an old reader of the Spectator, I ask for a
little space to express my dissent from your view, that in this unhappy quarrel the Americans have justice on their side. It seems to me that if they sought justice in this matter, they would not have totally ignored the two great concessions latterly made by Spain, namely, autonomy and an armistice. If the question was one for diplomacy so long, why was it wrested from the hands of diplomacy just when those satis- factory results were obtained ? The relief of the distressed population and the self-government of the island being the unselfish objects in view, would it not have been humane and -just, in these circumstances, to have agreed with Spain as to the distribution of relief during the cessation of hostilities, and to have utilised the time to elaborate, with the goodwill of the Mother-country, and the friendly assistance of the Powers, a practical and satisfactory form of autonomy ? This was not attempted, but, of a sudden, the Spaniards are peremptorily ordered to depart from Cuba, as if they were intruders, and to leave to the Americans the task of producing order, and then establishing, if may be, an independent Government. It is not possible to admire these methods, or to sympathise with, and wish "God speed" to a nation which adopts them; and I cannot help thinking, in spite of the present consensus of the Press, that there are many English- men, Irishmen, and Scotchmen, and even Americans, who disapprove and feel constrained to sympathise with the ill- treated Spanish nation.—I am, Sir, Ste.,
G. S.
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