The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-06

/
| In conversation with IAN eminent Span-
lard" reported by the Paris correspondent
of the London Times. the eminent Spaniard
is quoted as saying:
How could Europe do anything against
| the United States? For forty-five years the
| principle of filibustering has been I'm vogue
| throughout Europe, and the whole nolicv If
Europe is based upon it, BY what right
should Europe reproach the United States
/ Tor doing what she herself has been doing
constantly for nearly half a century?
The point is we'll taken, though probably
European statesmen would be slow to admit
it. What is called fiibustering is of Euro
pean origin and prevailed among European
nations long before it was ever attempted
by Americans the difference being that the
| filibustering done on this side of the Allan
| tic has been in the interest of liberty, while
theirs has been for selfish purposes or ter
ritorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The very word fill
buster, as it shows on it's face, is of Latin
not Anglo-Saxon origin. 1t is found almost
identical in the Italian, French and Spanish
languages, and has only become Anglicized
by adoption. The Spanish filibustero is the
same as the French filbuster and the Italian
flibustiere all meaning a buccaneer or free
booter. BY international law flibusters are
pirates, in which line of nautical industry
the Spaniards for long time led all other
peoples.
The word filibuster first began to be used
in the United States in the early fifties,
when unlawful expeditions of Adventures
began to form in this country to gain con-
troll of West Indian and Central American
regions with a view of annexing them to
the United States. Although the purpose
of these expeditions was in sense meri-
torious, since they aimed at the extension
of free government, they were, of course,
unlawful and piratical. The first one. and
very celebrated in it's day. was organized
by one Lopez, native Cuban. After two
unsuccessful attempts to get away in 1919
and 1850 he finally sailed from New Orleans
and landed in Cuba in August, 1851, with
about 500 men. The expedition ended disas-
trously, and Lopez and several other leaders
were executed In the years 1858, 1854 and
1855 General William Walker organized
three separate expeditions against Lower
California, the State of Sonora, in Mexico,
and Nicaragua. These expeditions gave the
United States government great deal OF
trouble, and the last one ended in Walkers
capture, court-martial and death. Since
then there have not been any formidable
flibustering expeditions, though in every
Cuban war Americans have extended more
or less assistance in spite of the efforts OF
the government to prevent it.
The history of Europe has been little else
of
all her American possessions by armed ex-
petitions, subjugating the natives and lay
ing the foundations of her power in cruelty
and blood For hundreds of years the small
German states filibustered against one an
other. no principle being recognized except
that might makes right. Poland and Hun
gary were tilibustered out of national eX-
istence. Spain's operations in the Neither
lands were fiibustering expedition char
acterized by such cruelty as the world never
saw before or since. For generations past
the small states of southern Europe nave
been the victims of continual filibuster-
ing policy by Russia and Turkey, and some
times by other powers. England has fill
clustered against India. England, France
and Germany have all filibustered against
Africa. and now they are all fllibusterng
against China. In short, flibustering anu
armed intervention have been the fixed pol
lev of European states for hundreds of
wears. and is still Every government ana
every dynasty in Europe is founded on I'LL
clustering so the eminent Spaniard may
well ask ''by what right should Europe re-
proach the United States for doing what
she herself has been doing constantly for
nearly half century,?
If the present situation results in war be-
tween the United States and Spain 1T viii
be the furthest possible removed from fill
busterng movement. The idea almost uni
versally prevalent in Europe that the
United states wish to seize and annex Cuba
is utterly erroneous Cuba may become
mart of the United States some time. but
II will come about i'll a natural way and
not under present conditions. There would
he no element of filibustering in a war with
Snain. 1t would be a war TO vindicate the
national honor for an intolerahle wrong ana
insult in the destruction of the Maine, TO
end SPANISH rule in Cuba and to rid our
selves of an unfriendly and vicious neigh