New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-08
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In the light of the complete failure
of the German propaganda in the United
States during the past winter, it is astonish-
ing. perhaps, to the average American that
Srain should be-in very large proportion
of German sympathies
Aside from republican sympathizers and
socialists in the cities throughout Spain-and
particularly in Barcelona and Valencia-there
~, MANY VINO are convinced by reason or
.ympnthy Of the righteousness OF the cause
n the Allies. This must be said in justice
20 the Spanish people. II remains neverthe-
less true that Spain as a whole is avowedly
rro- German. The explanation of this stand
Is rather complex than simple, but as the
POSITION of the only large country in Western
Europe at peace to-day it should be OF IN
terest
Perhaps nothing is more difficult to COM
prehend, for one whose early life was spent
IN the United States. than the fundamental
point of view Of the Spanish mind. We read
If Spanish politeness, of Spanish laziness;
but the point of view-of which these are
hut the external signs Sis something not so
simple or easy to understand. To remind
ourselves of few differences in institutions
between the United States and Spain should
Lelp us TO picture the environment of the
Spaniard.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals does not exist in Spain-and by
he nature of things could not. man who
is an expert at torturing bull-for example
is approximately the same type of national
hero in Spain that Mr.. Mathewson of base
ball fame is in the United States. The Y NJ.
C. A., FOR obvious reasons, is not only non
existent in Spain, but unknown, even 10 the
reasonably we'll educated. The thrashing
r,achine is not known to the average farmer;
grain is still separated from the stalk by the
feet of burros walking in circle. MIX
wagons are replaced by herds of goats IN
mcst Spanish cities. As last example,
armed soldiers guard every railroad station
in the country-as a protection against
thieves in ruyal districts and TO maintain
order at the larger termni.
As a consequence of these few examples 1t
- easily seen that a disregard Of suffering Is
national trait. An admiration of what we
know as "hard Uniting Christianity" is the
most fantastic of things-impossible to the
Spanish mind. The refusal TO accept new
devices, whose value is at once apparent to
The English, German, French and Scandna-
wan, is another race trait Needless to say,
invention of mechanical nature is uncom-
mon.
With regard to the goat-milk wagon con-
trast, it may be said in passing. that cleanli-
ess in Spain is rather a diversion of the
Few than virtue of the many. The presence
If soldiers at railway stations appears to the
student as bearing closer relation to the
politeness of the people than would at first
be suspected
With these few examples at hand, it is
somewhat easier to explain the superficial
CT collective" point of view of the Spanish
.ype. Most of the institutions and virtues"
Of which we in the United States are proud
are the external evidences of an "introspec-
tive" point of view. That is point OF view
which causes US to consider ourselves as
apart from the things which we see, hear
and taste. The lack of these institutions in
Spain, and the consequent presence of others.
would seem to be the proof of an absence of
:ntrospection-and consequent presence"
e superticiality.
For instance, it is just as amusing, il we
would but admit it, for an American as for a
Spaniard TO watch a maddened bull try to