The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-23
SPAIN AS SEEN
BY A TRAVELLER.
His Impression of the State Of Things
That Exists There.
IMPOSED UPON BY THE PRESS.
They Believed They Would Whip Us
Without DifficuIty-They Are Now
Absolutely Indifferent and DO
Not Read the Papers.
IMPOSED UPON BY THE PRESS

lions or men, many or whom ltdniiJ
opened their hearts 10 me upon learn
ing that 1 was a German feel lusu-
fed in believing that the impressions 1
have received are trust rOrthy.
How do the spanisrds themselves q do
not refer 10 the press. which by no
means represents the peopieD take their
defeat? We hear a deal about the proud
hidalagos who are determined 10 die In
the last ditch ana so on ad lib but such
talk is only 10 be found in the yellow
press ana IN the high-hown general Jr-
de.s or the Spanish commandants Ev-
cry single soul with whom | have con-
versed here. from General Weyler down
TO my donkey hoy Is OF the opinion that
peace should be made at any price and
Immediately.
The KEY 10 the whole situation IS the
lack in this country Of the quality which
We call patriotism. That which Spaniards
call by that name rs a much weaker
brew. The fact Is the entire nation Is
SICK of the whole business. At the begin
ming of the war II believed its ignorant
press and It's ignorant and criminal gov
eminent. and expected that Spain would
give the United States a sound drubOing.
Since then the intoXication has been
gradually giving place 10 a fearful Kat
zenjammer." the chief characteristic or
which is almost complete indifference. The
people avoid talking about the war and
dread 20 take up a paper for fear or
reading Of new disasters.
The time for internal risings has near
~ gone by. The Government has for
some time past played tho best possible
game under the circumstances. 1t has
simply made no announcements at all OF
the rsverses OF the Spanish arms. allow
ing the truth 20 leak out gradually
through foreign papers. until its force
was spent and the tardy announcement
failed 70 have an incendiary effect. being
an old story.
WHEN SANTIAGO FELL.
was in Madrid when Santiago fen.
Al first there was some excitement but
the Government kept repeating that Il
had received no news. so that when
nearly a week later. the official organ
announced the oaptulatlon. II worked
only as a confirmation. During the whole
time there was not single street gath
ering. no excited groups in the cafes.
not a single outward sign Of displeasure.
The very evening OF the surrender
went to a comic opera with two Spanish
officers. one of them being the son or
General Veyler. and the war was only
mentioned when l led up to the subject.
on the contrary everybody seemed TO
be I'm the best of spirits, laughing ana
chatting and drinking. The next day
went to my first bullhght, also In the
company Of officers. and the prevailing
tone was still more uproarious. The
building was crowded and the audience.
including my companions. went Wild with
enthusiasm over the young espada bonn
bita Chico and talked about the dii-
ferent bulls all the way home. | dined
with Weyler that night and the cham
pagne was 0uaffed IN the same care-free
manner. when the war was talked OF 1t
was only 10 execrate the navy and the
government.
Now. is such a spirit as have described
conceivable in our country? And does
this sort OF thing seem consistent with
what we have been taught to believe OF
the proud and brave" Spanish nation?
A fix for their pride and their pseudo
patriotism, The lauded Spanish pride ~
a mixture of incidence insolence and
obstinacv. II exists IN the history Of the
mast The character Of the vast ma
jority Of modern Spaniards is not worthy
Of the respect of AnglO-SaNons. Inc OF
fcers whom I met were. with Few ex-
ceptions. polite. but everybody else |
have met I'm Spain has been il-bred IN
the extreme and dirty into the bargain.
Cheating Is the rule. squalor shameless
customs and exaggerated lazlness prevail
generally.
For anyone who knows the Spain of
to-day the idea OF her going 20 war
with a frst-class power Is colossal
ioke. and the Governorment that allowed
this 10 take place deserves death FOR
high treason.
The lack Of manners by tho Spaniards
surprised me. II is everybody for him
self. huge scramble. No one has ever
begged my pardon for pushing me on
the sidewalk or knocking my hat off
on board a coasting steamer a young
mans hat blew % into my face and |
lust succeeded in grasping it as ~ was
flying overheard. He rushed at me and
took the hat out Of my hands without
even looking al me. This Is but a single
case but characteristic Of dozen
dav since / had the awful luck 10 be
sent here.
And the beggarsi The war has made
them particularly impOrtunate. and the
summer season being duh they simply
mobbed me. II refused one Of them, he
spat at me IN his proud. chivalric Span
ish manner.
The only place 10 enjoy the Spanish
gamin is the Pinakothek. at Munich.
There treated by MurillO. he IS too cute
for anything" In the streets Of the
Peninsula he is a filthy little beast.
The Government has been afraid 10
make peace for fear Of the Carlists, but
the threat OF Watson has ben efica-
cious. The families of.1he seaports have
been moving out OF town, and one reads
advertisements Of villas out Of reach
| Of Yankee bombardments" We are al
ways called Yankees by the press and
people alike. even in serious editorials,
and we are pictorially invariably repre-
scented as pigs This from nation born
and bred IN moral and physical Nth Is
decidedly rich.
SPAIN AND THE PHILIPPINES.
II is my conviction that 10 leave the
government OF any colony I'm the world
| IN tho hands OF this miserable. bank
yupt economically moribund people
would be a crime. To give the Philip
pines back 10 a nation not capable Of
| even governing itself. would be giving
| the lie 70 our own avowed principles
| at the beginning Of the war. II we do
| not keep them-and hope we shall not
then they should receive international
protection. like Samoa. until they deserve
| independence-say under America, Eng
| land and Japan.
II is a great pity that the war has not
| been brought home 10 the great majority
| or the nation as II should be. The re-
| suit will be that Spain will not learn the
| obvious lesson Of the war, and will con-
| tinue TO decline until she rivals Portugal
In insignifcance.
Above all things. let us have no silly