The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-14
PEN PICTURE OF
THE NEW SPAIN.
Relieved of the Drain of her Colonies
she has now Sprung Into
new Prosperity.

Madrid. April 5.-A year and a half
ago the peace protocol between the
United States and Spain was signed.
Spain, stunned. bewildered, impover-
fshed and all but crushed, Withdrew to
the continent and the world graclously
allowed her to retire within herself and
recover.
With her navy lying at the bottom
Of the sea, her standing army bleach
ing upon the hills of Cuba and in the
Philippines, her national armament in
the hands of the enemy, Spain found
herself as poor as when she stood low
among nations six centuries ago, re-
duced again after magnificent IN
term of power and fortune.
Spanish grandees, with the blood of
kings in their veins, closed their front
doors and pulled low the shades, for
their national pride was touched; Span
fish merchants shut their shop doors by
day and counted their scanty gold Sc
cretly by night; the Spanish cabinet
headed by the broken hearted Queen
and her pOwerless little son, met to
consider the proba abilities of securing
sufficient war loan to tide Spain with
honor over the crisis.
Soldiers were paid off after long de-
lay; pensions were taTdily distributed
to army and navy legatees, little by
little the immense home debts of fuel
and nations We're lifted or paid on ac-
count. and Madrid began to look more
like a happy city again, for awhile it
IESEIuDlEu q place devastated OL DEO-
pie and hope, like the deserted cities
of the Bible.
a few great statesmen remained,
Weyler, known in this country as the
wicked but in Spain as the true. -
was in waiting; De LONE, always
faithful to Spain, had money; Sagasta.
too. was then in his prime With her
tried councillors the Queen Mother met
and debated upon the future. There
was so much to be done with so little
Then stood of those hfUhpGf
council and spoke words of encourage
ment. After she had heard them the
Queens spirits rose and she gained per
ceptibly in spirits and in strength
I'VE have" said this councillor, been
relieved of that which it has cost Spair
fortune to maintain. For genera
lions Cuba and Porto Rico have beer
a source of expense and trouble. Oul
armies have fought there at an annua
cost Of millions; and our national re.
sources have been taxed to maintain
them. The Philippines, while they have
IN times past brought in large revenue
The natives are quarrelSOme and th'
land is untitled our army there Il
maintained at enormous annual cost.
A NEW START
Then, demonstrating how Spain, re
heVed OF the burden of keeping he
armies in these distant points, coulC
devote her money and her strength t,
home uses, he went on to point out how
bucCesSLuA ana StIO0g the country nigh
become. Instead of spreading unit,
points so far distant that they coul,
be of no value to the highly prizef
home population the nation, bv devot
ing its money to home Improvement
could spread upon the continent an,
become, like Russia, immense in terri
tory and immeasurably strong
With the bitter experience of the mas
ten years of war fresh in their minds
the Queen and her Cabinet could no
but be impressed with the logic of thi
argument, and Immediately the am
bilious plans for the rebuilding O
SPANS navy were abandoned and ne
gotiations which had been begun by D
LONE with foreign powers for the pur
chase Of ready built warships were tenn
porarily abandoned.
To secure a standing army however
which is a necessary adjunct to an
country in time of peace as in time c
war, II was thought best to make mill
tary service compulsory so that, if ther
were need upon the continent a sufF
Gent force of soldiery could be Gale
out at any time for every possible dc
fence which the boundary of Spai
could desire.
These plans met the approval Of tn
hnanciers Of Europe: and with sue
good and speedy results that Spain Wa
able to secure its entire loan for IL
betrayal of expenses incurred in II
war from one house and in sufficie1
Immediate sums to meet all demand