The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-07-20
A Hero of Santiago.

From the New York Tribune.
There are those, forgetful or unheed-
ing, who look upon Spain in her decay
and wonder at her former greatness
How, they ask, could the country Of
Weyler and Don Carlos ever have been
create How could nation so shiftless
and impractical, 50 unprepared and 50
incapable Of preparation for war, have
dominated all the world save one or
two outlying islands? How could those
who cannot retain a single colony once
have held an empire on hieh the sun
never set ? They ask unwisely who ask
these things, but they are not without
their answer. 1t comes to them from
amid the smoke and flames and the
earthquake shock Of one of the most
tremendous naval battles-we speak
advisedly-the world has ever seen.
It comes 70 them from the wreck-strewn
beach of Santiago province. 1t bears
the form and utters the sound of a sin
gle familiar name-Cervera.
The nation that could produce that
man could produce wOrld-eonquerOrs.
Let there he no mistake about that.
He was our foe. But to our foes as well
as TO our friends it behoOves US TO be
just. And simple justice requires it TO
be said that Admiral Cervera in his
sortie from Santiago bay displayed a
heroism of which the bravest nation in
the world might well be proud. You
may say it was madness No doubt it
was. But it was studied and method
ical madness, and it was magnificent.
There was in il touch, and something
more than a touch, of the old Spartan
spirit remembered by every one who,
AS a schOOlbOy, declaimed the address
Of Spartacus to the gladiatOrs IF we
must die, let il be under the clear sky,
by the bright water, in noble, honor
able battle" That was Cervera's choice.
He might have stayed in the harbor and
been killed or captured like a rat in a
trap. He might have blown up his
ships where they lay, to prevent their
falling into our hands But he prefer
red course al once more perilOus and
more emagnanimous. He came rushing
Out Of his lair in full daylight, and
hurled himself against the barrier of
steel and fire that hemmed him in, to
cnt his way through if possible, at any
rate to take a life and destroy a ship
for every one he gave. That he did
neither was not his fault Had his
government given him as good coal as
our ships had, at least one Of his ships
might have escaped. Had it permitted
him to drill his men in Workmanship
as ours are drilled, we might to-day be
iamenting ships lost and lives destroy
ed. But it did not He could fight
Americans, but he could not conquer
the politicians Of Madrid.
He is not well advised who reckons
that Spaniards are towards Some may
be, as some are in every land. But
there are as brave men under the flag
of Blood aud Gold as under the Stars
and Stripes. 1t was a distinguished
American, now Ambassador at the
Court Of st. James, who wrote:
Land Of uneonquered Peiayo. land OF the Old
CampeadOr.
sea-girdled mother OF men spain, name OF
glory and power;
Cradle OF wOrld-srasping EmPerors, grave OF
the-rsekless invader,
How art thou fallen. my spain how art
thou sunk al this hour,
His characterization was correct. The
nation As a nation is fallen. Corruption
and decay have fastened their fatal
fangs upon its vitals. For il, as Spain,
there remains little hope. But indi-
vidual Spaniards are still here and there
worthy Of the mighty names Of the
past, their virtues shining the more
brilliantly amid the gloom that settles
upon their fatherland. And conspic-
uOus among these we may well rank
Cervera, the willy strategist, the gener-
Gus victor, the daring, valiant fighter
in the last extremity, preferring 10
share the fortunes of his least efficient
ship if thus his splendid flagship might
| speed ahead to safety, and the victim
at last not only Of superior force, but
also OF the hopeless ineapaeity Of his
own government. So he was vanquish-
ed, but he made in his defeat a place
for his name high on the worlds roll
heroes.