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Title: Tenderness Author: Teresa Claramunt Language: en Topics: Freedom Press, prison, religion, repression, Spain Source: Retrieved on 10th September 2021 from https://forgottenanarchism.wordpress.com/2015/08/23/tenderness-by-teresa-claramunt/ Notes: Published in Freedom in the 1890s.
When I read about the news published by the Spanish newspapers I could
not help taking up my pen in order to write a small article with the
title « Tenderness. » It is well-known that this quality is familiar to
us women, because of the natural feebleness of our organism and also of
the limited education we receive. Such a state of things being general
amongst the fair sex, it is supposed that queens are not an exception to
the rule under ordinary circumstances ; therefore I was not surprised by
the Spanish Regent’s declarations. But the good señora has become aware
of the infamies that were committed by her ministers somewhat too late ;
because, indeed, since her elevation to regency so many infamies have
been committed that she should have shown sooner the tender feelings of
her heart.
But the poor señora is not to be blamed, because strength and feeling
have their limit in the human machine and it is not to be expected that
a being who is constantly lifting her eyes to heaven or to the altar
should see what is passing about her. On the other hand, when one’s
heart is full of divine love, there is o place for any human feeling ;
because, by dint of consecrating all one’s love on a single fixed
object, all the rest lose their worth for him who is in such a mood. I,
therefore, do not find fault with the Regent’s having so recently awaked
to so grave a matter. The perfume of incense causes perturbations in the
brain ;—the innocent victims’ cries have made the throne quake, and the
concussion has had for result that Maria Cristina has moved her eyes
from the altar to direct them to the ground on which it stands.
Then—oh, how horrible !—she saw at her feet rivers of blood and heard
piteous bewailing. Then, sharpening her senses, she saw obvious chinks
in the solid walls of her palace ; then, as a tender mother and a tender
woman, she made known to the whole nation that she is « willing to have
justice done, » and that she reproves her ministers for the infamies
they have committed. And as, amongst these infamies, the crime of
Montjuich is to be taken into account,the queen could not help speaking
about it : since innocent victims have filled with blood the moat of
this Bastille called Montjuich ; because not only in the last trial were
innocent men tortured, but she who writes these lines can affirm that
the said men who were shot, and the four that were condemned to
perpetual detention for the bomb thrown by Pallas at Marshal Campos were
also tortured.
But let us leave the dead—the tenderness of a queen cannot recall them
to life ;—let us occupy ourselves with those who are innocently
suffering in the hulks in consequence of these infamies.
« I am willing that justice should be done, » said Maria Cristina. It is
well-known that the justice a queen is minded to have is very limited,
but it is to be supposed that the queen’s limits of justice will reach
these honest workmen so unjustly condemned and so enable them to again
take their place in society.
We who bitterly remember the infamies committed in Montjuich by Marzo,
Portas, Garcia, Navarro, Tresolo and other torturers, do not forget the
four workmen who are innocently suffering at the Ceuta hulks for the
first trial, and the twenty that also suffer for the second one. We have
given important information to the public, and its sad character of
truth has interested all the hearts of civilised countries.
The queen’s latest affirmations are the last stroke that will compel the
revision of these atrocious sentences, and chastise severely the
torturers and impostors.
If that is not done, the people surely will do it.