The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-21
IN DEFENSE OF SPAIN.


To the Editor: / notice that in your
issue of this date you publish an article
under the heading OF Early Spanish
Cruelty in Cuba" which has been taken
from the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The public at large are apt. after read
ing said article. TO form very wrong
opinion Of the Spanish race in particular
and Of the Latin races in general. Though
not d Spaniard. but an Italian myself.
therefore a Latin, | desire 70 clear up a
few points in regard TO said article. and
trust 10 your sense OF justice 10 give this
space in your paper.
The article 10 which / have reference
begins with acknowledging that Cuba.
had a population of nearly 2.091 90 In
dams, and that II was conquered by
Diego Nelazquez with an army of only
80 men. Such being the case. it is easily
understood that the Spaniaris had TO re-
soH 10 every method then known 10
warfare in subjugating their enemies.
and mad 70 meet strategy with strategy,
deceit with deceit and cruelty with
cruelty, and furthermore, they were
urged on and encouraged in their perSe-
cution of the aborigineS by the dictates
or the church, which denied TO Indians
the right of a SOUL and considered
them only as so many wild beasts" and
ii was only after great number OF years
spent by Fray. Bartolome de las Casas
and various voyages to Rome. that he in
duced the pope latter showing the great
pecuniary and moral advantages TO be
derived thereby TO acknowledge TO the In
dams the right OF human beings. in vir-
tue Of which a bull was issued in 1547
proclaiming the American Indian "a
savage human being that could be
used in slavery until such time
that he became Christian.
AS regards the burning of Indians at the
stake, is il to be wondered at. when we
bear in mind the atrocities perpetrated
on white people in Europe? Who that
has read history does not remember the
atrocities of Tore Quemada'' in Spain.
the wars Of the Huguenots and the Cath
olicS IN France, the cruelties perpetrated
in England on the Papists. and by the
Papists on the Protestants in Italy, Ger
many, Switzerland and Austria, all these
actions taking place In the same century
and later? Why did the Pilgrim Faith
ers'' land at Plymouth Rock in 1920 if not
TO escape the prosecutions 20 which they
were subjected in England and all over
Christendom? Therefore, is 1t 10 be Won
dered at, that the Spaniards. who were
the most fanatical of all. should treat
the "unbelieving savages' in the way
they did? But where can you find In all
the history of the Spanish conquest "A
bounty offered for the scalps of Indian
men, women and children" as was the
case by England In 1910?
As soon as Spain had her colonies under
control the Indian was as much respected
as the white man" and they were COM
petent to hold public offices and have a
voice in the government What has been
the case in this country? The Indian has
been chased down and hunted like wild
beast and now you keep them 'penned"
in the reservations as you do the Amerf-
can buffalo I'm Yellowstone park. Has the
Indian in thin country ever possibility
of attaining any official position? l am
not positive of the fact. but l do not be-
Iieve that an Indian IS entitled TO vote in
every state in the Union; In fact, he is an
soIutely excluded from suffrage In Michi-
gan You will say that he is not fit TO hold
any Office in government. But have you
given him any encouragement In the way
of sduca ton?
You have opened up schools for them.
hut do YOU allow them TO intermingle with
the "whites?'' Has the Indian any social
standing in this country? Whereas look
al the history OF the Spanish Americas:
the giberator of Venezuela, the immortal
Bolivar was a half-breed, the George
Washington" of Mexico. Miguel Hidalgo,
was a half-breed: the savior OF Mexico
from foreign rule in 1851, Benito Juar-
q was a f,IN-bIooded Indian: the present
presidents OF Mexico. Central and South
Americas are all half or fun-blooded In
dams
Indian blood is not considered or looked
upon with shame In any Latin country;
the possessors thereof have the same
chances as the white man"
II any slur is 10 be cast as 10 the treat
ment OF the aborigines during the time
Of the Spanish conquest and rule. it is 10
he cast at the church which ordered the
a trocities to he perpetrated. because the
unfortunate Indian happened TO have a
different opinion of religion 70 what was
ordered by the church
But in this country all the cruelties per- /
petrated on the natives we're done not !
through any dictates OF the church or re-
ligion, but by the wantonness of the con- /
queror.
Before the Anglo-Saxon race casts a /
sIur ar nrss71ues TO critlcise the methods