Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-20
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The Other Side.

flushed with an unbroken series Of
overwhelming victories, do not fully
realize this fact. We see only the
triumph and the rejoicing, the glory Of
our flag waving where the flag of the
enemy has waved for centuries but
will never wave again. We mourn
with overlooking hearts the loss of the
brave men who have made our vic
tories possible, but there is the blessed
consciousness that they have not died
in vain, and that redeemed and puri-
fled land will be their enduring monu-
ment.
But what of the other side? What
OF the war as seen by our enemy over
the sea? We know that Spain is pay
ing the inevitable penalty of centuries
of oppression and glazing misrule in
her colonies. The seeds of ignorance
and cruelty are bringing forth their I'M
failing harvest. We know that the
fleets and armies of America are wag-
ing the war OF liberty. serving the
cause of humanity, bearing the torch
of civilization, leading the van OF
progress. But what of the war as seen
in Spain? We little realize what it all
means there. While We rejoice over
great naval victories, Won without the
loss of a man they mourn over the
utter destruction of magnificent fleets
with many hundreds of brave men
killed and many hundreds more i'm
prisoned thousands of miles from
home There is bitter grief. all the
more crushing that the people re-
garded their navy as invincble. As
to the ruling men of Spain, those in
charge of conducting the war, they
know We'll that Spain is in the wrong
and that its cause is perfectly hopeless.
They know that justice is with their
foe and that the loss of their colonies
is deserved. But With the pride of an
old and once powerful race they sui
lenly continue the war, determined to
make the victory as dear to us as pos
sible, and on account of their cor
ruption and misrule fearing their own
people almost as much as their for-
egn foes. But think of the terrible
experience of the Queen, a good.
motherly woman, Spanish only becaus,.
her husband was a Spanish King.
Think of the boy King, too young 70
understand what it is all about, but
old enough to know that his kingdom is
rent by war and suffering the agonias
of defeat, and that his rich colonies,
through no fault of his own, are bein.
torn from him. We are too apt, be-
| cause We are only human, to think of
| the war only as it is seen in Washing
ton, the capital Of rich and happy
country which is victorious ON land and
sea, and moving resistlessly forward
into fields of greater prosperity and
enlarged opportunities. 1t does 40
harm and viii make us broader and
better to dwell occasionally upon the
Spanish point of view and the condi-
tons in Madrid, the capital of a decay
ing old monarchy, poor and corrupt.
heart broken by crushing defeat, and
sustained only by the proud memories
of ancient grandeur.
Yes, there is another side, and to
the thoughtful mind a great victory is
almost as awful as great defeat w
gain while the other loses; we cheer
while the other sobs. OF course in tbs
condition and point of view of the tive
nations as governments there is but
little on the Spanish side to appeal tc
us or soften US, but what of the othc:
side as seen by the great mass of the
Spanish people? What of the ignorant
tax burdened millions all over Spain
grossly deceived as to the cause am
progress of the war, who suffer an
mutely wonder why? They are told OF
Victories, but they are learning thai
they have been lied to, and now tn,
fear of bombarding fleets and even in.
Vading armies is chilling their hearts
What of the mothers of Spain whose
sons, mere boys, have been conscriptee
by scores Of thousands and hurried
away to fight hopeless war beyone
the ocean? The heart of the mother i.
the same. whatever the raca or cline
and We can imagine the Soul-rackina
burden of grief that lies over palace
ana hovel, as they hear of the awfu
devastation made in the Spanish rank.
by disease and defeat The Spaniari:
whom We Stay and imprison hav,
mothers, fathers and sisters. as Well a,
our own brave boys. And the Spanish
sWeo,hearts, what of them? What o
. the thousands of dark eyed senorita;
IN Madrid. Cadiz, Barcelona and Sevill
whose hearts are heavy with fear tina
the loved one viii never come back t,
their arms? Ay, there is another sid
to the war, and the little Spanish king.
dom is realizing hts horrors many time
l more keenly than IFS oraot Anoor;oo,