Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-22
NOT WORTH THE CANDLE
Result Of Acquiring Cuba by Means Of
War.
Views of n Gentleman Familiar With
Conditions ON the Island and
Spanish Character.


NEW YORK, March 20, 1885,
A short time ago there was published in
this correspondence an interview with an
unnamed gentleman well known in Spanish
circles, ard who is on intimate terms with
the consul general, giving the opinion that
Spain, in the event of a declaration of hos
tiities, would not wait to be attacked, but
would take the initiative. The utterances
OF this gentleman may, from his close con-
tact with the Spanish colony in this city,
be taken a reflection of Spanish ideas,
although personally he disclaims any feel
Ing, except desire to see the avoidance
of the horrors of war. Your correspon-
cent met this gentleman recently, just
after he had returned from church ser
vices, and the question was asked. how the
Spaniards looked upon the prospect of war
and the success or failure TO defend 1.-The
ever faithful ISLE.
If, said he, this country goes to war
with Spain, and ultimately acquires the
Island of Cuba, 1T will hasten d fetid sore
upon the body polite. The great trouble
with your countrymen is you are looking
at the prospect of war in purely eX parte
fashion. You are not taking into consd-
Grafton the other side. l once before said
to you that the Spanish soldier will light;
he will fight without penny in his pocket;
he will fight with the damp and germ
sodden earth as his bed and the canopy of
without a murmur.
Part of His Training.
HE has been trained to do So much; he
expects it. viii the American soldiers do
as much? viii they, without pay, without
a warm blanket to roll themselves in, carry
Oh tedious land campaign in the Island
of Cuba?
"One of the Cuban leaders once said:
Our best generals are the months of June,
July and August In those months yellow
fever creates greater havoc among the
unacclinlated soIuiery than the shot and
slei! of Their oppoI.euts. In the struggles
upon that soil ii has th;nned the ranks of
the Spanish and other invading forces by
thousands.
Can an American invading force hope to
escape it, you ask? Suppose Spain should
say: Here We are ill possession of the
Island of Cuba. Come and dispossess u.s..
ITO say nothing of the Notifications in
Havana haIbor, is there rot possibility
that your raVy would have difficulty at
Santiago? lmag CINE channel almost mar
row enough to admit Of stone being
thrown from side TO side, and this channel
guarded by browning fortreSses. Once
through the gateway, however, there is a
sheet of water capable OF aHordlng shelter
to the navy of any country.
Expects War 10 Come.
Il say to you that the American people
~ believe that war will come unless the
unexpected happens, and it may come
in various ways. If the court of inquiry
should say that the Spanish government
was responsible for the Maine disaster
Spain would not stand that. If the Amer
lean government should say stop the Gu
ban war and give the island independence
Spain would rot stand that. In either
event the present monarchy would be COM
PEELED TO act or there would be little of the
monarchy left. War would come, it must
come if the monarchy is placed where it
must choose between conflict and peaceful
humiliation.
"Of course. the United States would be
victorious in the end, but she would suffer
enormous damage along the southern
coast. the end would be in the public
mind very much as in the case of the
large boy who started out to kick and
cuff a smaller one. The little fellow would
be soundly cuffed, but the big one would
be scratched and have his clothing torn.
And the spectators would say it serves
you right, you big bully
Suppose the Vizcaya. Steaming at twen-
ty knots an hour. should make a four
hours run out of Havana harbor and, an
cnoring within a nine-mile range of Key
West or the Tortugas, drop upon them a
few shells and then run back again, Under
the protecting guns of the fort That is
possible in case of war. OF course. your
ships could do the same thing.
What Would BE Gained.
Then suppose, after long conflict your
government does acquire the island You
have something that is always in danger
of being Topped off in case of trouble with
a foreign power. You have got to pro-
tect it and you have got to deal with a
people whose ability to govern themselves
Is an unknown quantity, and who may
object to being governed by Others If you
govern them, remember that the Ameri-
cans and English in that island are re-
garded as heretics-only the members of
the Church of Rome are recognized as of
the true faith. In less than two years
is II not possible that there would be a rev.
olutlon or instruction, as they call it,
and that the United States would have to
put down the very people now clamoring
Tor succor? AS a Christian man, / saw
again, the game is not worth the CANDLE
OPENING az