The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-03
Spain Is Without Help.

Spaln's allies are even more mythical
than her effective fleets, for she has a SEM
blance of fleets, but she has no allies at
all. No nation ever has that is plainly
doomed to defeat. Allies always prefer a
power that needs little help, and that can.
If need be, give much in return. An ally
of Spain would have to shoulder the con-
test altogether. and when help was needed
in return Spain could not furnish it. She
therefore has no ally, and can find none,
although her shrewdest diplomats have
hunted Europe over for support .
The various stories cabled from Europe
have been baseless, simply because govern
ments are as selfish and calculating and
self-seeking as individuals are. They act
from exactly like motives Russia is not
an ally of Spain, simply because she has
nothing to gain and much to lose by such
action. Germany knows where she can
sell goods in the largest quantities Italy
may sympathize with Spain in her troubles,
but she has troubles enough of her own
without accommodating any new ones The
mere relationship of the queen regent to
the Austrian emperor goes but little way
with nation that has much to sci. and
few ships for use in a distant war. An
Austrian alliance is in fact the silliest of all
the cabed stories.
An alliance with France has been the
most persistent theory of the sensation
manufacturers, but even 1t finds few bel.ev-
ers. 1t is soon seen that it is wildly i'm
probable. France is not in a position to
act alone. She has an European partner
in Russia, and that partner would not care
to have her ebt-burdened ally saddled
with the expenses of an expensive war.
Such a course would render France of lit
tie value to Russia, and Russia might cast
her off. A conflict with this country-for
that is what open aid to Spain means
would be an invitation to Germany to work
her will; at least it would render doubly
desperate any return of Alsace and Lor-
raine. Germany might welcome it, but
the French people who want American
trade would not And If anything would
precpitate that bugbear of Europe, an
Anglo-American alliance, action by France
in favor of Spain would. There is not the
slightest danger that France will move
hand to help Spain. She preserved at Mar
Unique the strictest rules of neutrality, and
she can be depended upon to keep out of
the trouble altogether. No doubt the
French people deeply regret the defeats
that are in store for a sister people; no
doubt, too, the holders of Spanish bonds
in France form persistent band of agitat-
| ors in favor of help of some sort to Spain,
but neither of these influences will move
France to a course that would prove ex-
pensive at least and that might be disas-
trous, with no chance of national benefit
in any event.
All countries know that Spain is another
Turkey in her colonies-that trade is de-
pressed wherever her rule prevails, and
that it will be better for the world in gen.
eral to substitute American rule for Spanish
rule They will simply let events shape
themselves. They will keep hands off,
and will accrDt Whatever cones Spain
has no ally, simply Leeause she does net
deserve one-that is tie long AMI short oe