New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-03
SPANISH WARFARE.

Should the report be confirmed that Count
Valmaseda Commander of the Spanish forces
in the Eastern Department Of Cuba, has actually
issued the proclamation that came last week by
telegraph, the fact will do more than could any
thing else not only to ALLEVIATE the sympathles
of the world from Spain and warm all hearts
toward her insurgent foes, but to dash the
young hope of her own resurrection Accord
ing to that proclamation, every native male
over fifteen years of age, found away from his
residence without sufficient cause, is to be exc
cuted. Every uninhabited dwelling. and every
inhabited dwelling where white flag shall be
undisplayed, is to be burned All women, alb
sent from their homes, must come to BaJamo
or fJignani if they do not come Of their own
free choice, they will be forced to come ms
is simply barbarous 1t is war III the old bru-
tai style; war against all the modern principles
of war war as it was conducted in the Middle
Ages. 1t suggests the policy of Philip Ill. The
barbarity is marked by that characteristic OF
utter contempt for the subject which signalized
the operations of that most Catholic prince
We have been trying hard Of late to think well
of Spain, hoping sometimes against hope. We
have read Overagain her history with kindly eyes,
we have made generous allowance for her dlfil-
culties we have pitied her sorrows, cheered
her endeavors, put the most charitable con-
struction on her blunders estimated at their
fullest value her national qualities, thrust for
ward boldly the promising features in her new
efforts at administration, praised her Ministers
borne witness to the good conduct OF her peo-
pie, hailed with enthusiasm every indication OF
Improvement in her civil system, greeted with
hearty thanks her aspirations after liberty OF
thought, worship, and speech, bespOken for her
the indulgence of the public opinion, and main
tanned a stout conviction that her painful
travail would issue in her delverance from
the ancient thralldom Of tradition and now, In
moment, she turns upon us and BIDS us
believe ourselves grievously mistaken. She Is
the same old Spain her calumniators as we
thought them, declared her to be-haughty,
supercilious, cruel, reckless, scOrnful OF the
opinion and the feeling of the civilized world.
She could not, of course, be blamed for wish
ing to retain her possessions. Every nation on
earth does that. All dismemberment is painful.
We do not blame her for employing force to
keep so precious tributary as the Island OF
Cuba. Every nation on earth would do the
same. But she is to blame for using force as
no nation on earth would do who values its
fair fame. War, unhappiy is not likely to
pass away from the usages of people calling
themselves civilized and bearing the name of
Christian. Nay. it seems to be as prevalent as
ever. The art of war is studied, the ma
chinery of war is perfected to an extent never
dreamed of till this generation. The engines
of destruction are numerous and fearful beyond
precedent. But at the same time, it is not the
monster it used to be. If not Invested of its
physical terrors it is to some degree Invested
of its moral hideOusness. There is in its con-
duct far less of hate and vindictiveness than
there was. Civilization comes in to protect all
but actual belligerents in life and property.
Humanity comes in to save even bellgerents
from all unnecessary suffering through expo
sure, wounds, and captivity. War is entered
into Reluctantly, under protest, and with some
thing like an apology to the spirit of a better
age. The element of murder is sternly pro-
hbted and kept down. Not life is wasted
| that can be spared and the tenderest services
of r,en and women are pressed into the field
to mitigate the horrors that cannot be avoided.
This is now the recognized rule among all
people new conscience has been created in
military and imperial breasts which will demand
to be respected and Obeyed. No nation is strong
enough to disregard its decree. Least of all can
nation afford to disregard it that, like Spain,
labors under the reproach of being behind the
rest, and claims sympathy on the score of her
purpose to cast the reproach off. She should
lead the rest, and justify her title to praise, as
well as her promise of attainment, by showing
how well she appreciates the lessons that
civilization has learned. Is this the way she
proves herself to be worthy place among the
Great Powers7 If it is, she may abandon all
hope of ever.re- writingiher history, for she will
turn against her the very hearts that were
beating proudly in her cause OF national re-
generation. and the very hands that were
ready to render ali the help they could toward
its victory. They who hoped TO see her live
will rejoice to see her die.