Evening journal., 1898-04-30
LETTERS FROM The PEOPLE
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-A
FEW COLD FACTS.


To the Editor Of the Evening Journal.
Sir: Congress has officially declared
that war exists between the United
States and the Kingdom of Spain. This
is not q technical declaration of war,
although in effect it is tantamount to
the same But by firing on an unarmed
Spanish merchantman-and that, too,
before the expiration of the time limit
specified in the Presidents ultimatum-
the United States was at war with
Spain prior to the time when the offi-
cial declaration became a law The
firing in question may or may not have
been an illegal act. It's legality is,
however, a question that must be deter
mined by an authorized Court, one
competent to analyze the nicetles of in
ternational law
In spite Of the seeming endeavOrs to
preserve the cOmities war has come. 1t
cannot be denied that the war element
dominating both Houses-an element
that was determined to have war, even
though II be with dishonor, rather than
not have 1t al all-is responsible for the
present deplorable rupture between two
hitherto friendly Powers. Neither can
1t be denied that this country is to-day
warning against Spain under the osten-
sible preteXt OF humanity, but the real
purpose Of which is to sweep the SOW
ereignty of Spain from off this conti-
nent and to avenge an altogether hy-
pOthetical wrong. The grandiloquent
phrases and the oratorical displays OF
so-called patriotism responsible for
this war, phrases and displays recently
INDUCED in by the members of both
Houses, represent, even at their high
est value, naught else but specious
and misleading reasoning Of the ques-
ton in hand. And very certain it is
that the grave injury which this coun-
try is now by the act Of war attempting
to inflict upon Spain is-assumine
Spain to be ultimately robbed Of Cur
-as irreparable as 1t is unjustifia.-
| The supposed superior fighting
| strength Of the United States
as compared with that OF Spain
strength which may enable this cOun-
try to conquer-will not in the least de-
termine the moral right or wrong OF
the whole matter: nor will it justify
this countrys attempt tOcurtail the ter.
rltorial rights of Spain. We have ye
20 learn that might is right. We have
| yet to learn that force is a remedy
And we have yet to learn that the NOR,
liberal the display Of the implements o.
war the more proof sufficient it is tha
the nation making the display shoulC
be considered or regarded as the very
embodiment Of honor, or its warlik'
policy necessarily just. We cannot for
get the fact that during the whole o.
the Spanish-Cuban controversy the va
lidity Of Spain's right to hold and pos
sess Cuba was never once successfully
| impeached Neither can we forget tina
in spite Of the armistice granted b!
Spain: in spite OF the offer made b.
Spain to grant autonomy to the Gu
bans: in spite Of Spain's expresse,
| Willingness to arbitrate the Main
question, concerning the respOnsibilit.
Of the loss of which boat there is absO
lutely no reliable evidence whatever
we cannot forget that in spite Of al
past offers and concessions upon tn
part Of Spain this country, ignorin,
and treating contemptuously those of
fers, preferred rather to create war.
We firmly believe that the real intel
ligence of this country-we, of course
do not refer to the intelligence repre-
sented by the ralbble crowd, the mem
bers Of which daily congregate befor
| every newspaper OIlce 10 ar incl
trumpery and parrOt-like opinions-w
firmly believe that the real intelligenc
OF this country regards this war as a
altogether unjust and unnecessary &C
tuality. We believe that the judiciou
and reflective people OF the Unite
States are at this moment questionin
the right Of this country to attempt I
dispOssess Spain of her West India
colony for the alleged purpose of hand
, ing that colony over to its inhabitant
in order that they might form a GOV
ernment of their own. The wrong, tn
inequity of the whole business is q
! clear as daylight.
1t will be noted, even by the ma
who goes about with his eyes half shu
that the English and American pres
continue to slobber over each other an
indulge in the most abject and fulsom
( adulation. 1t is clear case OF "yo
s tickle me and I'll tickle you" Englan
: is supposed TO be endorsing the effor
\ OF the United States Government
5 dispOssess Spain. All this is very plea
7 ing TO the belligerent spirits Of bot
| countries but IL finds mo raanoncfx