The times., 1898-05-18
THE CANiR|Es MAY Be OURS
And "Old Glory Float on Ten
eriffe'S High Summit.
RE UTiFUL ISLES OF THE SEA
A Grouc Renowned I'm Ancient His
tory. the Possession of Which Cost
spain Many OF Her Most Valiant
Hests and Depleted Her Golfers OF
Their Wealth.


Their Wealth.
Let whatever reveTses come 10 ths
American forces in the course OF the pre-
vailing war with Spain. and the ordinary
history OF wars shows that more or less
disaster at various periods IS inevitable
from international strife wherever the
struggle is. result among the many that
will be favorable to this country will bs
the capture OF that interesting group OF
islands on the western coast Of Africa,
known as the Canaries. These islands are
seven in number. Of which TenerifYe and
Grand Canary are the most extensive IN
point Of territorial area. Their antiquity
renders to them rare respectability In
point of settlement they enjoy the distine-
tion Of being among the oldest OF tina
globe They are the remains Of the ira
ditional ancient Atlantis, and were known
to the ancient Greeks. who named them
Fortune Islands Spain. when she
came into possession Of the group. in the
/ early days Of the sixteenth century. paid
for her supremacy over them with me
dearest blood that flowed in the veins OF
the flower of her armed hosts and by ex-
penditure OF treasure that crippled her
financial resources to the straining point.
These Islands. IL the war lasts ninety
days. or even less. seem. in all PROBABLE
lily, 10 become the possession of America
Iheir loss 10 the enemy can hardly be es-
tlmated- Their resources are numerous
ana ABUNDANT The climate IS ever mild
hear ffsrT I
innocent nature beStows upon the temper
ate zone
In addition to Tenerifre, upon whom
the famous peak of that name rises 10
kiss the azure blue of its beautiful skies.
ana Grand Canary. the group comprises
I rama and Ferro. with. altogether. an
area OF $500 square miles
The Canaries have a. representative in
the Spanish Cortes and are considered
OF no slight Importance. as they have
share in the operations OF the govern
ment- Their internal affairs are, how
ever. under the Jurisdiction of 4 captain
general, appointed by the crown Bliss
fuI peace IS characteristic of their exis-
tence. Rebellion is almost an unknown
word in the lexicon OF their modern his
tory, more so probably from the fact
that the natives have little or nothing
10 say as 70 the conduct Of their affairs
and also owing 10 their having been kept
in ignorance Of events. the world over by
the dominant Spanish element. who are
so numerous that rebellion would be alto
gether hopeless. The condition Of these
comparatively cOntented natives, who
are known the Gauches, is little be-
yond that OF the working domestic ami
mails. Again, Spain doesn't want all the
offices. and much favor in this direction
is shown TO the islanders. Dons Of almost
any degree OF standing in the official
lists Of Madrid are not prone to clutch at
places IN proximity 10 the peak OF Tene-
rife and its surroundings. They are,
however highly invested with the glory
Of official greatness. somewhat il the
nature Of exileS when sent from the
splendOrs OF old Madrid TO live among
the mongrel descendants OF the MoOrs,
negroes, PhOenicians. and Cathagen-
ians, who in ages long ago occupied this
Isolated group among the islands dotting
the seas of the universe.
The ancient Romans dominated these
Islands the Canaries, changing the mama
from the Fortune Islands Their pres
ent name is derived from the word canis.
the dog, and because of the fact that on
these Islands there were bred mastiffs OF
unusual size and ierceness, which were
in high repute in Roman households an
guards for the doors To have Canary
dog was considered an evidence OF wealth
could afford 10 have them. and some OF
the largest and most savage cost between
500 and $3.50 pair.
Navigators throughout the world know
of the famous mountain of Teneriffe be-
side which the old monarch OF hills,
Mont Blanc. is as a pigmy TO a giant and
all others of the noted cloud enwrapped
peaks dwindie BY comparison What a
winter resort TenerifTe will be for the
milliOnaires OF America when on It's
heights the Star Spangled Banner will
float in undisturbsd glory 70 sigGaliZe tis
conquest that has been madei
True II is volcanic, and at its summit
displays yawning crater of three miles
circumference and over 100 feet deep.
This has. however. been inactive for cen
turies leaving its glory to be shown in
scores Of places on its sides that pre-
serve its reputation by constant emis-
sions Of sulphur and gases. and fre-
quentIy throw out small quantities OF
lava TO show that the old peak has not
entirely retired from business. The prin-
cipal port of TenerifTe is Santa Cruz.
which bas good harbor and is tOlerably
safe. a very important point in tropical
region where hurricanes at the change
of the seasons may be confidently ex-
pected- Nine-tenths OF the business Of
the CanarieS is transacted at Santa
Cruz. and under civilized rule the islands
would become available for their agri-
cultural resources. but IN the Canaries, al
elsewhere, Spanish misgovernmenJ has
done everything possible 10 compass the
degradation of the people. II is the Span
ish policy which retains in use the palan-
quin of the East and the caro-, or OK
sledge, and the donkey, which are the
only means of transportation available.
But for this stupidity Puerto Orotava.
near Santa Cruz. would long ago have
become a favorite resort for the con-
sumptfves of the continent. its climate
being well suited, from the altitude OF
the village to weak lungs. but Span
ish duIlness is invincible. even to the
appeals OF cupidity.
Whatever becomes of her other pos
sessions Spain intends at all hazards to
save Teneriffe If possible The ancient
rock is being strongly fortified. and
force of 7.036 men is now engaged in
mounting guns and building earthworks.
The best men in the army are engaged In
this work Glory to Spain, II any is left,
will fade into the rusty past when Ten
eriffe is taken. This viii be a sadder
blow TO the naughty Dons than the loss OF
Cuba or any Of the possessions she now
SO lightly holds.
A Figure of Speech.
G'rom the Kansas City Star-J
eve can affirm with confidence" sdys Sa-