The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-09
WAR WITHOUT HATRED.
Even Our Enemies Bear Testimony
TO Our Fair Treatment.

Hatred is one of the chief evils OF
war. After the lighting and killing ana
suffering are all ended International
animosities remain. Perhaps for gen.
erations they are potent 10 sway the
popular mind. Thus. the wrongs OF the
Napoleonic wars still ranked In the
Prussian mind down 10 their venge-
ment of 1871. Today the Terrible Year
is still prolific source OF Gallic hatred
OF the Teuton. Our own country sup
plies other examples. In the early part
ward Great Britain that well-nigh
amounted To hatred. and even I'm these
latter days men have sought-dastardly
enough, but not always altogether In vain
to revive that abhorrent passion,
Nor did our civil war pass away with
out leaving animosities which 1t took
"whff OF grapeshot' In another war
wholly TO dissipate. There was moth
ing of which we were more frequently
or more austerely warned last spring
than that In taking up Spains gage of
battle we should be entailing upon this
nation hatreds that would become her
editary.
Yet. today. how empty that warning
appears! Every judicious American
knew, of course, that we were enteringin-
to q war without hatred OF Spain, despite
some wild and passionate utterances..
That the fact would be recognized
abroad. and above all In Spain, was an
other thing. scarcely TO be hoped for.
or tod 10 nj
finer tribute could be paid to this ma
tions motives and conduct and senti
ments in the war than has been paid
by our own antagonists. The gallant
and knightly Cervera declares for him
self that he will take with him back
| TO Spain only the kindest remem-
| brances OF the American people. and he
| believes none of his countrymen, save.
| perhaps. an ignorant and passion-blind
| few. will continue to hate this country
| Com. Cavanilla expresses like senti-
| ments, and believes that after the Is
| sues of the war are settled the United
| States and Spain will become friends
| Most impressive OF all and entirely
| UNIQUE is the testimony OF the common
soldiers of the Spanish army, as ex-
/ pressed through their spokesman. Ped
| ro Lopez de Castillo. private OF infan'
\ try; 1--WE fought you without yancoi
4 or hate" they say" We have been van
| quished by you. but have I'm our Souls nc
| place for resentment. You fought ane
| acted in compliance with the same cal
| of duty as we. You fought us face tt
face with great courage. You have hon.
ored us with distinction and courtesy
And they add the testimony that We
J fought according TO the call OF con
science. under the demand of civilizd'
tion and humanity.
Such tributes are most grateful. They
are a lasting and crushing rebuke tt
the malignant ratings or Weyler ane
| his like. and of those miscalled Ameri
cans who can see nothing in our con
duct but hatred and sordid .felf-seeking
We are glad TO believe thatwhat thes'
| men have said. from SPANS 8 greatest ad
| miral down to the humblest private II
the ranks OF her vanquished army. J;
not only exactly true. but will be recog
nized as true by the mass of the Span
ish people, and will be recorded as tru'
in the ultimate history of these times
| m " Tribune