The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-09
REAL WAR AND MURDER.
From the Chicago Times Herald.

FROM tne chicago llfIltS-I1eTdlu.
The Spanish newspapers. the Spanish
minister at Washington, and various
friends of the Spanish cause here and
elsewhere feel outraged at the general
denunciation of the war in Cuba uttered
by Senator sherman. They find 1t curl
Gus that this diSpa ssionate states man
should believe that Spain is more cruel
than any other nation or that her leaders 5
are butchers. A morning newspaper or
this town even goes TO the length of conf
pairing the operations in Cuba Win
Grants orders to Sheridan to overrun the
obvioHsly Strained. While in ali cases
war is hideous, cruel Il vast misfortune.
the tendency of the day Is to diminish its
needless horrors. 1t Is no longer con-
sidered justiable to shell hospitals, TO
poison wells. to shoot down women aud
children and harmless non-cambat tantd.
1t is deemed proper TO use consideration in
quartering troops on the citizens of an
invaded territory, to serve notice on
cites before beginning bombardment, and
generally to temper the stern necessities
of the conflict with mercy toward unof-
Tending victims.
-:Ii:-
That is. among nations of high civli-
cation. But observe the course of Spain
in the lO-year war in Cuba. The records
of that fearful conflict reveal stories of
butchery that would discredit the tribes
of Central Africa. More than 800 spies
and conspirators are shot monthly In our
Not u single Cuban Will remain in this
island, because We shoot those we find on
the fields. on the farms and In every
howell" In fact throughout tina war up
to the time General Campos took COM
mand it was the custom to shoot prison
erS on almost any prcteXt. We do not
have to take Cuban accounts in prooof
of the savegery of the conquerors. The
proclamation of the count of Namasc-
da Is well remembered: Every man from
the age of IL years upward found away
from his habitation without Justified
motive to be shot; every unoccCCied ha-
bitation to be burned: every habitatiCr
which does not float 4 white flag to bs
reduced to ashes" I'm the interest OF
Christian civilization and common hu-
manity,' Secretary Fish wrote to Mr..
Lopez Roberts, Il hope this document is
a forgery. If it be indeed genuine the
president instructs me in the most for
cble manner to protest against sHGn
Fish denounced the proclamation as in
famous" Yet it was defended by Span
sh papers as just!iiabie, as was also the
execution of the Cuban students for their
violation of the grave Of the Spanish edi-
tor.
-:''.-
We are not convinced that the rebels
are humane. Ii Is impossible that an
army gathered together from far and
near, and including the inevitable sprin-
King of lawless Adventures, can be con-
stantly restrained 10 the uses OF civilized
warfare. But the Spanish army lS unV'r
severe and intelligent discipline, and the
blame for the atrocities which ii prac-
ticed in 1868 and 1869. and which IL
threatens to repeat in 1896. must lie upon
the heads of Spanish rulers. TO compare
the severe but necessary measures In the
Shenandoah Valley and the Incidental
cruetieS of modern civilized warfare TO
the W hole sale mui der practiCed upon the
patriots Of cuba twenty years ago Is to
carry championships OF Spain Ia rdicil-
lous conclusion. General Sherman said:
war il hell but he understood tue dis
tinCtion between soidery ana deviliry.