SPAIN AND THE HUNS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1918, Page 1

SPAIN AND THE HUNS.

THE HOUR FOR ACTION

(By Filson Young.)

Madrid. Politics, unlike their consequences, must, not be taken too seriously in Spain. The Spaniards set, a noble example in the matter. Indeed, if anything, they err on the side otightness, for .when you see a great deal of the suu it is difficult to take anything—even consequences—seriously. That is why, after living in Spain for some time, one abstains from using the word crisis in writing of her affairs for English readers. Wo still attach grave meanings to grave words, but in Spain all words are playthings. There is a crisis here, in the newspapers, on an average once a week ; in times like the present, when a Ministry is in process of being resolved into its elements. such headings as “To-day’s Crisis ” or “ Crisis Becomes Complete,” are our almost daily reading. And the thing meant by a crisis—wliich is that one set, of gentlemen ai d their friends retire and take p oisions and that another group comes forward and takes salaries —is a rood deal of a plaything too^,Spain is very rich, and in ordinary, times can afford such expensive playthings as political ciises without, her daily life being profoundly affected thereby.

That these are not ordinary times is what throws into this drifting, idle, corrupt, and pleasant way of going on the possibility of tragedy. The seasons fly round ; winter is a moment, spring a rush and riot of renewal, summer and autumn are one prolonged bath of sunshine ; the bulls come up from the lush pastures of Audalucia and aie slain in a glory of colour and commotion; and upqii if all shines the sun, assuaging discontent, comforting the body, drugging the mind. And just, outside the drowsy, sun-struck circle of Spam, and all around it, the world is in torment; and it needs but the deflection of a ( current, the indraught of that malign and destroying Hate that is yet unconquered, to shatter these dreams and this peace and to drag Suaii) from her playthings into the bloody whirlpool. No one, Cod knows, who understands the essential innocence that abides in this beantiful country, can contemplate such a possibility with anything but dismay. Let there remain at least one spot in Europe where people live in their own way? and pass the blink of sunshine between two eternities that man calls his life, in the manner that seems best to them ! THE OSTRICH ATTITUDE.

But it is madness, in such a situation as that of Spain, to pretend that nothing is happening; or, by mere]}' stopping one’s ears, or hiding one’s head in the sand, to hope to annihilate the facts that are raging round you. And that is the Spannish method. Like child reu in their charm, they are like children in their vanities. They believe that nothing which is happening outside can be half so important as what is happening in Spain ; and that the narrative of the day’s political manoeuvres concerns them far more than that writing, on the wall which the finger of Fate continues to trace. It would be so if the world were right and they were in tune with it ; but the world is not _ right, and its music is in harsh discord with the light flamenco of their affairs. The deep and mischievous workings of the German machine in Spain are continually being exposed; but I doubt if even they constitute as great a danger tef Spain as her own determined aversion from the facing of unpleasant facts Germany now makes open war upon her commerce by sea ; a few Notes are written, the general e’ections come on—and indignation is lulled. The astounding apings of von Stollrer and his colleagues in the German Embassy and their traffickings with the agents of anarchy and disorder have* now been categorically exposed, but they are still (presumably) personas gratae, and are to be seen entertaining, the subjects of his Majesty on fashionable nights at the' Ritz Hotel with cynical effrontery. And they are here for no other purpose than to see to it, if by any cbaifce they could get their way with the world, that Spain should go the way of other weaker nations in their path, and become the vassal of Germany. No more day-long idling in the plazas smoking and talking politics, -then ! No moredntoxicating weeks of corridas and fiestas, no more elections with a million and a half sterling of good money falling, like Danse’s shower of gold into the laps of the electors ; no more easy, drowsy, dusty, smoky, sunny, kindlieartgd forsaking of works ! Spain would remain a child, but not the idle, lovable, contented child we know. She would be a child coerced, enslaved, unhappy, driven in ways not her own, and cured of all her laughter; a child at work, keeping regular hours ; at work for the Germans.

THU QUESTION EOR .DECISION. The only alternative to that, if the present ostrich attitude on the part of her leading men is maintained, is for Spain to sink out ot all significance in the world, to have no place in the new Europe, no seat at the councils ol the Family of Nations that I hope I shall live to see established, and to be remembered, perhaps, as one who stayed at home and ieasted while others foughc out the issues on which her destiny, as well as theirs, depended. Such a fate would be as overwhelming to her pride as unworthy of herself.

It is not yet too late for Spain to shake herself free from her parochial squabbles, her internal pre-occupa-tions, look out beyond her own borders, and take a world-view of (kings. Like those of so many hypochondriacs, her symptoms would disappear if she had some larger interests than those of continually feeling her own pulse and taking her own temperature. She can still, if she likes, take a part in the waning tragedy—not. I hope, the terrible and costly p-'t that the rest of us have taken, but a worthy part nevertheless. It is not her affair to fight Germany or England ; but it surely is her part to cast out the foul thing from her own borders.

There are some quarrels about which there can be no neutrality; about which a man of honour must declare himself for one side or the other. And it seems to me that Spain, leaving aside, if she wishes, the question of the origin of the war, might with honour to herself take sides on what has become «i question of almost equal importance—namely, Is war to be allowed to degenerate into murder? Is th 6 profession of arms to be one of honour, or is it to be put on a level with crime? Are cruelty and bestiality to be its standards in place of chivalry and courage ? These are questions which a military nation cannot ignore, on which she must, surely take sides. And they are questions on which Spain would find herseli united, and all her differences resolved ; as to which Castile and Leon, Cataluna and Andalucia, Arragon and Valencia and Navarre would speak to the world with one voice, and perhaps briug back to sanctuary the tattered banners of chivalry and honour.