| Show SPANISH characteristics the spanish are a peculiar race the better classes have almost a monopoly of the education existing among the people and when on terms of peace with all mankind they axe are affable and hospitable all this seems to be set aside and count for naught there is a fight going on and it does not matter much whether it be one of those brutal and degrading spectacles known as a bull fight or a death struggle with a foreign power either event appeals to that portion of the spanish that is utterly irrepressible a fondness for savagery this as previously suggested leads the upper grades of spanish society as much as the canaille to overlook if not actually to trample upon the amenities which elsewhere obtain among civilized people even iames badiea of high station attend and enjoy bullfighting so eo do children of all ages and conditions and out of such a state of come affairs a great great deal of good cannot captain general blanco who is and for a short time longer will be the chief executive functionary of the island of cuba is a striking case in point before war had been definitely decided upon he and general lee used to visit each other in quite an unconventional vent ional manner and enjoy such occasions as much as though they were not officials at all but the best beat kind of old friends the declaration of war made no difference to the american so far as personal feelings were concerned but it was not so with the spaniard the te consul went to the captain generals palace as he was leaving in order to shake hands and say goodbye good bye but all traces of gentility and good breeding had vanished from the tatters code of etiquette and he boorishly sent word to the general that he was too busy to see him As the general made his way to the landing to embark for home he made the remark that he thought blanco would have more time at his disposal the next time he called and assuredly such will be the case this incident illustrates one phase of the spanish character spoken of another is shown in blanchi Blan coi latest freak regarding flags of truce the white flag in all ages and all laces except where barbarism has sway has been treated with the utmost respect this not only as a token of a temporary suspension of hostilities in order that negotiations may be carried out but because of the signal which it conveys to an enemy that he is no longer opposed blanco proposes to set this aside entire IS and restore the code barbaric by fir ing on all craft coming within six miles of his defenses whether such 1 craft bear the united states flag or a 1 white one in this he shows himself to toa be a true spaniard not only because of the savagery of his nature which the promulgation of such an order discloses but because of the lack of judgment and forethought which are thera by exhibited if the captain general were less spanish and more saxon he would not permit his fevered blood and vexed spirit to control his judgment so completely as not to consider the other oth side in the game he be to is playing or P pro posing to play there are two gilr ties to this conflict and he represents but one of them represents it very poorly too has he never studied over or does he utterly disregard the rules of war which make justifiable a departure from recognized methods when the other side has already taken such departure furthermore it ought to percolate through his mentality and perhaps would if he were not in so perturbed a condition throughout that the aggressor in such a proceeding that is the one making the first breach takes upon himself all the odium for what either may do pursuant thereto a very unpleasant unprofitable position to occupy such instances are abundant at cavite after a white flag had been raised and the americans immediately stopped firing which procedure blanco proposes to overturn two men from deweys deleys fleet were sent ashore to arrange the terms of surrender or oh reaching the commandant they wert doubtless greatly surprised to learn that the flag had no reference to a surrender but was simply to effect a cessation of hostilities till the women and children could be removed to a place of safety the question was asked why the women and children had not been previously removed and the reply was given that there was not sufficient time then came the yankee question which completely spiked tha jhb spanish verbal gun gull if you wanted time why did you begin the firing being notified that but two hours were granted in which to sign papers and turn over effects matters took a more businesslike business like ilke turn the documents were poon oon executed one pr provision being that all the spanish forces were to stack their arms and turn them over to the victors and themselves be pa while the commissioners were on their way back to the ships with the terms of capitulation the SI spanish anish soldiers slipped off to manila taking their rifles with them you can trusts trust some onte spaniards no doubt but if your country Is at war with theirs you might as well keep your yes eyes open while they are around |
