The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-08

There Is tendency to lock upon reports
Of Spanish outr.ses and crueities in Cuba
with a certain amount OF suspicion. espc-
claIly when these reports emanate from
Cuban sources and are not corroborzted
by independent testimony. 1t Is not inn
probable that gross exaggeration has been
resorted to In many cases. and II Is quite
possible that some OF the stories given
with detail are manufactured out of the
whole cloth. The leaders OF the Cuban
revolutionary party and their agents In
this country count largely upon American
sympathy and material aid. ciandestineiy
given. IN their struggle for freedom: and
thus they are under a certain amount Of
temptation TO paint tine Spanish record
In Cuba In the blacklist colors. Recognize
ing this fact. the conservative man is pre-
pared TO discount largely the stories Of
Spanish cruelty. and IL is but a step fur
Their to discredit them altogether. This
attitude is observed In the few members
Of congress who have persistently fought
against the concurrent resolutions recog-
nizing the Cubans as belligerents. which
finally passed congress Monday.
On the other hand. every story OF re-
voting cruelty or cold-blooded barbarity
by the Spaniards directed against the Gu
ban patriots, find ready credence with TIE
great mass OF the reading public. partic1-
larry those who have any acquaintance
with Spanish history. or the character Of
the people of that race.
To read Of torture and cold-blooded muir
der by Spanish troops OF prisoners Of war.
or OF piIIage and outrages on the families
of those engaged in the present revolt,
oxcites no more feeling of incredulity than
TO read OF like crimes committed by a gang
of Apaches who have left their reserva-
ton and temporarily gone on the war
path. The details may be incorrect, the
whole story may be a pure creation Of
some sensational newsmcnger, but there
is nothing intrinsIcally improbable in any
one OF the stories told OF Spanish doings
In Cuba
This is the Indictment of the Spanish
race. and in this respect IT stands alone
among modern European nations. It
would require the most certain and posi-
tive proof to convince the average reader
that the military authorities of any other
European nation. In warfare with even
the most barbarous tribes of savages,
would resort 20 methods such as those
which it Is alleged are constantly resorted
to by the Spanish In Cuba. but as they
are alleged of Spain and Spanish officers.
they go practically unques STONED
This Is true because the whole history
OF tho Spanish race. In Its innumerabIe
wars. is one record OF acts of kindred ma
ture. and they seem as particularly char
acterisiic of the Spaniards as they are Of
the American Indians. The history of the
Peninsula war is full OF crimes OF the
Spanish against prisoners of war as afro
cious or more SO than anything charged
up against the Spanish troops In Cuba
instances innumerable occurred during
that war when captured French, more par
tieulariy those charged with being spies,
were put to death By an elaborate deviltry
of torture which would have disgraeed
an Apache village. or Texas mob deal
ing With a negro ravisher.
Tho Spanish take pride In being the
least progressive OF European races. In
sentiment and action. the average Span
lard is a survival from medieval DAYS.
He has never progressed or taken en-
modern ideas and has no difference or re-
spect for public opinion outside OF the
borders of his own country. What a
Spanish soldier would have done In the
sixteenth century in warfare. he would
do today. AS torture and murder of pris-
oneFs. pillage OF captured towns and out
RACES upon non-comhatants were nat
ural concommitant o: war as waged In
tho middle ages by all the nations of the
world. SO they are with the Spaniards of
today. While the rest OF the world has
progressed in those respects, they avne
have stood sim.
These are the reasons why there is n
ready and natural belief in the truth o.
most OK the stories which come from Cuba
as 10 the barharities OF the Spanish troops
In dealing with captured enemies or help
less non-eombatants.