Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-19
ihat Spanish Sympathy Resolution.

i' the Editor of The Evening Star:
1t was reported in the papers that a res
olution of sympathy with Queen Christina
and the Spanish mothers was offered in
the committee on resolutions of the Ma
lonal Congl ess of Mothers. 1t failed 20
pass, and it was we'll that it did; 1t would
have been a very unwise and unfortunate
move for the congress to have passed such
a resolution, which would surely have
alienated the sympathies of all patriotic
men and women. To be consistent, its
movers should have offered a resolution of
sympathy for the Turkish women whose
sons were killed after the massacres in
Armenia and Crete, and should have ap
proved Of one that might have been Of
fered for Sitting Bulls mother and the
other Indian squaws after the Custer mas
sacre, or for the English mothers during
The American revolution. Then there are
the mothers of the Fiji Islanders. and the
savages of the wilds OF Africa, and the
pirates of Morocco and BorneO, and all
other cannibaIs and saughterers of mis-
ssonaries; while they are about it, they
might well extend their sympathies to
them also, and deprecate the Darbarities
of war against their sons.
Such maudlin sentiment is on a par with
the gush poured cut over murderers and
marauders. If Queen Christiana had ever
expressed any sympathy for American
mOtheIS, therG might De SOME eACuSe ioI
it; but we have never heard that any other
than official and perfunctory expressions
of sympathy were made by her. And how
about her liberation of the massacre and
starvation of pac,ficos, and of the torture
and murder of political prisoners in CUBA
and at the fortress of Monjuch in Spain?
Is the preservation of a corrupt dynasty
and the care of one mother for her son
interests of so great value that holocaust
of unnumbered innocent victims should be
fn, ,Iati
is somewhat absurd for us to be declaring
for the brotherhood of man without max
ing any exception, while some people are
most unbrotherly in their conduct toward
us 1t may be said that, when we are smit-
ten on one cheek we should turn the other
cheek to the smter; but any nation that
followed that Christian precept literally
would fall below contempt and soon be
wiped off the face of the earth. The
American people have declared for war, in
their estimation a righteous war; to eX-
press sympathy for Spanish mothers would
be tantamount to expressing condemnation
of our soldiers and sailors who may kill
the Spanish sons, and of our government
and people that order them to do it.
The advocates of peace may, as we do.
regret the necessity for war; but they
should not let their intense desire for
peace lead them into condoning, much less
into tacitly approving, the conduct of those
who, by their treachery, lust and blood
thirstiness and by their insulting and con-
lemDtuOuS dHTOntS 10 our people ana nag,
have brought down upon themselves the
punishment they deserve for their wrongs
and atrocities. When Spains overweening
self-satisfaction and pride shall have been
lowered: when she shall have been taught
the bitter lesson that the United States and
their flag cannot be insulted with impunity;
when she shall have expressed contrtion
for her sins of omission and commission,
We may then with propriety pass resolu-
tons of sympathy with Spanish women.
At the present time, however they are not
only in bad taste. but indirectly reflect
upon the American and Cuban mothers
whose sons may have brought mourning
and desolation to Spanish households, in
compulsory requital of their own injuries
How can we approve of the heroic exploits
of Commodore Dewey and his gallant men.
and at the same time sympathize with the
mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of
those enemies of his, who would. IL it were
in their power, burn him alive and torture
and assassinate every American soldier?
1t Is all~very well to believe abstractly in
the brotherhood Of man, but there cannot
be genuine brotherhood unless 1t is recin-
rocal, and 1t will scarcely be claimed by
even the most optimistic of peace advo-
Gates that the people of Spain have any
fraternal sentiments or commission for
Americans any moro than for the neonIe
of her colonies who have rebelled against
her exactions and expressions.
May Is, 1898. Lillian PIKE.