Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-08-31
THE REAL ISSUE IN SPAIN.

no refernce OF our Henderson Daily
Dispatch. The Dispatch, as far as I
can see after ten months of residence
In Henderson, is certainly fair and
honest, in policy and in practice,
without undue regard for person or
station, as newspapers should be. In
fact, l am convinced that we have
more than the usual amount Of real
character and fairness in our local
editorial staff. And I entertain the
slncerest esteem for our editor and
the entire newspaper staff.
But L cannot say this much for the
syndicated articles of Associated
Press reporters. Whether some of
these men are bought up" or are
afraid of Communist oppression, or
just downright deceivers, or whether
possibly they are unwilling to, or in
capable of, grasping the Spanish sit
uation, I am unable to ascertain. The
| fact is, the Associated Press is max
ing, all over the country, one grand
muddle of the Spanish issue by it's un-
happy use of the words rebels, F'as-
cists, and loYalists. Also the develop
ments are so narrated as to invite
sympathy for the Russian Commun-
lists who are in power. People read
newspapers to learn the current facts
and events. If Associated Press can
not get the facts, Associated Press
ought to Quit.
What was during the war the Ma
tional Catholic War Council (NCWC)
has since been functioning as the
National Catholic Welfare Council
This vast organization has its news
| service headquarters in Washington.
Relayed to Paris from Spain and
| cabled from the French capital, it
| gives uncensOred information, first
hand, of conditions in those areas in
Spain visited by the killing of the
clergy and of the nuns, church burn
| ings and other barbarities that have
! accompanied the strife between the
forces of the Leftist government and
the insurgents. Much of this informa-
ton is confirmed by refugees arriv-
| ing in Paris, London, and the Vatican
City
A brief review of the situation is
| this. "The shocking assassination of
Jose CalWo Sdtelo, Rightist leader
and man of strength and popularity
! ignited the dynamite. Since the cleo
ton victory of the popular front last
February there has been widespread
and continuous disorder in the coun-
try" Thousands have been jailed, or
killed, and hundreds of churches de-
stroyed. The government has been
between two fires. Some of the lead
ers preferred a middle course, but
| others, particularly Communists, pre-
| ferred a class war. The latter had
materially helped to make February's
victory possible. The result was that
when the campaign of destruction
started, last March, the government
did nothing about it for fear of dis
pleasing the Communists "The con-
servatives, friends of law and order
and the common people, were appal-
led at the excuses. The army, which
was literally spat upon by the Reds
when it sought to enforce the coun-
| try's laws and the peoples rights;
was enraged.'
"The forces of the Revolution I'M
der the direction of General Franco,
representing the Spanish Army, have
| taken over most of the south of the
| country, a section of the north, and
| are heading for Madrid. The Com
munist Noyalist) forces, which re-
| present a large part of labor, have
been enraged by the turn. Of events,
| and once more the Church is made
| what Americans call the goat"
! We think this. clears a little diff
| ficult political situation. Those whom
j Associated Press calls the rebels are
the rightful Spanish people, and they
are led by the rightful head of the
| Spanish Army. General Franco. Those
whom Associated Press calls Loyalists
are the Russian Communists And
| here are few of the atrocities of the
| Russian Communistic "Loyalists" re-
Gently perpetrated: The Reds have
murdered, Jailed, confiscated, and in
| Inundated. On July 18th a decree was
issued by the Communistic Ministry
/ of Education, authorizing all COVER
nors and mayors, of every province
and city in Spain, to confiscate all
buildings, and also all scientific and
teaching equipment belonging to re-
ligious orders. Spanish refugees in
Portugal affirm that some hundred
| priests and religious (Nuns) were
massacred at Badajoz In the pro-
vince of Badajoz, to the tune of Com
munlstic songs, church in which
| rebels had taken refuge, was burned,
| and practically all that was left of
the rebels were the charred bodies"
! Report was received by the N. G. w.
| c., that the beautiful cathedral Of
Seville has been destroyed Also that
three Jesuit Priests were beheaded in
Barcelona, and Priests and Nuns at
| tackled mortally. Arthur Brisbane re-
ports that the bodies of Nuns were
dug up from graves, and posted in
the streets, with horrible inscriptions
attached. Still worse, says he, there
| were Nuns dragged into the street,
covered with gasoline, and set fire to,
alive. He reports conditions and
atrocities worse than those of the
World War" 1t is Communistic
hatred for Christ and for the Church.
p! as well as against orderly govern
ment., Some of these infidel leaders
should peep into history and see that
the Church grows and increases
with every struggle. She is the Cru
Gifted One enthroned. Heaven and
| earth shall pass away, but My words |
shall not pass away" An early Church |
historian wisely remarked what he !