The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-18
Spain'$ UietOry
Wbat II UenIa
Rave Fed GO.

too hard 10 answer, and the man pulle(
out two old newspaper extracts. One wa
from the London Spectator and was print
ed before the war broke out It Is very
interesting. The other article is from the
London Speaker. on Spain as a Nava
| Power" II Is also Interesting.
The London Spectator article Is here
| given:
1T is OF very easy to perceive what the
international effect OF the Spanish-Ameri-
can war will be. but two or three points
| stand out with something like clearness.
( At first. we have no doubt. the world will
look on quietly. partly because II will be
excessively interesting. parity because Il
Is really uncertain. TO a very curious de-
| gree, whether the United States are as
| powerful at sea as they are on land.
| There Is no doubt as to their wealth. or as
| to their possession of materials for ship
building. or as TO their mechanical skill;
but there Is doubt. since their mercantile
marine declined, as to their supply Of sail
ors. They may not be able, It is supposed
on the continent, TO equip an overwhelming
though they might build one; AMI II so,
| a great many occurrences will possible
which are not possible now. The world.
therefore, viii lwait. looking on. and will
be guided a good deal by what It sees.
II. for instance. as many observers ex-
| pect. Spain at first wins in the struggle
that is. victorious in the first naval bat
| tle-and so protracts the contest until
America can build a new fleet, there will
be on the continent a great disposition to
help Spain. Germany. Austria and Russia
all sympathiZe with the monarchical prln-
ciple, all dislike the great republic, as by
its very prosperity inimical 10 monarchy.
and all have grounds for quarrel. more or
less acute and of long standing. France.
too, though not monarchieal. is very
friendly to Spain. bankers always for al
lance with her in the Mediterranean, and
would greatly like to possess Morocco with
Spanish consent. Moreover. the continent
thirsts for power OF entering Spanish
America, the feeling being particularly
strong in France and Germany-in France
because General Grant hustled her out OF
Mexico. In Germany owing 10 her economic
situation. Germany Is being eaten up by
her millions. and the lands which would
hold them al are closed to preserve Amer
lean reversionary interests. Brazil would
hold five German populations. and is pro-
tected from invasion only by the long
shadow which the great republic casts all
down the western continent. II that
shadow Is llfted-if that Is, Il becomes
clear that the United States is at sea only
an ordinary power with which another
first-class power can contend on equal
terms-Spanish America will be insecure.
49,
the Union seemed about to be divided Ma
poleon rushed for Mexico. and Napoleon
had no motives half SO strong as those
which would impel William II to rush for
Brazil, where the German settlers alone
would furnish him with a reasonably pow
erful army. France wants her bit of Bra
zil, too. very much; and, in short, IL the
prowess of Spain diminished the terror Of
the western republic. transmarine ambi-
lions would wake up in a very dangerous
way. South America. as We have often
warned Americans. Is the great prize of
the future; a prize terribly attractive to
nations without inatura. wealth sufficient
to go round; rich. thinly populated. and
capable of cultivation oy white men. A
great many new problems. and sources Of
contention. and political objects Of desire.
would, we may be certain. be at once pre-
scented II Spain we've to reveal at sea such
unexpected strength that America could
only maintain the Monroe doctrine az re-
CARDS countries to which she had access by
land
I'VE do not believe Spain will. History
Is ful 10. surprises: nobody can say which |
people will next turn out "a fighting genius. |
and We pretend to no minute knowledge |
like that Of the naval experts but we |
think II Is safe to say that In maritime |
war the maritime people win American |
naval officers have In them qualities which |
Spanish naval officers have not, and for |
which mere courage. however gallant. Is /
no sufficient substitutes: and we think that |
when the two fleets clash in earnest the /
American flag viii not be the one TO be /
struck. The fight may be a stubborn one.
but It will be a fight between a brave man /
with his weapons only. and a brave man
also with weapons. but clad in an enchant-
ed armor o. scientific knowledge. The
Americans vii lhave nifty devices where
the Spaniards have five. II. then America
wins. and clears the seas. two very dan
gerous situations will arise. There will be
the Philippines 70 dispose Of great
power holding the Philippines
ought a. be mistress In the far east: and |
which OF them Is u be? America will BE-
owner Of the islands. but she will not want
to keep them. thus giving hostages TO all
the maritime empires; and she can hardly
invest the medley Of dark races. who obey
ard massacre the paTUchisl cures Of the
Philippines. with independence and self
government Mantle is not Spanish like
Porto Rico. but AsIatic. and would be Only |
] new Hayti. At the same time. America
NIL not like 10 transfer the Philippines to
4 non-ChFistian power. even Il Il should
pc ready to offer the forty millions sterling
AZ which Japan values the possession: and
falling herself Japan. and the TRgals. 90
whom IL she 10 offer the myriad Of islands
larbors ard plantations. with their four
n FIVE millions Of oopper-c0lored peop'e
wo millions and a half ~ them nominaIly
Christian? There will be fierce biddings
or that prize. ~ We are not mistaken:
ierce bIdjings and fierce iealousles among
hose who bid and who are not triumph
int. We can hardly imagine anything
which would 30 excite Russia. Great Brit
IN. Germany and France az the idea that
rival maritime poEer woUld for all time
= seated on the thousand islands Included
\ the word 'Phisppines' Then there
would be the problem OF Spain herself
70 avoid the war with America W0ela
'nseat the dynasty. bat We question
whether 10 FIGHT the war and fan IN u VIII
eat the Bourbons fFmly. In al human
robs bIlity the dynasty. If defeated. viii
e cast on, as inefhcisnt and unable to
rotect the national homer and Spain.
vhlCa f. terribly distressed b. a BID ten
ire and = poverty far beyond anything
aturai to country 50 rich. vii pass