New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-21
TIE SPANISH INDEMNITY.

The sem-official announcement from Madrld
that no demand for indemnity Tor the loss Vi
the Maine will be considered by the spanish
Government commands some attention ana pro
vokes some coY,ment-popular rather than om-
cjal. There is no cause for surprise at the an
nouncement. nor for doubling It's autheh'ic'''
Neither is there any for regarding IL WIFI anger
or with CONSERVATION. 1t is not, as some Vail
" imagine an uttcrance of defiance nor an
ultimatum, nor any Of those bosies which
amateur dplomatsts IN the sensatlohal press
are so fond Of conjuring up for the deiecta'ion
of their constituents. 1t may be reckoned some
what premature and unnecessary. NO lhuem-
nity has vet been demanded by TINS country
II is bv no means assured that any VIII De-
The zeal Of Spain 10 refuse one in advance may
be attributed partly 10 the natural lmpuslVe-
ness of the Latin race. and partly 10 inc eA''
gencies Of domestic politics. Such an utterance
will make a capital campaign document TOT
use 10 influence the pending election. II II oe
said that such usage is unworthy or serious
Government the "tu QuoQue' retort IS easily
to be made.
In another respect the announcement Is I'M
necessary 1t was TO be taken for granted 'ha'
the Spanish Government would demur TO any
sucb demand Why not? What nation ever
made haste 10 pay an indemnity until compeileo
10 either by physical force or by me moral
force of a judicial decree: Thirty years ago
Great Britain declined 10 pay an indemnity 10
This country but in the end she PAID H. ana
there was no war over it, either. Three or four
wears back Great Britain claimed an indemnity
from the United States, which This country de-
clined to pay until the justice Of 1t had oeen
iudlciallv established. Such establishment mas
now been made, and it Is to be presumed ana
certainly hoped for the sake OF the Natlon
honor that the indemnity will be promptly
paid Such is the rule Of dealing, among ma
tlons as among individuals. And Spain may
perhaps be pardoned for making this reiusai
so far in advance. in view of the vOciterous
assertions so freely made in this country That
q big indemnity would surely be demanded ana
collected These latter have not Of course,
been official nor have they been made or coun-
tenanced by men of sane Judgment or auihori-
tative standing But we cannot expect foreign
ers TO understand these matters as we do AT
home and when the news Is telegraphed 10
Madrid that newspapers claiming to speak for
the United States are making demands for in
demnity in advance Of adjudication or even
report. ii is only human nature that the Gov
eminent there should make reply.
As n matter Of fact. however, all this talk
about indemnity on either side Of the ocean is
premature There is no good TO be got from
trying TO cross a bridge before the bridge IS
reached. The need Of the hour is investigation
and ascertainment of the facts in the case
That need Is being supplied as rapidly and as
thoroughly as possible Let us wait until that
work is complete When we have report
upon the Maine as full and sincere and con
vincing as Senator Proctor's report upon Cuba
we shall have for the first time correct and
ADEQUATE basis on which TO consider the qucs-
ton of indemnity or whatever else may be re-
quired. And then that consideration may well
be left to the President and his constitutional
advisers They have not failed in one iota Of
their duly 10 the Nation thus far in the case
and there is no reason to fear that they will
he less faithful in making 4 final settlement OF
| il in accordance with the requirements of JUS
| tee and OF the National honor.