Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-07-22
MERCY FOR SPAIN

Now that II ID clear that :he victory
III this war mus; he with the United
States, the plea is put up Mt home
and abroad that America should be
merciful towards Spain. Some Euro
pean journals OF emi.oficial char
acter has" voiced the cry, AMI have
gone 50 far ar to say, now that we
have spain at our mercy, we should
chow her how mugnanimoui we can
be. -
That is sentimentally pretty.
Mercy IA a divine attribute. but So
too is Justice. We asked mercy for
Cub: fro u SPAN, aud received in re-
ply insult ard repoach. Wcare to be
merciful assuredly, but we are first to
be Just. The American people are
bearing n heavy harden OF taxation
because OF the necessity Of this war
to which we were driven 10y the COM
monest dictates OF humanity; orr
IN has been seriously inter-
rupted; trade with the West In
dies has been practically closed Tor
three years, and business has been
depressed upon the Atlantic seuboard
i'll consequence.
We have been put Ia enormous
cost to do police duty for Spun, md
suppress tilibusterlnr. which her OIL
s%tinucy and cruelty stimulated. Oh.
yes! We are 70 be merciful-but first
to onr 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 iur our losses
and recompensed for our d. destroyed
commerce and Who shall say what
the measure of compensation shall be
for American blood spilled in defense
and promotion Of tie lottiest Of hu-
man impuIsesY
To be magnaniinOus TO Spain means
in the European sense, tn restore To
her what she has lost 10y our hands,
to repossess her with the territory she
ha' forfeited; to Withdraw our forces
and permit her to resume her out
RACES III Cuba. That is read between
the lines. there can he no mistaking
1t. For we are told that Spain is a
weak power, and we shall gain no
honor III drubbing her. But shall we
refuse, il a suarling aud pestiierous
chr snaps Mt Onr heels and ~fastens
upon u flesh, to crush the beast.
Let the account he cast up and the
question asked was Spanish treuchery
an evidence Of merry when it plotted
and executed the destruction Of the
Name 9nd her innocent crew? Was
Spain merciiul to the reconcentrados
OF Cuba when she hcrdcd them with
the bayonet, starved them to death in
The cutters and set q brutal soldiery
upon feeble women mud children?
Was it merciful at Santiago 10 fire
from tree tops upon workers OF the
Red Gross! WHs it an evidence OF
Spanish honor when explosive bullets
were fired by Spanish regulars ON the
nights OF san Juan? Was it Spanish
honor tlIat directed the shooting down
OF u surgeons on tie fields OF
Caney? Was it mcrciful, and kin l..
aud manly, and honorable tn hoist
the Red Cross far over buildings
back III the Spanish lines in front Of
Snntiago, and fire from that cover
upon nnr troops?
IL Spun secks mercy let her do
mercy to the wrciclied suTercrs sho
las confne1 i'll the dungeons OF
Ccuta, because they dared INSERT the
right OF Belt-gOvernmant. II gil,
would have mercy meteI to her. L.,
her restore to their homes the women
Children and men she has transported
from Cuba Ia the burning sands q,
desolate colonies on tie COASTS ~ Af
RIGA. Before Europe demands mercy
for Spain and n weeping queen, LEI
Europe direct Spain to be just 10 the
oppressed Filippiuos. whom by tax.
alton That is cxtortiun, and crueities
That are hrIrl1rnus. she has driven 10
frcnzy Of insurreelinn.
Mercy t" Spain. indrcd--but Jus
tite iirRt. II We are less thnp iust we
viii be lesa ;bnn Iucrcifui. IL our
mercy CRADLES Spain to resume her
reckless md mcrcilrIs rule, then the
Divine attribute will have become "A
curse TO mankind. Sacramento
Union, -