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SPAIN AND HER COLONIES.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
future be on her good behaviour and will only hold them en permanence by reforming In the interesting article reprinted the the administration and governing justly and other day from the Spectator on "The Last liberally. Some of the Spaniards in Manila Colonies of Spain," that well known London have been letting loose a turgid flood of journal drew forcible attention to the nerve rhetoric at a banquet, most of which may of the Spanish people and their incapacity be characterised as foolish froth, ensanguined in action, as exemplified in Cuba. The by revenge. We sincerely trust the spirit complete failure of the Spaniards either to breathed by the speakers on this occasion is subjugate the rebels in Cuba or to gain any not endorsed by the Administration, or the substantial advantage in the field seems un- rebel natives will be goaded to despair and, accountable when the number of Spanish leaving villages and plantations, betake troops in the island is considered and the themselves to the fastnesses of the interior superiority in arms and resources enjoyed by and, like the Achinese, wage an endless war them is borne in mind. Whatever the cause, of unquenchable hatred with their op- the facts remain, and all those whose pressors. The Spaniards must not imagine sympathies and admiration have been that they enjoy a monopoly of wrongs. On aroused by reading of the exploits of those the contrary, it seems to the dispassionate hardy conquistadores who won the greater outsider that the Filippino has a long tale portion of America for Spain can only of oppression and disability to render. It wonder at the change that has come over is true that the mestizos have grown rich, their descendants. Are the men who so mainly though the proud indolence of the quickly succumb to hardships and difficulties conquering race, but they have never been in Cuba really the successors of CORTES and permitted any liberty of speech or share in PIZARRO, whose victories were won against the Government. In addition to the harsh overwhelming odds and in teeth of hard-laws enacted by the civil administration they ships and dangers almost incredible? It is difficult to imagine that they belong to the same race, but none the less it is a fact. It is a fact, too, that some of the Spanish Boldiers are made of good stuff, and would fight well if capably led. But there seems a canker worm in the once virile and chivalrous race. Whether it is the form of Government, the religion, or the habits and amusements of the people that have be- gotten a fatal apathy and listlessness that seems to hold the nation in a thrall we know not, but certain it is that the old time energy and enterprise which led their ancestors over stormy seas, through untrod- den wilds, and hostile countries, in search of fame and fortune, has departed, never to return!
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The Spectator thinks that Spain must lose her last remaining possessions, unless she receives the aid of some great ally. Her endurance, her courage, and the resources employed ought to ensure her ultimate triumph, but "
some incurable vice in her "organisation, or in the temperament of her "people," neutralising all the advantages she should derive from her stubborn hardihood, will ensure her defeat. This would indeed appear to be the case in Cuba at the present moment, but, unless the native troops in the Philippines revolt, the prospects of at least a temporary pacification of the latter islands are greater than our London contemporary. seems to imagine. In Cuba, indeed, the in- surgents appear to number practically the whole population, in sympathy if not in actual revolt, and they are sustained to a great extent by the moral support derived from the United States. The Washington Government have not recognised the Cubans as belligerents, but public opinion in the American Republic is strongly in favour of the Cubans, and if any European Power thought fit to actively assist Spain to suppress the rebellion in Cuba, it is more than possible that feeling in the United States would speedily crystallise into action, both out of sympathy, with the insurgents and in resentment of what would be deemed a violation of the Monroe doctrine. Spain will have to fight out her own battles with her rebellious think,
chances of a serious com- with other States for the sake of helping the Spaniard to plant his heel on those who have dared to rebel against the haughty red and gold standard.
