Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-10
THE SPANISH COLONY
An Organization of Passive Resistance
Formed in Cuba.
FOREIGNERS IN A FOREIGN LAND
To Keep Alive the Sentiment of
Spanish Nationality
OBSTACLE TO AMERICANS
OBSTACLE TO AMERICANS


Spanish subjects in Cuba are in the back
ground. This is no marvel. The time ia
short since they became simply citizens of
the country of their birth in foreign terri
tory. The sensation of being no longer the
masters OF the land may be a strange one
to them. If so, they do not betray il.
When the United States took control they
tainted the Cubans little with having
changed masters But this was only a
Passing spleen. For the most part their
behavior was dignitfed. For their own good
they wanted to stay in the background
until a movement that had been started
among them developed. The development
is going now. It is Of moment to the
American authorities ard to the future of
the island. The Cubans have so far disap-
pointed their enemies with unfailing reg
ularity. Whether the Spaniards will disap-
point their friends is an open question.
Forming "A Spanish Colony.
After the signing of the protocol The
Spanish classes were adrift. The instinct
was to keep their nationality intact. though
they were not certain how this was to b.
done. Gradually. the Paris treaty took
shape. the Spaniards i'm Cuba found that
common sentiment animating them.
When the United States insisted on having
the Philippines few wanted to go To war
again to avCnge the honor of Spain. The
majority wanted to he let alone. They felt
for the mother country, but they knew
" hat happened in The Pacific WIS no con-
Germ OF theirs. So they did MOI neddle with
that affair. ana directed their attention to
the movement which gave promise OF MAIN
tanning their identity under the new cuIGi-
tions This was the formation OF ;he Span
ish colony. 1 do not know who suggested
the name. 1t il an apt .ieS ri. li.on. Cubs
having ceased to be a territorial possession
of Spain, large element Of Spdniards who
in fGll ffH..F
themselves colony in a foreign terri Dry.
Passive Remittance.
In the hr@iTning the idea was not so
radical. The purpose WAS that the Span
iaIds should consolidate their influence and
remain in the background until they knew
what WAS going to happen. They meant TO
adopt the 'ratrar;eIto." "Retramiento' is
form Of passive resistance. 1t means a
drawing within thc shell like a snail. The
union constitutional or cons arvatiVa party
adopted it a year ago when Blanco was
trying 10 establish autonomy. Its members
We're the radical Spaniards or iutransi-
gentes. They would not accept autonomy,
and they could not combat ii without trea-
son to Spain. SO they withdrew from pub
lie affairs and declared the ''retramiento"
They stayed in the shell until war was de-
cIared. Then they came out and Loyalty
upheld their country. Under American
control Il very large proportion of the
Spanish element in Cuba is adopting a posi-
ton essentially similar 1t will not place
itself in hostility to the authorities of the
United States. Little danger is to be feared
from indictments to disorder. The declared
purpose Is to maintain order and TO show
that the Spaniards In Cuba are law-abiding
and peaceful. But this is to be done with
out participating in public affairs or ac-
cepting responsibility for public admins
tration. The point has been reached where
society is founded on the basis of it,,
nlem9ers remaining foreigners in this
W h2 teN-a IL ie
Only Few viii Take Office.
Ihis does not mean that the American
military authorities will be bothered 10
ind Spaniards who are willing to take office
or to keep offices they now fill. Human ma
ture is the same here as in other parts of
the world. Office is attractive A parade
is made over the dsinterestedness of the
Spanish merchants who do not want to
accept official position. They all have
r nrHtners' sons-in-law, nephews or other
relatives whom they are willing to sacri-
nee for the good of the United States.
lhat part of the American program which
lhcludes the recognition of all classes will
not be interfered with by inability 10 ner-
suade the Spanish classes that thew should
draw salaries officials. They NAV do
TINS and it will not affect the mass of their
countrymen in the slightest degree In
the future Spanish sentiment in Cuha will
nave to be taken in mass A few individ-
ualS VIII not be able to direct il or 10 snaak
c cor IL. Inns Is one of the changes that has
nave watched its different phases They
are portentOus.
FROM Two Distinct ORGANIZATIONS.
me Spanish colony in Cuba is building
on the ruins of two distinct organizations.
These are the Spanish casinos. which ex-
listed in every town on the island and the
volunteers. The casino was a club of an
exclusive kind. Its members included the
army officers, the civil officials. the wealthy
merchants, all OF whom benefited by Su9n-
lSh rule. They formed the governing class
and We're hated by the Cubans accordingly
Inc volunteers were made up of the clerks
and employees. Their Distinguishing char
acteristic was blind and ignorant LOYALTY
TO Spain. The volunteers being a military
organization their disarmament followed
the signing Of the protocol. The members
were not repatrated like the regular SOL
diers. They remain in Cuba.
The Spanish casinos fell to pieces natur-
any. So large n proportion of their mem
bership disappeared that the clubs could
not be maintained. In Havana the Casino
Espanola has not yet vanished. Some OF
its members are trying to save the kernel |
Of an organization. In the ten years war
this Casino Espanola was of enormous
power. Some of its influence remained dur
ing the last insurrection, but in a minor |
degree The leading men in the club have |
sought to maintain for it an Independent
life which would make them the opponents |
OF Spanish sentiment in dealing with the |
American authorities. They have failed. |
The Spanish colony has swept them under. |
Some of the American military command |
ers do not know that this change has taken !
place. They think that the Spanish lawyers |
and merchants who talk to them repre- |
sentatives of the Spaniards as a whole. |
The fault is not theirs. The mistake is a !
natural one, which events will correct. |
Started in the Country.
The movement started outside of Ha- |
vana- 1t had gained Roadway before much |
was known of the ideas which formed its |
base. One day the Spanish classes in Ha- |
vana, who We're drifting in uncertainty, |
discovered that in tho country everywhere |
there was talk Of the Spanish colony In |
a number of towns newspapers were being /
printed as the organs of this colony" The |
instinct of representation seemed to be |
the spontaneous influence which had caused |
this development. American control had /
not been assumed, the insurgents were not /
harning the Spaniards who remained after |
the troops left, but their safety would be |
better assured if their sentiments found ut
terance as body instead of as individuals. /
Out of this grew the movement, not exactly |
political in character, yet with the political |
purpose of consolidating the Spanish classes |
and giving them the strength that comes |
from organization: