The San Francisco call., 1898-02-19
A HaLF-cEnTURY OF SHAME.

HE present relations of the United States and Spain have not been of sudden growth. The
 wreck of the Maine but cleared away the clouds and left the hatred the Spanish feel for exposed m all its intensity: That this hatred should be mixed with contempt is our fault By patient endurance of the brutal insolence of Spain for half century we have well earned the disregard she is ever ready to express It is the part of great nation to pick quarrel with weak Neither is 1t the part of a great nation to forbear without limit when 1t is subjected to continued insult its property destroyed its subjects murdered its protests made laughing stock and its flag derided being protection. For half century Spain has been permitted to do with us as she pleased At last she has the idea that we are towards. How could she have any other? She thinks she could whip What has there been to convince her to the contrary?
 America will never be secure in the respect of na- tons until the respect has been earned When the British flag flies above the deck of of her Majesty vessels that deck much British territory the soil of Albion itself. No matter in what clime none would presume to encroach Note the difference. An American ship is wrecked and takes hundreds down to death The circumstances tend to show the wreck to have been the result, if not of Spains reachery at least of feeling in with her sentiments Yet Spain stretches out bloody hand
 
 direct and under her surveillance. Where does his tory afford example of insolence so monstrous?
 There is but one dgnifed course It is for the United States to inform Spain that while there is weeping in hundreds of American homes for the victims of appalling catastrophe the inquest shall not be conducted by the suspects From this course there can be retreat without bringing this country under the scorn of every civilized people To no other people would even the imDertinence of Spain dare to formulate demand which only be con- sidered affront the most gross
 The talk of settlement upon monetary basis is sickening Either Spain IS innocent in this particu- lar matter she deserves to be swept from the seas stripped of her colonial possessions and driven back to rot under the shadow of her decayng throne Honor is not to be bought for price, and even to consider the proffer of Spanish gold or worthless Spanish promises would be not honor but deep and lasting disgrace The time is near for the naughty Don to be humbled. He must learn to be respectful and human, that murder is a crime, an insult offen- Sive, and that people in this country do not take it friendly when the mutilated bodies of their dead reved they are being laid to rest on an alien shore.
 Sooner or later there will be a wiping out of the old score. Americans are not interested in Cuba from selfish motives alone. They remember the horrors oi the past they recall the Lopez expedition and the daughters attending it, the Virgnius and the wanton murder of American boys bound and tramped under the hoos of cavalry while the populace made merry These things not to be forgotten That they have seemed to be forgotten has lulled the Spanish into sense of power to override America It is fitting that when the cruel of Cuba surrender their swords that pended knee they hand them to soldiers of the United States