The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-25
SPANISH IGNORANCE.

A staff correspondent of the Chicago Rec
ord, in Madrid. sends the following
statement, furnished him by Senior Santos,
American SUBJECTS
The United States means to rob not only
Spain. but all other European countries of
their American colonies Having accom-
pliShed this it will turn upon Mexico, which
country the United States regards as ram
part separating 1t from the rest of Latin
America The United States wants all of
South America in order that it may make
the inhabitants buy the products of the ra-
paclouS North American republic The cOun-
tries on the western coast of South America
are still safe, because of lack of communi-
cation with the United States but the day
will come when all the little Latin-Ameri-
can republics will feel themselves equally
threatened. both with regard to their ma
tional existence and their economic inter-
ests. Then probably there will be formed a
sort of immense league, supported morally
and perhaps materially by old Europe.
which the Yankees will have forced out of
the new world.
1t is always more or less instructive to
see ourselves as others see us, but in this
case the instruction is in the demonstration
of the ignorance of European statesmen
concerning the history, character and pur-
poses of the American people. The Journal
is not informed as to the status of Senior
Santos, but there is reason to believe he is
not the Only "well-known writer or pub
licist in Europe who entertains views sim
liar to those expressed above. All intelli-
gent Americans know how very wide they
are of the truth, and intelligent Europeans
might know it also if they would give a
little thought to American history. That
would show them that during nearly a CEN
fury of Spanish decadence and disintegra-
ton in the western hemisphere the United
States never once tried to profit by the sit
uation. Our treatment of Spain's revolving
colonies in South and Central America was
very conservative. In no instance was an
attempt made to acquire any part of their
territory, and since they gained their indie
pendence no European power has treated
them with as much consideration and as lit
tie aggressively has the United States.
AS for the American colonies of other Eu-
| ropean countries which this Spanish well
known writer says the United States in
tends to steal, what are they? Certainly
not Canada, the Bermudas nor England s
| West Indian possessions: not San Domingo
nor st. Thomas. both of which islands we
declined to annex or purchase when they
were offered; not Haiti, which we might
have taken long ago If we had wished to.
nor Martinique, which France has some
| times held very feebly. In short, the United
States has never shown the slightest desire
or disposition TO acquire an American col
| ony from any European country until now,
| when 1t proposes to acquire Porto Rico.
| Similarly situated, any other country but
| the United States would have driven Spain
out of Cuba and Porto Rico fifty years ago.
but the United States waited until self
respect and the interests of civilization and
humanity compelled her TO act. 1t is a poor
recognition of her conservatism in this re-
gard to be held up as looter among ma
tions, and that by a Spaniard Our salts