The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-29
THE COST OF DEFEAT.


Spain Will, of course. pay heavily for
going to war with the United States.
Whatever the terms of peace and how
ever generous the American victor may
be, the price must still be high.
ThereAis probably no question of a
money indemnity. Spain is insolvent
and a demand for money. If accepted,
would only mean years OF embarrass-
ment and irritation for both nations.
Cuba, of course, will be free, but only
remotely and indirectly will that con-
tribute to the war bill that Spain must
pay. For. however rich security Cuba
may be. Cuba is for the Cubans and
not for the United States. Elsewhere
the latter must look for security or
territory 10 help to pay the cost OF
the war.
The principle OF war indemnity ~ss as
old as war-or at least, war since the
conquerors ceased to take all the
land of the conquered. And often has
this indemnity included bits of terri
tory chopped right out of the van
pushed country. and often has such
territory been seized as security until
the Indemnity was paid In cash. Ger
many took Alsace and Lorraine ''for
good and ALL" while in Napoleon's time,
after Waterloo. the allied powers not
only appropriated various pieces OF
French territory but held important
frontier posts with armies of occupa-
tion which the French treasury was
made TO support. Hong Kong, Brit.
ish outpost today. represents the bill
OF China for fighting our British cous-
5ns and. besides, China had to pay
considerable amount of cash. And to
3ecure peace from Japan in the recent
war, China ceded valuable territory
and paid to her conqueror a sum equiv
alent to si75ooo,ooo. besides permitting
the independence of Corea as Spain
must now do OF Cuba. Turkey was al
lowed to claim s2o.ooo.ooo for conquer
ing Greece. but the war had cost the
Sultan ever so much more than that;
Greece got off easily. The biggest war
Indemnity ever charged and paid in
modern times was that OK France to
Germany for the eight months war OF
1870. Besides sacrifice OF territory she
had to pay in cash a billion dollars.
RussIa's bill against Turkey in 1877
was almost as large. but ii was cut
down. territory being accepted instead.
IL is usual TO begin TO dicker on a
basis OF what the war cost the victor.
This cost Is made up from many items
1.-The actual cost of the support of
the military and naval force, damage,
II any. done to territory. loss TO trade
and commerce on account of HOSTILE
ties. compensation for lives lost and
the like. When the United States gov
eminent put in its claim against Great
Britain for damages on account OF the
privateer. Alabama" It was figured
that every item OF war expense from
the date OF the privateer's putting to
sea was chargeable as the prolongation
OF the Rebellion was attributed entirely
70 her. In that bill was also figured
actual damage 20 commerce suffered.
increased risks Of maritime insurance
and loss to our commerce through the
necessity of It's transference TO for
eign bottoms by reason OF the ALA
bama" being on the high seas. The
Geneva arbitration commission, how
ever cut the bill down TO the actual
damages. eliminating the indirect cost.
and made the award sis.s75.cco.
When Mexico was conquered. like