The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-26
THE SPANISH THIRST FoR BLOOD.
A Racial Characteristic From the
Earliest Days to the Present Time.

Racial Characteristic From the
Earliest Days to the Present Time.
DR.. Henry w. Field in the Evangelist.
AS we are now at war with Spain, it is
quite natural that we should look upon
the unfavorable side of the Spanish char
acter. But let us be just even TO our en-
emies, and recognize all that is truly.
worthy of respect. / have been in almost
every country in Europe, and nowhere
have l seen finer specimens of manhood
and womanhood than in Spain In the
highest rank of Spanish gentlemen, a
stranger observes certain distinction of
manner that is best described as high
bred" as it is something that is born and
not made. 1t is not an affectation that is
put on, as French politeness sometimes is;
it is not intrusive nor oppressive, but is
rather of the quiet and gentle character
that is so graceful to the stranger from a
far country
The Spanish women are not so generally
educated as the women of England or
America, but there are those who would be
quite at home in any literary circle in Eu-
rope. have In mind a lady who was the
friend of Mr. Lowell, when he was minis
ter in Madrid, and 1 am quite sure that
he could have found no more charming
society In the literary circles of London.
when he was our minister to Great Brit
ain.
But now for the contrast Behold l show
you a mystery! How is it that ia a peo-
pie capable of such fine qualities. this
high breeding can co-exist with a delight
in the shedding of blood? 1 have never
hrtl 6Uh nttt
the outside when the horrible scenes have
been going on, and see the mangled horses
that were dragged out when the combat
was over. To me it was amazing that any
man, and worse still, that any woman
could witness such a sickening spectacle.
when, as was often the case, the horses
were gored till their bodies were torn TO
pieces, and yet, urged on by their riders,
they ran madly around the arena, literally
dragging their own bowels under their
feet
What are We to think of a people that
delight in such spectacles, and that can go
to them from the very doors of their
churches and cathedrals, for the bull
fights are always on Sunday or on q
feast day. when they celebrate the piety
of some old saint of a former age and
then follow 1t by horrible cruelties
Whence comes this delight in blood? Is
1t from The warfare with the Moors for
1V9 years, OF does IL GATE from the Romans,
and thus come down through twenty CEN
turtles? If the latter, then the enthusiasm
in SDauiards at the combats Of the bull
ring is but he far-of coliseum at Romei
Another form of pleasure that has
strange fascination for Spaniards is cock
ightingi The late George Jones of the
New York Times once told me of his ex-
periences and observations on Sunday
IN Havana. First he made the round of
Catholic churches, in one of which he saw
a priest going through the services with
the solemn!ty that befitted the occasion.
from which Mr.. Jones. that he might see
the other extreme, went 10 the pits"
where an excited crowd were watching
with fiendish delight the cocks tearing
each other 70 pieces. Horror-struck with
the scene his anazement knew no bounds
when the priest whom he had just seen at
The altar, rushed into the crowd, as eager
as any ruffian, not only for the sport but
TO win back the money which he had lost
before, he had been so unfortunate as
to lose on former occasion all The money
that his people had given him at Easteri
This passion for blood shows itself not
only in the Dutchery of animals, but in
human suffering. When / was in Madrid
was fond of hunting out localities which
had some historical association and what
could be more thrilling than the spot where
heretics las all Protestants were) were
burned a the stake? 1t was not enough
that the faith of Luther and Calvin was
counted crime worthy Of death but The
day Of execution was a fetc day to thu.
whole city. No spectacle was 50 attrac-
tive as an auto-da-fe. Phillip II came
in state. and all the court with the for
eign ambassadors, 10 see fathers ana
mothers with hoary hair, whose only