The record-union., 1898-07-10
MERCY FOR SPAIN.

in this war must be with the United
States, the plea is put up at home and
abroad that America should be merci
full towards Spain. Some European
journals of semi official character have
voiced the cry, and have gone so far
as to say, now that we have Spain at
our mercy, we should show her how
magnanimous We can be.
That is sentimentally pretty. Mercy
is a divine attribute, but so too is JUS
tice. We asked mercy for Cuba from
Spain, and received in reply insult and
reproach. We are to be merciful as
suredly, but we are first to be just
The American people are bearing a
heavy burden of taxation because of
the necessity of this war to which we
were driven by the commonest dictates
of humanity; our commerce has been
seriously interrupted; our trade with
the West Indies has been practically
closed for three years, and business
seaboard in consequence.
We have been put to enormous cost
TO do police duty for Spain, and
suppress filibustering, which her OBJ
stinacy and cruelty stimulated.
Oh, yes! We are to be merci-
ful-but first to our people we must
be just. Every dollar of cost to which
we have been put must be paid back
to US. We must be compensated for
our losses and recompensed for our
destroyed commerce and who shall say
what the measure of compensation
shall be for American blood spilled in
defense and promotion of the loftiest
Of human impulses?
To be magnanimous to Spain means,
in the European sense, to restore to
her what she has lost at our hands, to
reposseSs her with the territory she
has forfeited: to withdraw our forces
and permit her to resume her outrages
in Cuba. That is read between the
lines, there can be no mistaking it. For
we are told that Spain is weak power,
and we shall gain no honor in drubbing
and pestiferous cur snaps at our heels
and fastens upon our flesh, to crush
the beast?
Let the account be cast up and the
question asked was Spanish treachery
an evidence of mercy when it plotted
and executed the destruction of the
Maine and her innocent crew? Was
Spain merciful to the reconcentrados
of Cuba when she herded them with the
bayonet, starved them to death in the
cutters and set brutal soldiery upon
feeble women and children?
Was it merciful at Santiago to fire
from tree tops upon workers of the
Red Cross? Was it an evidence Of
Spanish honor when explosive bullets
were fired by Spanish regulars on the
nights of San Juan? Was it Spanish
honor that directed the shooting down
of our surgeons on the fields of Caney?
Was it merciful, and kind. and manly,
and honorable to hoist the Red Cross
flag over buildings back Of the Spanish
lines in front of Santiago, and fire
from that cover upon our troops?
If Spain seeks mercy let her do mercy
to the wretched sufferers she has con-
fined in the dungeons of Ceuta, because
they dared assert the right of self
government. If she would have mercy
meted to her, let her restore to their
homes the women, children and men
she has transported from Cuba to the
burning sands of desolate penal col
onies on the coasts of Africa Before
Europe demands mercy for Spain and
a weeping queen. let Europe direct
Spain to be just to the oppressed Flip
pinos, whom by taxation that is ex-
tortion, and cruelties that are barbar-
Gus, she has driven to a frenzy of in
surrection.
Mercy to Spain. indeed-but justice
first If we are less than just we will
be less than merciful. II our mercy
enables Spain to resume her reckless
and merciless rule, then the Divine at
tribute will have become a curse to
mankind.
A member Of the marine corps at
Camp McCalla, in the Bay of Guanta-