The bewildered and amazed passivity of the Flemish civil population, the state as of people surprised by sudden ruffians, murderers, and thieves in the dead of night and hurled out, terrified and half clad, snatching at the few scant household gods nearest at hand, into a darkness mitigated but by flaring incendiary torches-this has been the experience stamped on our scores and scores of thousands, whose testimony to suffering, dismay, and despoilment silence alone, the silence of vain uncontributive wonderment, has for the most part been able to express.
"Within the Rim and Other Essays"
Henry James
Even the negroes would have the laugh on them,-the people whom they hoped to make approve and justify their own despoilment.
"The Marrow of Tradition"
Charles W. Chesnutt
Having no wish to flout their huge neighbor to the northward, the Hispanic nations at large hastened to acknowledge the independence of the new republic, despite the indignation that prevailed in press and public over what was regarded as an act of despoilment.
"The Hispanic Nations of the New World Volume 50 in The Chronicles Of America Series"
William R. Shepherd