Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-05
AN UNFORTUNATE ARTICLE.

The article on the Cuban question by
Mr.. Hannis Taylor, which appeared In
the November No. of the North Ameri-
can Review, has become an ISSUE so 10
| speak. II has provoked violent criticism
| in Madrid and has put our State Depart
ment in an embarrassing position. A
great deal OF what Mr.. Taylor says is no
doubt true. but 1t Is exceedingly unfortu-
nate that he should have taken occasion
to ventilate his views al this particular
time. His utterances tend distinctly'to
stir up Spanish resentment and fan the
fame Of ilngoism in this country.
Mr.. Taylor's criticises severely Spanish
statesmanship advocates Intervention on
the part of the United States without de-
lay, and pooh-poohs the idea that the
Spanish nation will stand behind the
Cuban policy Of the sagasta ministry.
Indeed he practically charges that the
Sagasta ministry itself cannot be de- |
pended upon TO carry out in good faith |
that policy The whole tone of the ar
ticle is offensive TO Spain and spur to
Congress to keep up the excitement.
Mr.. Taylor's being "functus ofiicio" does
not render his article less liable so do
vastly more harm than II II had been
written by any other citizen, especially
in view of the fact that, as stated by a
State Department official, he has availed
himself Of knowledge he could not have
obtained except in his official capacity
The Spanish people cannot fail to APP
preciate the superior weight that, in con-
sideration of his long diplomatic service
In Spain, Mr.. Taylor's views and recon-
mendations are likely to carry in this
Moreover the majority OF
Standards will not readily differentiate
Mr.. Taylor the citizen from Mr.. Taylor
he Minister. and consequently will be
prone to regard his article as partaking
If the character of an official utterance
rom our government.
We are not surprised, therefore, to ,
earn that the Madrid press is discussing
he article in a tone that increases the {
of Minister Woodfords position,
md renders his mission more delicate. :
lor are we surprised to hear that the | d
at Washington is greatly
Worried over the publication, and that ii 7
5 considered ungracious and is very I
much deplored by all the officials of the h
tate Department [
For reasons we have set forth several | {
mes we have never INDUCED the ex- C
ectation that the Sagasta policy would
esult in a settlement of the Cuban ques-
on. Under all the circumstances it is S
alculated TO encourage rather than dis h
)urage the struggle for the absolute in Il
ependence of Cuba. But until we have Il
roof that the new ministry is not sin 81
re. or until its policy shall have been
1t to the test and failed, we owe it to
e business interests of this country and i'd
Spain-we owe it to international OF
unity and our own dignity to frown D
wn jingoism and avoid any step that d.
ould precipitate another war scare. CT
The following by Congress of Mr. Tay -
RS views would be almost certain TO
use hostilities between this country Ju
d Spain. Whep.the United States in is
rvene for~tne settlement of the Cuban 81
estion, and in such manner as would
likely to provoke war, Intervention if
ey would find justification in the eyes lol
the world and OF the great business Vo
erests of the country, must be under
ferent conditions from those existing -
present. ~.