Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-08-09
Washingtun STANDARD
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST Q. 1901.
The Passion for Blood.

The Passion for Blood.
II the subjugation OF Spain has re-
suited in the implanting any Of her
horrible customs upon American soil,
it must dctract in some degree from
the glory OK an achievement that has
resulted in advancement of our ma
tiOnal standing a Way power. 1t
may not, however, be due to familiar.
Ky with Castiiian blood, shed in the
late war, that has resulted in the series
OF bullfghts lately inaugurated at
Omaha, but certain it is that the saw
age spirit which has been developed bv
cruelty seen too oft, has made some Of
the people OF that city veritabie Span
iards IN the delight they have mani
tested in witnessing scenes of blood.
The custom implanted, savage cruelty
follows as 4 natural sequence from
cause to effect. When, however, the
enterprise was first matter of public
discussion, the humane people of the
city were naturally somewhat exercised
in mind over the prospect. Not much
more than two years ago, long discus.
slons OF the character of the Spaniard
were had, in which it was argued that
he must be cruel, because he liked
bull fights. There could hardly be so
decided an innovation as bull.fght
on American soil without some COM
motion.
But the bull-fght WAS had, and it
was announced that the performance
would be conducted on humane prin-
ciples, the matadors being armed with
wooden swords, and their object being
to worry the bull, not to kill it.
There would be no danger; there
would be no gore; there would only
be superb display OF strength and
skill. The matadors understood this !;
so did the spectators; the cooperation
OF the bull could not for obvious rea.
sons be secured, but it was thought
that he would come to understand the
rules of the game.
Apparently he did, for the first fight
went off without anybody's being in
jured. The bulls were merely leased
and plagued until they became furious,
and chased and were chased until they
were exhausted. If they had under.
stood the condition of affairs they
would probably have lain placidly
down to chew the cud of content, but
they were puzzled, and when bull is
perplexed his impulse is to charge.
The fights were peaceful enough,
however, and by degrees the box-office
became also very quiet. There were
vast areas OF empty seats and word
went around town that the perform
ance was "slow," and not worth the
price of admission. Then, just as if
the bull understood the trouble OF the
managers, something happened which
changed the entire atmosphere. An
incautious metador was caught on a
pair of agile horns and tossed skyward
to height Of many feet, coming down
With thump that resulted in several
broken ribs, besides chest lacerated
by the bulls natural weapons. They
had not taken the precaution to re-
place these with wood and pad them
with cotton. They never do. 1t is
not customary in bull fights.
The next day several thousand peo-
pie witnessed the performance, and
then there was no more popular enter.
tainment in Omaha. There are PEG.
pie enough in almost any large city to
fill an amphitheater where horrible
risk is to be taken, and the greater the
risk the better they like it. The man.
ayers would have had no trouble in
making their entertainment pay from
the beginning if they had announced
danger, death and mutilation as part
Of it. When it became apparent that
even if the bulls were not hurt, q man
was likely to be killed or crippled,
then there were plenty OF spectators.
The question is whether it is wise to
encourage that sort of audience in that
sort o! emotions.
The sight OF blood is strangely ex.
hilerating to some natures. II seems
to have gruesome fascination. The
amusement OF watching cruel sport
is one which rapidly begets the passion
for cruelty. The people who to-day
demand the torture or death of an an.
imal will tomorrow witness with .
curious, shivery sort of delight the
perilous feats of man, and their de-
light will not be lessened If the man
makes misstep, or fails of quickness
in vision, and becomes q shapeless,
bleeding mass. It is not far from de-
light in the witnessing of scenes of
blood to actual participation in them.
The mob bowling to-day over q bull.
fight may tomorrow be bowling over
the lynching OF man or the mauling
of some inoffensive person against
whom the hue and cry happens to
have been raised. 1t is not safe to
arouse this spirit Of the wild beast in
the human breast. 1t is not safe to
feed, to coddle and to encourage it.
1t should be left in quietude, sluggish
and ill-nourished, and then. perhaps,
in times OF need, the conscience or the
will may be able to restrain it.
J. Ham. LEWIS, having been in
continently "sat down upon" by