The herald., 1898-03-26

terrors of the penalty for lese majestic,
and the policy of the government is to
most Of the. people who pay the taxes
as sealed book? 1t is not at all likely
that any authentic information reflect
ing upon the conduct of the war in
Cuba has ever reached the masses Of the
people in Spain-that they have any
conception of the awful destruction of
life that has been unnecessarily in
progress there for the past two or three
years-that they are at all familiar with
the real facts regarding the destruction
of the Maine, or the responsibility of
their country for it. Indeed, since his
return to Spain General Weyler has de-
clared, in addresses to the people and to
press reporters, that the conditions in
Cuba have been purposely and outrage
ously exaggerated by the Yankees, in
order to bring on war between the
two countries; and his amiable successor,
General Blanco, has all along, and within
the past fortnight, reported conditions
in Cuba as "much improved"
So ignorant, indeed, are Spanish sub
jects in Cuba regarding the United
States and it's resources, although they
have been living within five hours jour
ney from our coast, that they have re-
garded the Fern as fair sample Of our
war vessels, and it was with the view of
disabusing their minds of the idea that
&c inc irAi nj that G
Maine was sent upon it's fatal mission to
the harbor of Havana.
Conoeding that the Spanish people in
the main are ignorant of the inspiration
of our hostility, it is not difficult to see
why our bellicose attitude is an enigma
to them, for they remember our good Of
fees in the past, our steadfast ad-
herence to the contention that no Eu-
allowed to govern Cuba, and they have
doubtless been deceived by our subse-
quent pacific assurances that the Vir-
ginius incident, and all of the details
of the ten years war, have been elm
mated from American recollection
Senor Suarez, Spanish consul at New
York, may thus be allowed to accentuate
the present feeling of his people regard
ing Americas attitude:
We do not believe that there will be
an actual war between Spain and the
United States. but if such thing
should happen 1t would be because the
United States has insulted Spain. You
have in this country given home to
those men who are traitors to Spain
and have waged a war against her.
Even in this city the headquarters of
the Cuban junta are located, and from
these headquarters all the plans of the
campaign in Cuba against Spain are
prepared and supplies for the rebels
are arranged for, and this is done with
in two blocks of our consulate. The
United States and Spain are friendly
nations and therefore to say the least,
it is surprising that the rebels in Cuba
should be allowed to arrange their plans
Of campaign in this country.
It will thus be seen that the issue of
war or peace so far as the United States
is concerned, is practically in the hands
of the people, very soon to be fully ad-
vised of all the facts having a bearing
upon the case. On the other hand, the
Sagasta ministry, without taking the
people into it's confidence to any great
extent, will determine for itself just how
it will surrender Spain's insular posses
sion in the Caribbean sea, since sur
render is manifest destiny, and whether
it shall do it at the end of a costly war
with the United States, or by peaceful,
diplomatic methods, humiliating to the
national pride and certain to speedily
hurl it from power,
The present plan of the president, bar
ring "accidents" in congress, is to for
ward to the Spanish government,
through Ambassador Woodford, the re-
port of the naval board on the Maine
disaster, and pending the reply which
Spain may make to it, preparations will
be made for the sending of relief to the
starving people in Cuba. in armed YES
sells or vessels under armed escort, the
plan being tantamount to an armed in
vasion of the island, however it may be
CLOSED over with diplomatic phrasing.
Spanish pride will never yield to such
a humiiating spectacle as that. 1t
would be as if, during our civil war,
some foreign power had proposed to
send relief in armed vessels to the be-
leaguered inhabitants of Vicksburg.
while that city was completely invested
nv, +bo foroac of Cropt
The plan will meet the views Of the
people of this country, no doubt, for
it points to the immediate relief Of suf-
fering humanity and the ultimate inde-
pendence of the Cuban patriots, but It
is not likely to so successfully appeal to
Spanish pride or to Spanish cupidity
The situation, as it is presented today,
points Enthusiastically to war, except in
the remote contingency of a complete
surrender by Spain. The maueuvering
at Washington is simply for position.
Determined upon a conflict, the admin
istration desires to enter upon 1t with
every possible advantage on our side,
the advantage of superior strength, and
the advantage of a cause recognized as
just in the sight of heaven and ac-
knowledged as such by the civilized ma
tions of the earth.