| Show LET GO 00 the suggestion of a that admiral cervera be given perfect freedom so far as the united states Is concerned to Is proper just and humane it would also be politic poli tio this to Is a war prolific in object lessons lemons out of all of which chic the Ae american rican character has shown the more brightly by reason of its somber surroundings and nothing in this line could be more beneficial to the people of the old world than such a spectacle of openhanded open handed whole generosity to a fallen toe foe as the action suggested besides cervera has shown himself worthy of exceptional treatment having acted throughout in an exceptional way the story of his treatment of the young captives from sampsons Samp sons fleet is in rife in every household in the land and while nothing more than any of our commanders would do under similar circumstances cum stances is not what we have had cause to look for from spanish sources he has also endeavored to conduct his part of the war in full accordance with the rules of civilized countries and a due regard for the claims of a common humanity in n which respect alone he presents such a striking contrast to men of the weyler and even blanco bianco class that it looks as if he belonged to a different race altogether there is in another case meriting consideration the hero of that affecting dramatic incident on captain darks clarks ship the oregon as depleted depicted by the captain himself I 1 in the ashes of the me humiliation of defeat and smarting with physical as well as mental pain when brought upon the deck of the american ship the spaniard saluted with regal grace and then ling his sword taking it from his person and holding it reverently before him he kissed the hilt while tears tell from his eyes and handed the weapon to captain dark clark it would have beer a disgrace to the latter to have done other than he did refuse to receive the old soldiers badge of authority and honor that spaniard to is another who showed that there was no base metal in him and so doubtless was it with many others each of whom should re ceide the utmost clemency consistent with propriety the soldiers soldier s fighting against individual soldiers is at an end when the fight against the body of which the individual forms s a part ends the sway away of hurn humanity amity is then supposed to return and mercy and tolerance take the place of de and relentlessness when however this condition to is taken advant age of by the vanquished to escape the 1 legitimate consequences of defeat as at cavite it should be punished severely on every opportunity thereafter but when the soldierly instinct the manly bearing the chivalrous character speak forth from the prisoner no less than s from the foeman in battle array there is something in it all to be admired en cou raged and treated with consideration |
