The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-07


heed to the great problem which Is up FOL
decision In the world war now. We are
not interested In the tremendous, decisive
struggle about to begin between the United
States and Germany. And nevertheless
upon that struggle depends all our future
/ "Parlia mentarians and journalists. each
after his own fashion. each according tc
HE light disguise and belittle the ire
sistible power OF a great nation. Among
our people they try to revive old hatreds
They attempt to leave public opinion
ignorant on questions which 1t should
know thoroughly from the beginning II
at the end OF the war. the United States
being victorious. Spain should remain
outside the great world current which
will set in, would that situation be prefer
able to a cordial understanding. dating
from now. with the Power which is going
to triumphs? Is our country to persist iT
the policy Of isolation In this world?
/ LARA said the origin Of our decadence
lay in Spains failure to toin the move
rnent which the Reformation initiated In
| Europe Perchance in the history not
only Of Europe but Of the world. this
| present war may have deep an In
fluence as had the Reformation. new
moral atmosphere is in process Of forma-
ZION. New political relations are being
established When the war ia over. wher
the United States shall have accomplished
It's purpose North America will be the
nucleus about which this new atmosphere
will condenso. And is Spain TO remain
again. as in the sixteenth century. outside
the course which all humanity follow? Is
another decadence to set in for Spain?
The problem is Of tremendous import
| ance he1nn this article Wy evoking the
| fatal mistake Of 1898. But this present
problem is much more vast When one
considers our history carefully in relation
70 the present hour and with the enor-
nous spiritual and material interests
which at this moment hang In the bal
,nce ore discovers that for MS II is no.
ouest,o, Of t-arsito-v depression, but
II something which perha rs we who are
NV livjne nav never real'ze. some
hing so far reaching that II will affect
Snain for r~-erot'o- o-.e- eeneration vet
20 come D'd ~. S---'a-'s 90 the SIX
.eerth cert,,-v who loot f-n play. know
aught Of the future centuries?'
Officials Less Digoted.
Even some of the high officials Of the
government are beginning to show less
bIgoted disposition toward the Allies and
a more discerning view OF the days to
come. Those Cabinet officers who have
TO face and to fird solutions for the never
e-d,ne food and labor problems. which
rhrorically harass the kingdom. are find
ing themselves confronted by SPANS alb
solute dependence upon America for many
articles Of commerce vital to her eco
romic existence. and upon Great Britain
for other prime necessities.
Spain's dependence upon the United
states for her supplies OF cotton. phos
phatcs lubricants, gasolene railway ap-
rIiances ard other materials essential to
the smooth working of the national eco
nornic and Industrial life is felt nd deeply
recognized by the masses Of the people
when the sunply temporarily is curtailed
or cur off The deficit In the nations Goa
supply. carrying with II the disouieting
certainty of a partial Industrial paralysis
and stringent restriction of consumption,
can be averted onlv by increas ed imnorta
tions Of coal from England For the COM
ing season II Is already too late to save the
situation in this manner.
To another large section Of the Industrial
community Spain's dependence upon Eng
land for tin plate used in the grea> fish.
fruit and other canning establishments,
and the difficulties surrounding its impor-
tation in sufficient quantities. have car
red their urgent message, because these
people are dependent for their daily bread
upon the maintenance of those industries
to which tin plate.is prime requisite
Illustrations might be multiplied to in
dictate how SPANS necessities are forcing
her to face the relentless facts The
shortage of wheat and corn supplies which
can be replenshed only from the United
States and the Areentine; the need of nj
from Chill. and the demand for other prime
commodities Of national consumption. the
distribution OF which is dependent upon
the good will OF the allied war trades
boards-all these have become vital prac-
teal factors in driving home the truth and
in gradually facing Spain toward the new
light.
New Worlds Good VIII.
The necessity for the free expectation
also Of manufactured agricultural aud
other domestic products. though oo-
encTy's submarine campaign. Spain is
beginning to realize. depends in the fl
nal analysis upon the good wiz OF
those world markets which the Entente
Allies absolutely control. This phase
Of the economic situation Is lust be-
ginning to be fully appreciated. With
her foreign commerce steadily declin- |
ing at an alarming rate. with the tocea n |
a. her command for the imam |
tenancc OF An economic balance pfovin,
wholly INADEQUATE TO meet the demands
or the coming trade crisis. the hard |
cold. incontrcvertible facts OF the most !
serious situation the kir gdom has had !
to confront are being driven home fl |
nany 10 the comprehension Of all classes
in Spain.
And the l.aven is working among the
government classes we'll as among
the toilnc masses. 1t is the growing
recognition of this International eco
rorfc dependence more than any other
che Influence that has brought about n
noteworthy change in certain high po-
l'ti"al circles in Madrid. S;ome inklings
Of this change of heart were forcibly
recently by Seffor Camho the
Minister Of Public Works, in an address
delivered by him before the National
Mercantile Association tnefensa Mer-
,antil PatronaD. in which ne scath-
nSly criticised past government poll
eies and outlined his course for the flu
lure.
The words Of your chairman" said
Senior Cambo. carry an accusation
against the government which in part
IS Justified. The very existence OF
your ASSOCIATION Is in itself an accusa-
ion Spaniard is not inferio,
% the men Of other nations. Individ-
Tally he Is superior to the German. the
or the Frenchman but COL
ectively he Ia inferior to all. because
'ur collective enersies always tend to
nJure the interests of the great ma
GRITTY. We need perfect harmony and
inion TO confront the contingencies that
VIII arise at the end Of the war.
The warning nations are expend'n:
more money than Spain is prsOarins for