New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17
A FITTING PUNISHMENT.
VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENT WHO THINKS
SPAIN SHOULD LOSE ALI. HER COLONIES
TO PAY FOR TIE MAINE

TO PAY FOR THE MAINE
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Your leader OF to-day. "Remember the
Maine" is timely though such tragedy ought 70
need no reminders Deep as the feeling is on the
subject. ] have seen no expression OF the trcmcn-
dous significance OF this awful crime that was COM
mensurate with rs I'm portance Perhaps such cx-
preston is impossible. But ! would like 10 en-
phaeiza a few points.
In the first place treatment OF this ira gcdy
will form an international precedent. Are We 10
reduce our grievance 70 the measure Of A few MIL
lion 66llars~nouGh 10 pay for the ship and 70
pension relatives OF the men who were killed
Consider n moment. Are 10 say that any bar
barous nation any reckless cabnl OF officers. in
famed by hate or wine. may blow UP the ship OF a
peaceful nation. murder and mangle It's crew. and
escape all punishment except the payment OF pal
try five million dollars? Why. 1t may be demon
strated vet that the Maine worth n hundred
million dollars 10 Us In this present trouble. II, by
losing the preponderancc OF our Navy. coupled
by OK bad luck. our forces should be worsted
and the war protracted until We could build other
Consider what England or Germany France
or Russia would have done In our case II a
single one Of their subjects Is murdered or NAL
treated in China Iiavt, Africa II IL but few days
before their men-of-wai or armies are gathered
In strength such as 10 secure the surrender or pun
!shment OF the guilty men and ample reparation.
even 10 the extent OF whole province. Other-
wise the offending town or country Is laid waste
Consider that we know that the Spanish have
tried to lie themselves out OF their predicament:
that we now know that Havana haYbOr mined
under Wcyler'B administration. ard that the Eng
llsh firm that made the mines for Havana, Porto
Rico and various other harbors can describe 10 q
nicely the internal device that wrecked the
noble Maine. The keyboard TO the mine could only
be worked by the military in charge OF II. Know
ing this should have more respect for Spanish
officias II they spared their hypocritical sym
pathy Weyler with his sneerlng comment that
the Names loss due to the Incidence OF
American sailors" Is at least more honest In his
attitude.
II has been said truly that dollars can never pay
for the lives lost on the Maine. For one, would
never send a bill for the loss Of the ship or the
men. The money compensation would be too DIS.
rroportionate and mean But 7 would make the
punishment n moral one. ] would fasten by the
Terrible chain OF circumstantal evidence this un-
nreccdented crime the army Of Spain In Cuba
and hold her up 10 the obloquy OF the world. a
u,orse than bhrbarous government. which has not
made the first effort TO discover the perpetrators
~ the crime Secondly, not with any selfish greed
of territory but as righteous retribufion. every
,s,and OF Spain should he taken from her, ana
lien over TO native locnl government. or 10 such
Sa,tons as can govern them humanity and wisely.
he n lar pan In the Of the Philippines. or In tho
cese Of Porto Rico. war indemnity, 10 our
selves 49,. ,,. -,,, M. oil tho cvn,,ed
retions applaud this punishment OF maritime as
sasstnatioe VIII IL not be an easier matter Tor an
american to hold UP his head and confess MS ma
tiorallty at home or abroan! .o. l. H. -
Spr.ngdale. Conn, April IL. 1870