plication risk.no Power is likely, we
While, however, we do not believe that Spain will lose the Philippines at present, the ought to understand that she will in
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November
tional and inex wholly benevo other band, the circumstanc of infinitely greater gravity such as to inspire feelings of rey hatred,
would seem to have been allowed the use of formal and scien has been alleged. We are not. that this allegation has been rece some incredulity, for it is indeed difficul believe that such measures should in the present day be resorted to by a civilised Government, and it would afford us much pleasure to be able to publish a contradic- tion or correction of the statements; that have been made on this unpleasant subject. Mr. DAVIDSON, however, acquired his information on the spot, and he states that the Spaniards justified the of torture on the ground that sin imprisonment would be ineffective. More. over, if, as we believe to be the ease, large numbers of persons have been arrested on information given by their associates ready in custody, how was the information wrung out of the latter? It dues not appear that it was under Promise of pardon, and the men who had entered into the compact of blood by which the rebels are bound to each other would not open their mouths willingly to denounce their companions.
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have also had to endure the tyranny of the ecclesiastical authority. If the mad coun- sels of Senor COMENGA are to prevail we shall see a repetition of atrocities like the Black Hole of Manila repeated, further cruelties and tortures and whole- sale executions after the. veriest form of a trial, and, as a result, terrible vengeance | THE CONDUCT OF THE JAPANESE
IN FORMOSA. wreaked by the natives or non-combatants. If the Spaniards set the example of bruta-
An instance of how far partizanship can be lity by the use of torture and the scream for vengeance, will they have any right to allowed to override (reason, logio; and com complain if the natives massacre the priests mon sense is afforded by some remarks made and murder women and children? Senor in Wednesday's issue of the Hongkong Tele COMENGA's speech was a criminal appeal to graph on the subject of the alleged Japanese all the worst passions not only of his country atrocities in Formosa. The foreigners who men but also to those of the already in- have described these events are blamed furiated natives. We sincerely hope wiser cause they have written anonymously, and more moderate counsels will predo- in refutation of their statements there is Senor BLANCO, the produced with a grand flourish the letter of minate in Manila.
a correspondent who feports what he has Captain-General of the Philippines, to whose moderation and wise conduct of affairs is" seen and knows," but who also, 'strange to doubtless due the fact that the native say, writes anonymously. According to the troops still remain loyal, may be able to Telegraph, therefore, anonymous evidence combine clemency with firmness in such a is absolutely reliable if it fits in with way as to restore order and confidence and the Telegraph's views, but is not to be to pave the way for a reform in the admi- admitted at all if it controverts those nistration that will heal disaffection. If he views, succeeds in doing this he will do more than merely save to Spain her last great posses- sion; he will save her honour and renown and preserve for her a future in the East.
THE ALLEGED TORTURE IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
In our news from Manila published to- day will be found an order issued by the Governor-General which does credit General alike to his head and heart. BLANCO has from the first been opposed to the exercise of unnecessary cruelty in the treatment of the natives in connection with the rebellion, and now that the first scare is over he appears determined to put his foot down on anything of the kind. That there has been a good deal of cruelty is undoubted; indeed General BLANCO's order admits as much, but it is said that under the circumstances it As was inevitable that this should be so. to that, it must be admitted that in times of great emergency it is impossible to practice very fine discrimination, and the question of what constitutes unnecessary and reprehensible hardship and cruelty there- fore resolves itself into one of degree. Even in our own plague scare there was deal of unnecessary hardship inflicted upon the native community, but it was uninten
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Further, we are told that the correspondent in question, whose letter appears in the N. C. Daily News, reports "what he has seen and knows." That is directly contrary to the fact; the correspon dent reports what he has been told and does not profess to have been near, the disturbed districts. His words are:-
own impression is, after examining a good many of the statements and hearing "those foreigners
have since visited the spot have
on the subject etc. Yet this is put forward
as the "who has seen and evidence of one knows." Our contemporary also says. It is strange how easily the editora some great journals are deceived by the writers of sensational stories of atro "and what little trouble they give
selves to verify the allegations in copy before
are given to understand that papers, with the exception of the Tele of course, are tarred with the same Yet we venture to say our taken no steps to verify contained in the letter h such approval and we knows the name of the wri
The public,
as a good the subject
gat
the
must be tired of-
the charge
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