austria and
In the south OF France. Spain IL one
al the two great forces dominating in
the past.
Europeans have no more idea OF the
extent or the growth and development
Va tHs tHusea GAhsFN iihk Nfftsff iUN~-
fathers Of hundred years ago had Of
the area OF North America Spain has
an area OF only 1878 square miles.
while Texas alone has s6s.7so square
miles. Montana IL nearly as large. and
California stilt nearer. The total area
Of the states and territories is s.soe. 400
square miles. In point % population
Spain has barely moved within SOD
years. while tie United States has In
creased from practically nothing Spain
has less than IS e0o. 900 people now.
while the United States has nearly So
ooo. ooe
or course. some well-iaforncd people
abroad realise the charge that has taken
place: but they are surprisingly rare
and the mistakes made by leading pub.
lie men when speaking Of this country
arc amazing. Nothing imnsesses the
indifferently informed more thar a dis
play % strength Statistics are no,
readily eomprehended. and comparisons
are only az service to the thoughtful
The nation that can "whia'' another 4,
o. them the nation 20 be respected and
feared We know by extracts from
tase during the rast two or three
aaut,s that even where the best Of
Information might have been expected,
there Is a henighted ignorance. /, was
admitted that Spain MAS one ~ the In.
feFlor maritime nations. bu, Ne were
supposed 20 Re little better and not SO
expert as seanaea or so valiant rs fight
ers, For hs.ndreds % years the people
had read OF the bold buccaneers anl
the naughty spaniard. hut Who had
ever heard 81 Americans ever doing
anything hn, ash;ing among them
selves
The change tina; will be wrough,
among pshile sentiment by this feat o.
cur arms can hardly be estimated
p%spsac as uaast OF the European gov.
srnfnents are they are subject 20 an
extent 20 publte sentiment. "a con,
ssnsps with which this country has
been held by the elder European peoples
has enabled foreign governments "a
treat Us lightly. This they can no
icnxer do Governments Viii recognize
saat they have . new force 70 include