Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-16

II is presumably not unfair to judge
Of nations moral level by the kind
Of amusements that are most popular
with all classes. BY this rule Span
iards do not appear In a particularly
favorable light. From the city of
Mexico comes q report of the way in
which Easter Sunday was celebrated
in truly Spanish fashion. The event
had gathered 5000 spectators, among
whom were many women, and the
great attraction was a savage fight
between bull and two African lions.
one Hon had killed his trainer a few
days before and had been starved for
a week to bring him up to the right
pitch of ferocity The bull lifted this
| one, II is stated. on its horns at the
first onset and threw him against the
bars with such force as to knock the
breath and fight clear out of him.
Then the other lion was brought and
gored SO that he was taken from the
ring In a dying condition. Then the
governor stopped the fighting. The
brilliant crowd had had their moneys
worth of gore on a day set apart for
the celebration of the resurrection OF
the Prince of Peace.
At Madrid. too. the day was celebrat-
ed similarly. The duke OF Veragun
had provided one of his finest animals
for the spectacular show. The dis
patches, probably edited by vigilant
censors. do not mention the details Of
the fight but 1t Is safe conclusion
taht enough blood, animal and human.
was drawn to satisfy the patriotic au-
dience that in this way donated funds
for the national defense.
The hold this brutal sport has upon
the nation may be judged from the in
come of famous bull-killers. Magzan-
TIM. one Of the most popular of these,
earned 100000 pesetas last year. II Is
| said. or over $4,000. He participated
In &C fights and killed 1853 bulls. An
other torero. Reverte, took part in II
fights during the year. killed 100 bulls
and earned 27G,o00 pesetas. or s55.2O0.
Such men stand next to royalty itself
In the popular mind. 1t is to he noted
that no lecturer. no actor or orator APP
proach In popularity these men who
merely amuse the people by shedding
blood.
From the early ages the Roman ex-
hlbitions OF gladiatorial combnts were
justly condemned by Christians. Yet
II may be questioned whether these
were more brutallzing In their effects
than the modern combats between
beasts. or between man and beasts.
For the gladiators 1t can at least be
said that In many cases they entered
the arena voluntarily and fought for
fame or more substantial rewards
while the brutes are always forced to
fight against their own inclination. a
nation that delights In such sport can
not but feel its effects. It blunts the
sensibility to human suffering and
breeds disregard FOR the sanctity of
human life; 1t makes men and women
insensible to the misery of others. and
accounts sufficiently for the war
tactics OF a Weyler and the indifference
with which his policy is regarded at
home. But 1t also furnishes another
ground on which. in the name OF civ
ilization. the exploits Of bull-fightine
nation should be confined to narrower
| limits. "A nation on the moral level of
Rome before Its fall is not In position
to pose in the ranks of the ruling ma
lions of the nineteenth century. Hell
every effort should be strained to eff
feet radical reform at home.