The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-22
INDICTMENT AGAINST SPAIN.
Some Ancient History that furnishes he r
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1NDlcTMENTAGAlNs SPAIN.
Some Ancient History that Tnrnlshos her
Boa,tsd- Honor. si55s
Army and Navy Journal: Those who
attempt. as the Hon., L. j. Phelps has
done. to show that Spain has always
displayed a friendly disposition toward
the United States conveniently forget
the essential facts In the history of our
dealings with that power on this side of
the ocean. 1t Is true that during the
war Of the revolution we were indebted
to Spain for friendly loans and even be-
fore France gave US any encouragement
the Spanish authorities ut Havana Sc
cretly furnished the rebelllous colonists
with supplies, but, the sole motive for
this expression Of apparent sympathy
was hostility to England. Spain refused
to join France, In treaty with us and
the Spanish ,Bourbons made that treaty
an occasion for oflense against their
klnsmen across the Pyrenees.
When 1t became evident that we were
10 secure our independence the Spanish
instinct OF hostility to free Institutions
prevailed. Every effort was made 10
deprive US of the advantages we had
gained by war. Spain sought by ALL
ance with England to secure for herself
the territory south Of the Ohio and west
Of the Alleghenies 10 the Pacific, agree
Ing in return to aid England in retain
Ing control OF our northwestern terri
tory. .Fl gi
Spain persistently refused to acknowI-
edge the independence of the United
States. or TO. enter into a treaty of alli-
ance with US. except on the most de-
grading conditions. She demanded the
exclusive right to navigate the Missis-
slppi and invade our territory by send
Ing antarmed expedition across 1t from
ST. Louis to attack an English outpost
on our northern frontier. On June. J.,
1,S4.. the Spanish governor of Louisiana
entered into q treaty with McGalvray,
the half-breed chief of the Cherokees, by
which Spain agreed to furnish unlimited
arms and ammunition to the Indians on
condition that they should break up the
infant American. settlements west OF the
'Alleghenles with the tomahawk and the
scalping knife.
After the revolution fifteen years were
occupied in irritating negotiations be-
fore We. could obtain any treaty with
Spain'and this treaty was outrageously
violated by closing the navigation OF the
Mississippi to American citizens and
otherwise.
In 1908 our relations with Spain were
so strained that diplomatic intercourse
with that country was suspended and
continued suspended for seven years, or
until 1915. When it was resumed a
boundary controversy arose which con-
tlnued until the signing of the treaty OF
1919, after another period OF most exas-
peratlns negotiation and delay.
Then came the dispute as to the inter-
probation Of this treaty and the Spanish
government withheld its ratification un-
I'll October "a, 1920. John Quincy Adams,
who was then secretary of state, re-
garded his negotiation OF the treaty as
one OF the most trying experiments of
his long life and he declared that the
Spanish minister Onis outwitted him by
perpetuating a deliberate fraud on him.
When we bought Louisiana Spain set
up unfounded claims to u portion of the
territory, which occasioned further an
noyance and irritation. Finally, the
Spanish governor of Louisiana did all
that he could to- cnbarrass us In taking
possession Of our new domain. The
treaty required that the Spanish should
leave the territory within three months;
yet they held on to 1t for over a year and
subjected our troops taking possession
TO great hardship. for most of the COM
Portable quarters the Spaniards contln-
ued 10 occupy In defiance of their agree
ments. Spain had three times protested
against the treaty which gave us the
new territory, and she meant to deprive
US, so far as che dared to doIso, OF the
advantages Its possession gave US.
Next followed the war Of Spain with
her South American colonies, which In
volvcd us In difficulties with Spain, and
during which great injuries were in
ilicted upon our commerce. After an
other tedious negotiation extending over
seven years II was agreed by the con-
vention OF 1894 thatywe should be paid
100000 reals, but 1t was only after
much patient waiting that we finally Sc
cured payment of the bill.
The depreciation upon our commerce
by Spanish privatcers at the close OF the
first Napoleonic war, the prompt recog-
milton OF belligcrcnt riEhts during our
civil war. the sympathy and support she
gave to Napoleon III In his attempt to
establish an empire on our borders. arc
among the evidences OF unfrlcndlIncss
on the part Of Spain which will bore
called by those familiar with American
history. These and the chronic Cuban
troubles show that Spain Is n most un-
desirable nelghbor. We may succeed In
patching up our present difficulties with
her, but there can be but one way Of
finally settling them. and that is by the
entire withdrawal OF the Spanish flag
from this side OF the ocean. Such solu-
ton OF our difficulties may, be offensive
to Spanish pride. but It will in all ma
terial respects be rs profitable to Spain
as to us.
All experience teaches US that 1t is
useless to negotiate with Spain. This
means nothing but delay and the irrlta-
ton that results from broken promises
and disappointed hopes Sound policy
demands that we should determine upon
our action and carry II to n conclusion
whatever the CONSEQUENCES. -
! There liz yet another and n browning
complaint against Spain md one that
requires no argument Az the watch
word of the Texans OF 1896 was, Re.
member the Alamo" SO ours may now
be: s.
Remember the Maine. t5
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~ Tho Twentieth Century.
z The twentieth century VIII begin on
To- 4 a.