The sun., 1897-11-26
DArrEI WEBsrRR,s DoornINr.


| Ishuusnity . Greuna OF Intervention.
To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir. when the
new Ministry of Spain recalled tho butcher
| weyler from Cuba and appointed Gen. Blanco
| in his place. we were assured that the Spanish
| Government had inaugurated new policy, and
| that henceforth tho war in Cuba was to be con-
! Quoted according to the rules OF civilized war
fare. The release Of the Competitor prisoners,
| though a tardy recognition OF tho rights OF
American citizens, expressly guaranteed by
| treaty. was received by our people with salts
faction as an evidence of tho disposition of the
| SagastR Ministry to repudjate the original out
! rage and to abide for tho future by tho estab-
lished principles Of law and humanity.
But this feeling of satisfaction has been rudcly
dlspelled by more recent Developments. It is
| now stated that, while Gen. Blanco remains in
| Havana, Issuing proclamations OF amnesty and
| concession, the command Of tho army in the
field has been committed to Gen. Pando,
soldier OF the weyler pattern; and already wo
begin to hear the old stories Of Spanish cruelty.
| In THE Sun Of Monday last find the following
in q despatch from Havana, dated Nov. 20:
A Cuban hospital near Artemlsa, Pinar del Rio
province has been raided by the Spanish twenty
sick patriots women and children murdered.
| The treatment OF the pacihcos by the Spanish
soldiers and police 10 cruel as in the days Of Wey.
Ter. The Chief Of Police OF Matanzas tortured
eral pacinco women and children yesterday because
they begged in the streets. The mortality in Matan.
| Eas by starvation 10 increasing.
In 1912, during the Texan revolution, tho
Mexican Government was accused OF treatment
| toward the Santa Fe prisoners which was then
| denominated cruel. but which was mercy itself
| compared to the outrages perpetrated in Cuba
| now. Daniel Webster was then Secretary of
State. Among the Santa Fe prisoners were
| some OF our citizens. but Webster did not con-
an aa1f IN nrp aatt In thofr half
| is the message he sent to Mexico:
Although the rights or the safety of none OF their
own citizens were concerned. yet II in war waeed
between two neighborns States the killing enslav.
ing. or cruelty treating Of prisoners should bo in.
duged the United States would feel It their duty
well their rfoht to remonsrate and to interfere
| against such departure from tho principles
| OF humanity and civilization. These principles
| are common principles essential alike to the
welfare Of all nations. and In the preservation Of
which all nations have therefore rights and inter
ests. But their duty to interfere becomes impera-
tive in affecting their own citizens. It ts
therefore that the Government of the United States
protests against the hardships and cruelties to
which the Santa rs prisoners have been subjected.
1t protests against this treatment in the name OF
humanity and the law of natons-in tho name OF
all Christian States-in the name and sprit OF the
aSe-in the namo OF all republcs-in tho name OF
liberty herself, enfeebed and dishonored by all
honor OF this whole hemisphere.
1t protests emphatcally and earnestly against prao-
tices belonging only to barbarous people barbarous
times By the weestablished rules OF national law,
prisoners Of not to be treated harshy unless
personally guilty toward him who has them In his
power; for he should remember that they are men
and unfortunate. When an enemy is conquered and
submits, great soul forgets all resentment and is
entirely led with compassion for him. This is the
humane language OF the law Of nations and this 10
the sentiment OF high honor among men.
The law or war forbids the wounding. killing. or
impressment into the troops of the country or the
enslavng or otherwise maltreating OF prisoners of
war. unless they have been guilty of some grave
crime; and from the obligation of this law no civil.
lied State can discharge itself. Every nation on
being received at her request into the circle of
civilized governments. must unde lat she not
only attans rights OF sovereignty and the dignity
national character but that she binds herself also to
the strict and faithful observ Of all those princi
pies, laws and usages which havo obtained currency
among civilized States and which have for their
1ect the mitigation Of tho miseries OF No COM
munity can be allowed to enjoy the benefit OF Q M,
Sonal character In modern tincs without submitting
to oil the duties which that character imposes
Hero 10 Q precedent that Secretary Sherman
may follow with honor to tho country and
credit to himself. Mr.. Webster was q profound
jurist as we'll as q great statesman. and tho
doctrine laid down in this despatch is recog-
nized BY all authorities on international law.
The United States Supreme Court affirmed It in
the prize cases. in which 1t said:
Tho laws Of war. a. established among nations
have their foundation in reason, and all tend to
mitigate the crueltes and misery produced by tho
scourge Of war. Hence the parties to q civil war
usually concede to each other belligerent rights
They exchange prisoners and adopt the other
courtesies and rules common to public or national
wars. civil war. says vattel. breaks tho bonds
Of society and least suspends their
force and effect It produces in the nation two in.
dependent parties who consider each other as enemies
and acknowledge no common Judge. Those two par
ties therefore. must necessarily be as con-
sttuting. at least for time. two separate bodies
TWO distinct Aocieties. Having no common superior
TO judge between them they stand in precisely the
same predcam"nt a. two nations who engage in n
contest and have recourse to arms. This being the
case. 1t In very evident that common laws Of war
those maxims OF humanity. moderation and honor
ought to be observed by both parties in every civil
war Should the sovereign conceive he has right to
hang up his prisoners rebels tho opposite party
will mako reprisal. &C., the war will become cruel
horrible, and every day moro destructive to tho
nation.
SPANS experience with Cuba has proved a
mournful illustration of Vattel's statement.
" ARLINGTON, Nov. 20. ]. 8. TUCKER.
The War on the CiGa arette.