The times., 1898-07-17
OUR AMERICAN HUMANITY.
As 10 Santiago Refugees Its Pro-
priety n Question

priety Question
Americas agreement to send home at
her own expense some $1,000 Spanish pris-
oners is of a piece with this countrys
entire course since the war began. II has
been the policy to exercise a broad hu-
manity whenever and wherever compati-
bic with the safety of our soldiers.
Indeed the humanitarian spirit of this
natior. has been carried to excess more
than once and the best interests OF
Yankee soldiers sacrificed. A notable in
stance IS the invitation extended to refu-
gees from Santiago TO enter the Ameri-
can lines.
The belief grows in Administration
circles that serious error of judgment
was made in permitting refugees to leave
Santiago at all. The articles OF war do
not demand that non-combatants be
warned away from a beleaguered city
pending bombardment.
a notification to remove women and
children and men not able to bear arms
is a concession to the enemy and to hu-
manity, which rests entirely within the
discretion of a besieging general.
1t is invariably done when the with
drawal of non-combatants cannot oper-
ate against the army making the assault
That the influx of filthy, half-starved
refugees into the American lines has had
an adverse effect is conceded on all
sides
The Administration admits the only ex-
cuse offered is the statement that hu-
manity cried out for the safety of those
who have no part in the conflict between
America and Spain.
But war is not a philanthropic occupa-
ton Il Is a science which demands that
the nemy be crippled at every point The
suffering of innocence is always a hor-
rible but inevitable incident
If permitting the nOn-combatants to
leave the city at all was an error of
judgment, their welcome into the Amer
lean lines was more than that army Off
GERS say now. 1t was a tactical blunder
which will almost surely cost the Amer
lean army hundreds Of lives.
1t was an invitation to pestilence: a
deliberate hand-clasp with the only en-
emy this country has to fear in the
tropics.
Had Gen Shafter kept the population
of Santiago shut up within its walls he
would no doubt have been able TO make
terms with Toral several days ago.
Advices from Madrid Indicate that the
Sagasta government now regards yellow
fever as its natural ally. Advices from
the front indicate that the Spanish prime
minister's views are we'll grounded.
Ten days ago the health of the army
was comparatively good. Those acquaint-
ed with the Spanish character know too
well that Toral did not overlook the op-
portunity which the refugees afforded
for spreading disease among the enc
mics of his country. That his emissaries
deliberately planted the germs where they
would do American soldiers most harm
cannot be doubted.
The persistent peace talk in certain
American newspapers did not contribute
anything toward the final capture of
Santiago 1t was misunderstood at Ma
drid and probably delayed the surrender
several days. AS soon as Gen. Shafter
announced prema turely, that the city had
fallen, many American newspapers be-
gan at once to discuss the outlook for
peace.
Coupled with these publications came
what purported to be a semi-official an
nouncement that President Mckinley was
ready 10 negotiate on the basis of coal
ing station instead of American soyer-
eighty in the Philippines.
Although there was no truth in this
report it was promptly sent by cable to
Madrid, as were garbled extracts from
American newspapers on the same sub
ject.
The inference drawn at Madrid or at
least the inference, which Madrid af-
fected to draw, was that America is tired
of the war and anxious to make peace
on terms compatible with so-called Span
ish dignity.
This and the outbreak of yellow fever
among American troops stimulated the
waning Spanish courage, and Sagasta
ordered Toral to pursue policy of delay.
Thereupon points We're raised by
Spanish commissioners" and the Ameri-
can army left lying, rain-soaked, in the
muddy trenches around Santiago.
Whichever American newspapers may
do in the future there is not the slightest
danger cf the Administration making
another mistake of this character. This
announcement is given on the best of
authority. From now on the war viii be
| prosecuted precisely as if it Were to be
a war of determination. Peace will not
be considered at all unless Spain di-
rectly sue for It invoking Americas mag
nanimfty not to make terms too hard