The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-25
SOLDIERS At CHURCH
Continued from Fifth Page.)

! RACES ii bulgaria were HOIIalIS LhS liz
outrages Of Spain in Cuba, nor was a
fourth part of the population starved to
! death, slain by diseases or deliberately
murdered by political assassins as has
| been in Cuba. And none Of the European
! countries were compelled to spend mill
| ion and half year to patrol its coast
or frontiers against sympathetic expedi-
lions for the aid OF insurgents. The
armed Intervention Of the powers in Crete
| need not be mentioned-lt is too recent.
And none Of these intervening powers
were so deeply interested in the welfare
OF Crete or Bulgaria on account Of large
interests or trading enterprises as we
are In the island of Cuba
What do you think Of Spain as a coun-
try? The Spain of today is the legitimate
and natural offspring of the Spain of yes
terday. In the latter part of the seven
tenth century, when other nations pushed
out into the open country Of free thought,
free conscience and freedom Of action,
Spain, holding to an effete faith and hide
bound forms and traditions. became reac-
ionary and hrew herself across the adj
vance movements and in a few years
committed intellectual and spiritual sui
eide. Span's earliest aims were to OPP
pose and destroy the elements of progress
and to crush the people who thought of
freedom or liberty in any direction. The
poverty Of Spain is her want OF light
of all that is good or great or noble. Three
fourth of the population Of Spain can
neither read nor write, while this country
has nearly four hundred thousand school
N psal Tov
tional purposes and has 100000 of our
children in these schools. Can we not
see the divine retribution in the history
of the Spanish empire? For centuries she
has been sowing the wind and must soon
reap the storm. Some nations, like indi-
viduals, never seem to learn by expert
ence. God rules this world. He sits above
the nations. Though He conducts His
administration by natural laws, the GER
tainty Of results are not diminished. Sci
ence emphasizes the reign of law and the
history of nations clearly exhibit the
grounds and methods of Gods moral
government through that law. Obedience
to the laws of virtue, honor, justice and
goodness brings rewards to nations and
individuals. Transgression is linked with
penalties. But an individuals life is
brief, while the nations downward career
may cover generations. The whole his
tory of Spain is a record of broken faith |
treachery, plumber and double dealing. |
No country on earth has made such an |
outward pretense or religion without the |
merest conception of it in life and prac-
tice. Spain was the only country that |
welcomed the inQuisition and perfected |
that most holy office. and by stake and |
rack exterminated thousands of her best |
subjects. For over three hundred years |
the so-called loyal men and women of
spain-the alleged flower of Spanish chiv-
alry-were entertained in the balconies
the Plaza Mayor in Madrid
by elaborate exhibitions of burning and
torturing the victims of those most holy
inquisitors. The bloodthirstiness of the
Duke of Alva at one time condemned to
death every inhabitant of the Netherlands
except few named by royal favor. And
in this respect, as in many others, the
present Weyler is his counterpart. IF the
few Dutch states could hold at bay and
finally defeat the military strength of the
mightiest empire Of the world, Cuba ought
tag end of Spanish power To fight with
Spain is to fight in the dark-to be pre-
pared for treachery and the dagger at
any moment. When William of Orange
could not be defeated, Philip struck him
down in the dark with the dagger of a
hired assassin. When the streets of Paris
reeked with blood on St. Bartholomew
day and the wyhole world stood aghast,
there was joy at Madrid. Philip II. cele-
brated the massacre with ghoulsh giee.
Spain's seventeenth century is a history
Of crowned idiocy and madness. Spain
boasts of enthusiastic loyalty and great
faith but in ordinary common judgment
and practical virtue, she seems utterly
lacking Contact with Spain seems to
have carried evil and contamination.
What country has Spain ever touched to
bless? For centuries Spain has been dig
5ing her grave and preparing for her own
1bseques. Her first appearance on this
continent was with broken contracts and
reachery toward Columbus. England
has never lost a colony but one-our own
country. Wherever England goes. civil
cation, peace and liberty follow. Wher-
ever Spain has gone bigotry, oppression.
capacity and death have followed! Spain
has brought her own destruction. Once
favored of God she spurned her opportu-
mites and privileges! And what a pitia-
Die object she is today. Gods wrath fell
lpcn Babylon. Ephesus. Greece, Rome
and the nations of the East STEPPED in
svil and luxury and Spain is the modern
Illustration OF the woe of that nation
which persistently defies Gods laws and
One by one her colonies
lave fallen away. The treasure ships Of
he west vii no longer fill her Golfers. Her
-ery memory is blight on this western
and on the islands where once
Ter saffron flag proudly hoated Spain
trove for empire merely from greed for
yold and TO plumber and pillage her toll
ng subjects, Now she has sunk so low
hat she is refused credit by her sister
nonarchies. Once the escorial contained
he art and riches Of Europe: now the
treasures are gone. The grand palace is
Intenan;ed and only signs and memories
,luster about it! The logic of events, the
curse OF natural law, the testimony OF
he worlds great empires conclusively
demonstrate SPANS ultimate defeat and
,uba's coming independence
- God reigns and justice and Judgment
ire the habitaa;ion Of HIS throne" And !
whether this nation shall be used as the
ivenging sword Of God or not. Cuba VIII |
,e free, Peace Is good and sweet. but
lot at any price. Not when Il must play
he part Of Levite-the coward part {
md sneak by on the other side. Il we're !
'etter far TO paralyze the business Of Wall /
treet than paralyze our national honor
nd life! It were better 20 hear the sound ,