The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-15
Tho spanis Crueisies In Cnta., >.

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Tho spanish Crueities In ,Cnba.i.
The cruelties which the Spaniards CONT
nue. to perpetrate. in the island of Cuba,
are revolving to the humanity of the age.
Whatever may be the difference of opinion
as to the merits of the quarrel between
Spain and Cuba, and however general the
conviction against the policy urged by some
of the recognition of Cuban independence,
there can be but one sentiment in regard to
the merciless and atrocious spirit in which
the war is waged by, Spain. The shooting
of women, children and captives, and the
reckless manner in which the brutalized
volunteers fire upon crowd, as mentioned
in the cable dispatches published Saturday,
because some persons in it are alleged to
have uttered seditious cries, thus slaughter
ing in cold blood both the innocent as we'll
as the Offenders is enough to arouse the
execration of all Christendom.' Such acts
would justify protest from oil the civil
lied powers. especially this country, tho
nearest neighhor of the island which is
made. the scene of these sickening crimes.
The remorseless cruelty manifested by
Spainin this Instruction is not Exceptional.
1t has always been conspicuous in her deal
ings with those who dispute her authority.
The annals of her conquests on this CONT
nent are stained with the darkest crimes
In the revolt of her South American posses
slons, her soldiers committed whole popula-
tions to the flames. +; The result ought, to
have taught. her the impotency of such
wickedness, for the magnificent territory
she once possessed on this continent, 5000
miles 5in length and nearly 5000 in some
places in breadth, has been long ago rescued
from her rayenous and cruel grasp. OF all
the fabric of colonial despotism which more
than 800 years ago she reared upon the
fallen thrones of Montezuma and the Incas
of Peru, Cuba is the only reliable posses
sion she has left. and that she holds as she
has held oil other colonial possessions,
only to be subordinnted in every respect to
her own narrow and selfish interests Some
person may doubt our right to interpose be-
tween Spain and her province, but, as q
civilized people, and in the name of COM
mon humanity, we unquestionably have o
right to expect that she shall not carry on
this contest with her revolted subjects in
the spirit of the dark ages, but according to
the maxims of modern civilization. There
is not a nation on the earth, except Spain,
which has not been softened and rendered
less ferocious, to some extent, by the moral
change in the direction of humanity which
has occurred in the last few centuries.
Mankind does not tolerate now the harshness
and ndbrutality in workshops, schools, families,
or in the relations Of government to people,
on which they once looked with indiffer
ence. Even some sympathy is beginning to
be reused for ill-used animals, and the man
who infiicts unnecessary pain upon them il
looked upon himself as more Of brute
than the beast whom he wantonly causes tc
suffer. Whatever may be the authority o.
the Spanish Government, all humanity ha.
right to protest against the manner il
which it is exercised, especially in view O.
the TACT that, even if the Cubans be rebels
it is by confessed rebels. reeking all ove
with the fresh stain OF treason, and unabl,
as yet to constitute permanent Govern
naent for themselves, that they are thus in
humanity treated. ls ~
At the close of the session the United
States House of Representatives passed