Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-03
KAUFMAN 6 CO.,
Fourth and Broad.
The Spaniards' Lack of HumOr.
louisville Courier-Journal)

lL-tulSNlllc NOdAirA ~JOuiA di.|
Richard Harding Davis, writing in the
July Scribner of early observations of
the war, tells OF the melancholy figure
cut on board the New York by the first
Spanish prisoner. a. lieutenant. and
how he was freed and turned over TO
Scovel, the correspondent, who. after
pumping him, showed him Hospitality
over the ship. Scovel. who Is thor
oughly detested by the Spaniards in
Cuba. wore a yachting cap and blue
serge suit. so it is probable that the
Spaniard mistook him for one of the
ships junior officers. But when they
parted there was a little scene. They
had said farewell with many fiourlshes.
and the Spaniard had, after the fashion
of his race, made a little speech TO the
effect that he saw it was as impossible
10 surpass the courtesy OF an American
officer as TO surpass his warship.
"'You have been most kind to me- he
added, and l should like to know your
name. / shall always remember it,
"Scovel laughed and nodded. My name
is Sylvester Scovel, he said bowling. L
am the correspondent of the New York
World
1.-THE Spanish have no sense of humor,
and this one could not rise to the oc-
casion. He only gasped and stared, and
backed hastily away. He can hardly be
blamed. 1t must be bewildering TO fine
that you have been overwhelmed with
courtesies by the man whose death, had
he been your prisoner and you had killed
him, would have brought you reward
of $4,000 and vote of thanks from
your government"
This Spanish lack Of the sense Of hu-
NOR has been humorously illustrated at
every stage OF the war. 1t Is usually
the case that those who are most laugh
able see least to laugh at. The POM
pous posing OF the Spaniards, their fam
boyant boasting, their bombastic gran
diloquence, their incessant prating or
pride and honor. has furnished laughter
for the world but it has all been most
Serious and solemn to the Syaniards
themselves.
Blanco's recent letter to Gomez Is one
of the most striking illustrations Of this
unconscious humor. The transparency
Of the silly trick would be ridiculous 10
anybody but a spaniard. Until the
United States interviewed the Cuban in
surgents were not even recognized as at
war, but when as a last poor resort 1t
is determined TO try TO unite them with
Spain against the people who had an
swered their prayers and come to de-
liver them from Spain, Gomez Is ad-
dressed as "Genera!-in-ChieT or the Rev
oiutlonary Forces as loyal enemy"
and credited with noble sentiment"
And this is the proposition which Blanco
makes to Gomez in all seriousness:
"Spaniards and Cubans find themselves
opposed to foreigners Of a different race,
OF naturally absorbent tendencies ana
whose intentions are not only 10 deprive
the Spanish people of their right to Gu
ban soil. but also 10 exterminate the Gu
han people on account OF their Spanish
blood. Their blockade OF the ports Of the
island has no other object. II not only
hurts the Spaniards. but also the Cubans,
completing the work Of determination
commenced in the civil war"
In other words. Cuba has long been
fighting desperately TO free herself OF
the Spanish yoke, but as soon as the
United States heed her appeal, come 10
her aid, and are about TO free her from
the Spanish yoke. Cuba Is asked by
Spain 10 turn against her delverers
and unite with Spain TO repel them. IL
will be observed that Blanco tells Gomez
that the object Of the United States
Is the DETERMINATION VI tue NupohS'
and vet ne let's slip the admission that
the object of Spain has been the exter-
mination of the Cubans, 10: he says that
determination by the United States VIII
complete "the work of determination
commenced in the civil war"
II Blanco believes this. and II ne
thinks that the Cubans believe 1t. ne
should at least give them credit for IT.
teligence enough to prefer extermina-
ton by the United States to extermina-
ton by Spain. They know what the
latter Is, and they know that no other
sort OF determination can be worse. He
ought himself 10 be intelligent enough
to know that the Cubans understand
the full value of such pledges as he
makes on behalf OF Spain, the tender
mother" to Cuba. 1.-The daughter. who
speaks her language. processes her re-
ligion, and feels running In her veins the
ancient blood OF Spain
Gomez's reply could hardly have been
better. IT believe" he writes. there Is
only one race. OF humanity. and for me
there are but good and wicken nations.
Spain has been up to the present time a
wicked nation. The United States Is en-
deayoring TO fulfill toward Cuba the
duty OF humanity and civilization"
That ought to be enough 10 even 81
lence us for little In our talk about