The Portland daily press., 1897-11-08
SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

The suggestion of an English journal
that ex-Minister Taylor's revelations in
regard to Spain and Cuba were prompted
by desire to get square with Mr.. No.
Kinley's administration because it did
not continue him as minister to Spain, is
undoubtedly without any foundation in
fact, whatever. Mr.. Taylor knew the
practice Of every new administration was
to change its principal foreign ministers
soon after it came into power, and he
could not have expected to remain in
Spain under Mckinley. He could not
therefore have harbored any resentment
toward the administration that would
have prompted him to do anything for
the purpose lof getting square," If
there be any ground for criticism of Mr..
Taylor's article, it is not the one that the
London journal suggests. If it had been
attacked on the ground that it was in bad
taste for foreign minister Immediately
after his return from his post to make
public through periodical of general
circulation matters thai. had come to his
knowledge largely1 by virtue of his
position, defence Of Mr.. Taylor would
have been less easy. A minister is the
confidential agent of his government, and
his communications are to be made to
that government. Whether they shall be
made public OF not is not for him, but
for his government, to determine. To be
sure Mr.. Taylor is not now a minister,
but the information he now communi-
Gates to the public was obtained while he
was minister and the advice which go
companies 1t derives its Importance al
most entirely from the fact that he held
an official position. Suoh being the case q
very strong moral obligation would seem
to have rested upon him either to com
mendation to the government confiden-
TALLY, or keep them to himself.
Mr.. Taylors publication can
hardly fail to embarrass the ad-
mtnistration in the Cuban matter,
and though we do not believe that that
was the purpose its author had in view,
1T will be productive of just as much mis-
chief as if it were prompted by malice.
The extent of that mischief cannot be
foreseen at present, but that there are
great possibilities of harm IN it seems OBJ
vious. Our present minister to Spain is
sure to be hampered by it in any negotia-
lions that may arise with the Spanish
government his sources Of information
are likely to be reduced to the minimum,
and his opportunities for serving his
country very much diminished.
But the worst effect of his publication is
likely to consist in the impetus which it
will give to Congress to adopt some sort
Of an interference programme. There is
minority in that body that would well
come war with Spain. and will not there
fore be likely to scrutenize any action that
is proposed to discover its probable effect.
The majority, however, while perfectly
ready to syrnpathize with Cuba and to
help Cuba, will hesitate to take any
action that will precipitate war with
Spain. They would want it very clearly
shown that it was our duty to go to war
before they would consent to that pro.
gramme. There is some danger that MI
Taylor's idea that we can end the Cuban
war by moral influence without embroil-
ing ourselves with Spain, emanating as
1t does from man who has been our