THE CONFLICT IN SPAIN
• [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sm,—The letter from the London COrrespondent of the Madrid Herald, which appears in your last issue is not only deplorable in itself, but deplorable also in that it can (and does) claim a certain backing in your own attitude to events in Spain. " There only remains," the letter states, " the hope of a more drastic revolution." Well, its writer is surely getting it ! But, what one would like to ask him is, Does he—do MS co-thinkers—exult over the wounds which are being inflicted upon civilisation, in the person of unhappy Spain ? Upon religion, tradition, culture ? And what are the grounds for exultation ?
His " more drastic revolution " will leave nothing to build on, when it has done its work ; for all the heritage of centuries —in art and science (save the science of destruction, which has never been so terrible as it is now)—will be smothered in dust and blood ! Does the writer of the letter exult over the hideous outrages to priests and nuns, the profanation of altars, the arming and brutalising of women and children ?
Perhaps he will declare that such things are the inevitable accompaniment of a revolution, and need not be of permanent effect. But how long will it take—if it be ever tried—to tame and re-civilise a people that has been so terribly and deliberately corrupted ? Is it not, rather, the truth that the Spanish people simply cannot afford to indulge in an imitation of our own democracy ? Far too many foul accretions cling to any model which they make themselves in countries not suited to democratic government, for their efforts to survive !
And, what is one to say of a " Government " which " looks the other way " (it was their own phrase) when priests and nuns are murdered, and churches burnt, because " the people must be allowed their fun " ?—Yours faithfully,
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