The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-05-01
splNIaRps IN aNtRrcL

Advertisements have appeared in the
newspapers Of number of American
cities requesting Spaniards to report
10 the Offices Of the local consuls, and
this is supposed to be a confirmation
Of the report that Spanish consuls
have been instructed to communicate
with Spanish subjects in the United
States and to warn them OF the duty
they owe to their mother country.
should this call be oteyed il would
not effect a great reduction OF our
population, for the census OF 1890 fixes
the number OF Spaniards there in the
country at 0,1s5. The increase since
then may have been sufficient to bring
the total up to 10000, but it is prob
ably thousand or two less than that
number. Natives OF Spain who have
become citizens OF the United States
owe no duty to their mother country,
nor could they, IL so inclined, take up
arms against their adopted country,
or give aid to its enemies, without
committing treason. But there are
very few citizens OF this republic
whose loyalty will be tested in that
way in the present war, for Span
iards have not displayed any great
eagerness to enroll themselves with
the millions of Europeans who nave
sworn allegiance to the stars and
stripes. Transatlantic emigration
from Spain has naturally gone to re
gions south of the United States, and
has been far more active in setting up
new and independent governments
than in displaying affection for the
government it left across the sea.
II any Of the Spaniards in this coun
try should prefer TO remain here pend.
ing approaching hostilities they would
undoubtedly be permitted to do so,
and so long as they attended TO their
own affairs they would be free from
molestation. During our great war
there were great many unnatural
lied Europeans who claimed and, of
of course, secured exemption from
drafts, and enjoyed unusual facilities
for making money. Some Of these had
been residents of the country for many
years, and had accumulated wealth in
business enterprises, Their neighbors
and townsmen supposed them to be
citizens, and thought that, as they
had enjoyed the protection of the gov
ernment and shared the advantages OF
the new and rich land, they should be
willing TO take their chances with the
rest in time of war. But as soon as
the serious business of selecting men
by lot to put into the field began,
these prosperous aliens let their neigh
bors know they were not in it to any
perceptible extent. Reporting to theil
consuls, they secured certificates which
exempted them from military duty
But :he performance did not materially
contribute to their popularity in the
communities where they resided. o.
course they were not molested, bu'
they ceased TO be regarded as q factol
in the social structure. The genera
sentiment is that any man who Is per
manently settled in this country, en-
joying the protection Of its laws ant
the advantages OF its institutions ant
business facilities, is in honor boun'
to discharge the duties and bear tn
lurdens jnsident to citizenship.
But as we have said, the Spaniard
in the United States have no cause to
fear N olestation in any event so long
as they attend to their own affairs
They could be expelled by executiv
proclamation under existing laws, bu
that will not be done. II they wis
TO remain and keep quietly about thei
business they can do so with an abs
Lutte assurance of safety.
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