The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-23
THE MERRIMAC's CREW.

THE HERRIMAC'S CREW.
The refusal of Spain to exchange the
Merrimac's crew is a piece of Spanish
barbarity. There is absolutely no mill
tary reason why those gallant men
should not be returned to us at once, In
exchange for an equal number OF
Spaniards of like rank. That would
be in accordance with the laws OF
civilized warfare all over the world.
They have done nothing deserving the
punishment Spain is melting out to
them. They were engaged in per-
fectly legitimate act of warfare when
they fell into the Spanish hands. They
had done nothing more than military
duty, but had done it with gallantry
that drew the applause of the civilized
world.
The malignant, barbarous spirit Of
Spanish revenge wants to make them
suffer all that men can be made to suf-
fer. If the Spanish Government dared
it would goad them to death in a bull
ring, in the midst of thousands of cheer
ing spectators, as bulls are goaded to
death, as the insurgent leaders have
been executed in the Philippines, or as
the 1nquisition formerly tortured its
victims. The only reason that this is
not done is that the whole of Europe is
now looking ON.
In spite of Admiral Cervera's gush
at first, there is too much reason to fear
that those gallant men are suffering all
the horrors of Spanish prisons. We got
some idea Of what that means from the
revelations of the Habana prisons, just
before the declaration of war. We are
allowed to hear nothing from them,
which argues for the worst. Civilized
nations allow their prisoners of war to
write freely inside of certain bounds i'm
posed by the conditions of war. That
Lieut.. Hobson and his companions are
not allowed to SO much as send mes
sage that they are alive and well gives
basis for the gloomiest forebodings.
1t Is said that Admiral Sampson has
informed Admiral Cervera that he will
be held personally responsible for the
treatment of the prisoners, and it is
asserted that the President of the United
States has even caused a similar com.
munication to be made to the Spanish
authorities. While this would be eff
cacious with civilized power-while it
would not be for an instant necessary if
we were at war with England, Germany,
or France-it is doubtful if it will serve
with the Spaniards. They are crafty in
their cowardly malignity. They know
that, no matter what we may say or
threaten, we could not bring our
selves to retaliate in kind for the cruel
ties that they practice. They may do
as they did with DR.. Ruiz and other
Cuban gentlemen-torture their un-
happy prisoners to death, and then come
to us afterward with palaver of ex-
cuses and regrets and blame upon some
guilty underlings, who cannot be found
or punished.
We are dealing with a foe entirely
without honor, truth, or civilization.
We could trust Apaches or Comanches
better than the bombastic Spaniard, and
if Lieut. Hobson and his companions
come out safe and we'll from the clutches
of their jailors, it will be more wonder
ful escape than that from death at the
mouths of the guns defending the en-
trance to the harbor of Santiago.
The list of the Spanish vessels which
sailed past Gibraltar is about as long as
that of the King of SPANS titles, and