El Imparcial. (San Juan, P.R.) 1918-197?, 1919-02-17
EDITORIAL VIEWS.
!; Up to some few years
ago, the distance. separat-
] ing Spain from the
1
SPAIN AND AMERICA


the two countries could not be measured by
asath0ms. The two countries separate not because
the physical distance and obstacles between them, but
because of deep spiritual antagonsm engeniered by
ignorance. ff
Strange the assertion may sound to You, the feeling
not due to the sad event that took place i'll the year
s1S9S all the Spanish American War did was to aggr-
waite the anmosity, which undoubtedly dates back from
the time when the American colonies were struggling
y for national existence. :t
4After the second Cuban nslrrecon broke out that is
say 1885, the newspapers of each country did not
the other country except in derisye manner TO
the Spanish the yanqis nothing but twenty
fveper=eent civilized people, who had exterminae the
redskins, whose institutions were but an exact reprolc-
on of those of merceny Carthage whose only religion
was the mighty dollar, and whose only sports were
lyneing negroes and ze-fghting. The American
press and politicians cordially reciprocaed the sent
Ients Spain to them nothing but backward coun-
try of bandits, lazy and dirty although rdiculously
proud people; az country where fa1atlcism, bgotIy and
bulfghters the order of the day. Sometimes it
q happened that from either country visited
the other and did justice to it but for every wemean
ing and welinstructed man that came from Spain to
the United States viceyersa, hundred went preudic
ed and left the country state of mind,
ready to discredt it, not stopping to consider that their
cOuntTynen to suffer with such propaganda,
just much as the people against whom they vented
their anger.
But the World mores The War just ended has given
the United States the opportunity to show Europe gen
eral and Spain in particular something that the Old
Worlddd not want to The crude yankees have shown
those SUBTLE refined inhabitants of the other side the
meaning of those immortal words: aCiH charity for dH
aUh malice toU0rds and the evidence and facts
such that except for insignificant number of rabid r
Feconcliaes in Spain, every body there is looking to
with admiration and respect.
The reaction in America began to take place few
wears before the War broke out With the growth of
commercial intercourse with Spain and Latin America,
and the inevitable approach through the study of the
Spanish language, sharp points being eliminated
ssand asperities smOothed
Art is having good share in the better understanding
Of the two countries Sorolla and Zuoaga Granaos and
Maria Barrenos have shown the American people that
there really different Spain to the painted for
them by black ignorance But nothing compare with
what Spanish literature is doing to in the United
Estates and Spain interest for each other Books by
Wilson and Roosevelt have been translated and read
with delight by Spanards and the standard Spanish
literature of the present day sending joy through the
heart of the American people, Gald0s, Echegaray, Be
nayente and Alvarez Quintero sound familiar to
z school children in the States.
oOf course, Spanish books have. acquired with the
l9ericans the popularity Basco Ibanezs have. S0ngre
~ Arena, La Cdtcdrdl La Horda La BdiYaca Los Cuai
tfo Jiaetes del Apocdlsis and other books of his
being literally devOured by the enthusiastic American
people Of the last book The Four H0rsemcn of the 1po-
yse nearly sixty editions have been turned out by the
presses and surely many coming, the book
has been pronounced by the American critics as the
literary masterpiece inspired by the War; His author
Stands according to the American literary opinion,
s foiemosf among the contemporary fiction writer's.
AprOpOs OF the latest edition of The ShddOaC of the Ca
theddf, listen to what w. D. Howells has say The
reader will find this book of the fullest and richest
modern felton, worthy to rank with the greatest Rus
slah work and beyond anything yet done i'll English
Another critic remarks that "Ibanez possesses "a
higher degree than his realistic predecessors the poetic
feeling we'll as the naturalstic art needed portray
: this new world that his books impressing them
selves upon our literature with such undenable
spoWer and wealth of beauty
The time, in opinion is come for some official re-
cognon Of this and happy feeling between the two
countries; the psychological moment is at hand both
the American and the Spanish people should let the
opportunity pass to forget former differences and
in brohery embrace Perhaps the best way to recognize
that feeling the spiritual way, would be to start i'm
edlaely to exchange university professors being
done between the United States and other European
countries.
1'r1e AUCTION SALE aEnR SALE. 3. ssix .f,rlin1n