until about 1815. So far as
relates to the evils of the colonial system, then, the two were not very
unlike. But into the field of administrative reform and the grant of
autonomous powers to her colonies, Spain never has entered. The abuses
of the early part of the century characterize also its later years.
Discrimination against the native-born, even of the purest Spanish
stock; officials who regard the colony as a mine to be worked, not a
trust to be administered; forced dependence upon the mother country for
manufactures, even for produce, so far as duties can effect it;
self-government stifled; representation in the Cortes denied or a
nullity; a civil service unprogressive, ignorant, sometimes
corrupt--compare these handicaps with the growth, the prosperity, the
independence, above all, the decent and orderly administration, of the
colonies of England. One of the wonderful things in this half century is
that army of British youth, with but little special training or genius,
or even, perhaps, conscious sympathy for the work, learning to
administer the great and growing Indian and colonial empire honestly and
wisely and well, with courage and judgment equal to emergencies,
animated by an every-day working sense of duty and honor, but not very
often making any fuss or phrases about it. It is not that Spanish
colonial government is worse than formerly, which is costing it now so
dear, but that it is no better, while the world's standard has advanced
and condemns it. Never yet has Spain looked at her colonies with their
own welfare uppermost in her mind. She has never outgrown the old
mistaken theories. Her fault is medievalism, alias ignorance.

"It is not a cause for wonder, therefore, quite apart from special
sources of discontent, that Cuba, which, by position is thrown into
contact with progressive peoples, should chafe at her leading strings.
Without reference to the corruption and cruelty, arrogance, injustice
and repression which are alleged against the mother country, without
rhetoric and without animosity, we may fairly say that Spain is losing
Cuba, perhaps all her colonies, simply because she has not conformed to
the standard of the time in the matter of colonial government. If
England had not altered her own methods, her colonies would long since
have abandoned her as opportunity offered. The wonder really is that
Spain has held hers so long; for Cuba, at least, owing to its
exceptional fertility and positi