The Portland daily press., 1898-05-03


1888.
From Charles Summers work, .Pro.
phetic Voices Concerning America" we
reprint by request the following memoir
communicated secretly to the King of
Spain by his excellenoy the Count
Amanda, on the Independence of the Eng.
lish colonies, after having signed the
Treaty Of Paris in 1888 How we'll the
Count forsaw the future the memoir will
show:
"The independence of the English colo
MES has been acknowledged. This is for
me an occasion OF grief and dread.
France has few possessions in Amerion;
but she should have considered that
Spain, her intimate ally, has many, and
that she is left today exposed to terrible
shocks. From the beginning, France has
acted contrary to her true interests in en-
couraging and seconding this independ
ence; have 80 declared often to the min
listers Of this nation. What could happen
better for France than to see the English
and colonists destroy each other in par
ty warfare which could augment her pow
er and favor her interests? The antipathy
which reigns between France and Eng
land blinded the French Cabinet; it for
got that its interests consisted in remain
ing a tranquil spectator Of this conflict;
and, once launched in the arena, it
dragged us unhappily, and by virtue Of
the family compact, into war entirely
contrary to our proper interest.
will not stop here to examine the
opinions of some statesmen, our own
country men as we'll as foreigners, which
share, on the difficulty OF preserving
our power in America. Never have SO
extensive possessions, placed at great
distance from the metropolis, been long
preserved. To this cauee, applicable to
al colonies, must he added Others pacu-
liar to the Spanish possessions; namely,
the difficulty in succoring them in case OF
need; the vexations to which the unhap-
Ply Inhabitants have been exposed from
some OF the governors; the distance of
the supreme authority to which they
must have recourse for the redress Of
grievances, which causes years to pass be-
fore Justice Is done to the complaints; the
vengeance of the local authorities to
which they continue exposed while wait
ing; the difficulty Of knowing the truth
at so great distance; finally, the means
which the viceroys and governors, from
being Spaniarda, cannot fail to have for
obtaining favorable judgments in Spain;
all these different circumstances will rem
der the Inhabitants of America discon-
tented. and make them attempt efforts
to obtain independence as soon as they
shall have propitious occasion.
Without entering into any of these
considerations, shall confine myself now
to that which occupies us from the dread
OF seeing ourselves exposed to dangers from
the new power which we have just recog-
nized in new country where there IL no
other in condition to arrest it's progress.
This Federal Republic is born pigmy,
SO to speak. 1t required the support and
the forces OF two powers as great as Spain
and France in order to attain independ-
ence. day will come when it will be
giant, even a colossus formidable in these
countries. 1t will then forget the benefits
which 1T has received from the two pow
ers, and will dream Of nothing but to
organize itself. Liberty of conscience,
the facility for establishing now popu.
latlon on immense lands, as we'll as the
advantages of the new government, will
draw thither agriculturalists, and arti-
sans from all nations; for men always
run after fortune. And in few years
we shall ace with true grief the tyrannical
existence of this same colossus of which
/ speak,
The first movement of this power,
when 1t has arrived at its aggrandize-
ment, Will be to obtain possession of the
Fiorldas, in order to dominate the Gulf
OF mexico. After having rendered COM
merce with New Spain difficult for us,
1t viii aspire to the conquest of this
vast empire, which 1t will not be possible
LOT US to defend against formidable
power established on the same continent,
and IN its neighbo1 hood. These fears are
well founded. Sire; they will BIZ changed
INTO reality In q few years. if, indeed.
there are not other disorders in our
Amaricas still more fatal This observa-
ton is justified by what has happened in
all ages, and with all nations that have be-
gun to rise. Man is the same every where:
the difference of climate does not change
The nature of our sentiments; he who
finds the opportunity of acquiring power
ana OF aggrandizing himself, profits by
1t always. How then can we expect the
A Americans to respect the kingdom of New
spain, when they shnll have the facility
OF possessing themselves Of this rich and
beautiful country? A wise policy coun-
seied us to take precautions against evils
which may happen. This thought has oc-
c eaI p my whole mind. since, as Minis
ter flenlPotenitiary of your Majesty, and
conformably to your royal will and in
strnctions, signed the Peace of Paris I
have considered this important affair
with all the attention of which am Ca
pable, and after much reflection drawn
from the knowledge, military as well as
political, which have been able to &C.
quire In my long career, ! think, that,
IN order to escape the gtsst losses with
which we are threatened, there remains
nothing but the means which am about
to have the honor Of exhibiting to your
Your Majesty must relieve yourself of
an your possessions on the continent of
the two Americas, preserving only the
Islands Of Cuba and Porto Rico in the
northern part, and some other convenient
one in the southern part, to serve as
seaport or trading place for Spanish COM
In order to accomplish this great
thought in manner becoming to Spain,