The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15

hg; 4 accounts for The general misinsor-
nation that obtains throughout Spain on
th.s particular sahj.vs We'll educated
SpsDiards believe that there Is a small
that as nation we are made up chie0y
Of shop-kespers and ditch-diggerA
Expect TO Whip ~.
They have been told ever and over
again ,hag We have no courage. that we
are afraid 10 light. tina; our navy Is USE
less. or nearly SO, and that our leaders
are all b.oahard politicians Naturally
saey have come 10 believe this. and so
confidently expect 10 whip rs. As for the
lower classes they actuailss believe that
the principal industry OF America is the
raising Of hogs. and at the word Ameri-
canos they couture up visions OF swine
herders ana their droves.
One or two instances VIII give better
idea of these popular p iseonceptions A
comic paper has Just been started In
Madrid, II is called The Pofker." ard
is devoted 10 the rid.cule OF Americans.
The title does not seem al all crude or
exaggerated 70 the average Spaniard. I'll
warrant. The other day the Spanish press
printed report tina, the savages OF Ohio
ana Illinois had risen and that all the
regular troops would have 10 be called
from the seaboari to dueil the outbreak.
From what | know OF the state Of public
information in Madrid. I dare say this
story dlda't raise smile of sncredu,ty
IN all the capita. unless II WAS In the case
OF some Ameriean-born resident. II seems
10 be the settled policy Of the Spanlss,
officials and newspapers TO increase rather
than to dispel this ignorance. Therefore
the Spanish people are likely TO experience
rude awakening before this war is over.
so awakening that NAV he rraasht with
danger 10 these same officials.
The spanish EiGhting spirit.
AT the same time l believe that those
who expect Span 20 yield the present con-
test without struggle are badly mistaken
The Span.ard IS really a desperate fighter
when he Is pushed 10 IL. What Spain has
done toward quelIing the instruction In
Cuba Is not 10 he taken as a fair test
or what she can do In an extremity.
There may have been sufficient reasons
why the Spanish generals did not wish
10 br.ng the Cuban war To a speedy end
and anyway in that contest the Spanish
nation Aas not been straning every nerve
as they would against the United States.
The Spanard's boast about shedding the
last drop OF blood in defense of his coun-
iFys honor may be parity buncombe but
1t Is not altogether without foundation.
some OF the wars between the South
American countri~s. whose people are
or Spanish blood, give instances OF this
desperate species of bravery. In the war
vessel had been sunk and while her crew
were struggling in the water. they stlf
fought with their knives against the
Peruyians who came to rescue them and
died rather than accept a.d at the hands
or their enemies
D. you think that no "A. csat,. alan ~
raising an army by calling out the m.
tionsi militia VIII provide a more efficient
force than the North had at its command
at the beginning of the civil warp"
ne cCnd tions are widely different, but
they are alike in this at the beginning
or the civil war IL was necessary to make
an army and row II Is necessary 10 make
an army. There was militia 20 be ca,led
out then as now Perhaps II Is a little
more numerous and triie more efficient
and better equipped now
. s.srs,uss. t-~ss,
The truth CT the matter = tina: US
nave Plenty Of material for the ranks
but 1t inevitably takes some time TO get
II into shape for efficient work PERHAPS
the best lesson 10 be drawn from the
civ!l war Is the necessity of taking u.enty
or time for preparation; 1t will shorten
the contest In the end A good maxim
fer war Eme and one that our leaders
seem TO be obeying Is: Prepare for the
worst and hope for the beet III looks now
as though the brunt of the present war
would fai. upon the navy. While I am nor
'"'fat autho4Ny. IL seems TO me that
our navy should easily outcsazs Spzin's
N point Of efficiency and settle that part oe
or the affair at the first opportunity
War viii stscsmthen Amcrtca.a
Neral Influence.
III the war Is vigorously carried To :
successful termination. think that q
should strengthen the moral Influence ~
ne United States among the Eurouaan
nstlors, by correcting some of the false
notions mat prevail throughout the con.
tHlsat N reg3fd IA ia. aud ~ stnwtnx
TO me old world tn. American paopie a.
tney really are: Strong in Righteousness.
jus. and brave"