New-York tribune., 1902-05-20

the hardest mariners of the Spanish coast. bn+
Barcelona was less favorabIy situated ~,
Caoiz for commerce with the New Worra a,a
seemed 6oomed 10 a decline of fortunes vban
the Atlantic was substituted for the ussi..r
ranean as the stronghold of sea nowar rL.
Spanish colonies over sea, however ws-. a.
pendent upon the historic Peninsula for ,,.
factures and their markets were supnlied I.r.o
ly from the Industrial provinces grouped sro,,D,
Barcelona. Cotton goods and other textiIaz
were made here for Cuba and the PHILIPPINES
and there was large colonial trade in tron
manufactures, paper and other articles Of com
merce- The Galatians profted in this way from,
colonial trade long after the loss of Mexico and
the Spanish-American colonies: and it was No,
without reason that they crowned lofty iron
column with a huge gilded ball and set unon a,
colossal statue of Columbus. with eight brorz,
lions to guard the approaches 10 the stone hasa
Barcelona might be the wrong side OF the
peninsula for Atlantic commerce. but il pros
pered so long as it was favored by exclusive
privileges in manufacturing goods for the colo-
nies. The loss of those colonies by war with
the United States has involved already a r,a-
terial sh-inkage of Catalan trade. Probably M
other section of Spain has been called upon
TO make so great a sacrifice of material intAr
ests as these vigorous. industrial provinces
drain of military expenditures. might be heavv
burden for the nation at large but for the
Catalan manufacturers and merchants colonial
trade was a great resource and it's loss througb
the American is a serious reverse Of fortune
for Barcelona
The home market. however is secure ana ,.a
value in purchasing power may increase as the
national finances are set in order and the peop,a
obtain relief from excessive taxation A grea,
administrative reformer. with the strength Of
purpose required for a strenuous camnafer
against corruption and inefHciencv in the r-f,,,1
Service, could transform the fortunes NJ S,ai,
even in the final stages Of apathy inertia and
oecaoence' The restoration Of the fun gold
Naiue or the paper money ought not to be an
lmpracticable undertaking. now that exhaustine
wars In Cuba ard the Far East have ceased.
financial reform might open the way for a gen.
eTal revival of national prosperity if there were
statesman with the requisite virtue patience
ana authority for heading true Liberal move
ment' ana Tor appealing to the best elements
of public opinion for support. A leader Of this
type, however, would be another Don Quixote
among the trained bands Of public functfonaries
and scheming politicians who have ceased tn
nave any sense of moral responsibility for the
government Of Spain. and are content to exploit
the provinces for self-aggrandizement While
there are signs of improvement. The national
finances are in better condition than formerly
and the productive resources of the country
have been stimulated Patriotic and enlightened
Spaniards are beginning TO look upon the Amsrf-
can war as blessing in disguise. and they do
not despair Of the future of their once glorious
country. Flexbility Of administration unfortu
nately IS lacking. These Catalan provinces
with their sober minded. Industrious population
might easily be conciliated and their loyalty to
the crown revived by timely concessions There
is inertia at Madrid. and from time TO time there
are fresh evidences Of disanfection and troops
are massed in the northeast provinces for the
suppression of rioting- II is the story Of Cuba
over again-srievances unredressed, taxes col
lected by corrupt and spendthrfft officials. and
the day OF reckoning deferred from year to year
by a governing class thoroughly tainted with
pride OF race and utterly deficient in energy Of
character and practical administrative talent