SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.
[TO THE EDITOR Or THZ " SPECTATOZ.1
SIR,—Though everything is quiet now, the steady drift of events is towards a war between the United States and Spain, probably beginning next autumn, although Spain may precipi- tate it sooner, or President McKinley's caution, with the forces behind, may postpone it longer. England has a greater stake in this than is generally understood. The chief obstacles to the drawing together of the English-speaking countries are the unrest of the Irish, and the unique prominence given to American victories over England and American grievances against England in our system of common- school education. The first will not lessen until some English Government has the faith, power, and daring to make Ireland as practically independent as New South Wales or Canada. The second will be deprived of nearly all harmful effect by a successful war with any Continental nation, especially with that one which has learned so little- since it wasted and tortured Holland and sent forth the Armada. Remember, Great Britain is as yet the only con- siderable nation with which we have ever fought for any long time. Between our two main foreign wars we had a little unacknowledged war with France, capturing two frigates, with the odds against our own, and losing nothing at all. But this was brief, and is now as nearly forgotten as the brilliant episode at Tripoli. The Mexican War was a walk-over, and remains unsavoury in many minds which are not too greedy for justice. Perhaps it would not have been possible but for the Alava, where seven thousand Mexicans lost sixteen hundred men in destroying less than three hundred, who had no hope of escape and received no mercy. That ends the list. It has been wise, as well as instructive, to turn from the dangerous topic of our Civil War, and find our glory in the story of the Bon Homme Richard, the cruises of the 'Wasp' and the Essex,' the fight of the General Armstrong,' the long list of victories of old Ironsides, the battles of Lake Champlain and Lake Erie, of New Orleans, and Saratoga, and Bunker's Hill. This is natural and right. The virility of the race is in it But unquestionably it would be a benefit to England, and I think not less to my own country, if the same pride and enthusiasm could be in a measure diverted to new achieve- ments in conflict with some people less akin to our own.
Of course, no one is going to war to amend the school- books. I merely point out one incidental consequence of what may befall. War, when it comes, will probably be
declared by Spain, or begun without declaration, in resent- ment of our insistence that the long inhumanity in Cuba must have an end. The blowing up of the Maine' adds nothing to the argument for that. What, indeed, could adc1 anything ? But it may have a certain practical bearinK as adding grimness and sternness to the temper of oa
people. They are waiting now in a spirit of self. restraint and fairness ; but if the Board of Inquiry re- ports an explosion from the outside, as seems most likely, there will be such steady pressure as will compel a demand for indemnity and the withdrawal of all Spanish power and authority from that neighbouring island where they have proved so dangerous to us and so hurtful to man- kind. This would bring a clash in a few months at farthest.
It will be best for Spain that she should be knocked out at once. But I think it more likely that she would astonish us by some successes over our unpreparedness, clogged as we are by Parliamentary machinery and custom. If these should go the length of the bombardment or capture of any sea-coast city, it would not be Cuba alone that would be lost, nor the Philippines, nor even the Canaries. Seventy-five millions of people would call for something more vital, and if it took years, and in spite of any allies of Spain, the blow would be given. Formerly I used to send you some notes about Cuban affairs, and they came true, as I said. Be sure of these three elements,—first, the fighting Cubans dead set on bearing nothing but Cuban independence, and indefinitely more than able to hold their own; secondly, Spain quite certain never
to cease the attempt at subjugation unless compelled by overpowering force, and somehow able to find both men and money for a really serious war; thirdly, the United States, thoroughly wearied in patience, disgusted, abhorrent, pro- foundly suspecting a wholesale inhospitable murder, and growing steadily in the determination that the damnable state of things shall have an ending ! I think you will figure it out to about what I do. A pert Western aphorism declares that "hindsight is always better than foresight." Who does not see that if we had intervened two years ago, when Gomez and Maceo swept the island from east to west, we should have saved the lives of a quarter of a million people, and agonies and losses beyond all reparation or retrieval P.,. That was Cleveland's great opportunity, and he missed it, as he missed so much besides. Now, the abomination of desolation has bad its way for more than two years, and after all we have not escaped our war.—I am, Sir, &c.,
709 G Street, Washington, U.S.A. W. H. BAncocx.
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