Evening star., 1898-12-05
Present Negotiations With Spain
Serve as Reminder.
WHEN DOGS OF War GROWLED
Concessions to United States Under
Former Agreements.
AFTER OF ISTOR Y

patch than those which preceded the Span
ish-Amercan treaty of 1Ta5. Before this
the dogs of war of Spain, then one of the
first nations, and those of the youngest and
weakest. yet the most determined, growied
omirously at each other, and had II not
been for the cool heads and wise states
manship OF the fathers this nation would
have been short-lived.
At the close of the revolution there was
question as to the boundaries of the
states which had successfully fought long
years and achieved their independence
France and Spain claimed the entire south
ern border. from the Atlantic westward.
and England, too. was 10th to give up a
number of points beyond the ancient set
tlements'-in other words claiming that it
was but a narrow strip of territory which
mad been made free through the arms of
the Americans. assisted by the French.
Spain claimed Louisiana and the French tht
EIoTldaS, and consequently Spain, asserting
that her boundary started from the thirty
hrst degree of latitude and the Mississippi
controlled the lower part Of that river. and
could effectually shut off its navigation by
the western settlers along that river and
the Ohio.
Question of Navigation.
Long before the close of the century the
impor ance of the free navigation of the
Mississippi became apparent to the western
settlers, and to the country at large but
Spain being obdurate on this point and
continuing 70 exercise exclusive control
open warfare was with difficulty averted
Indeed, the delay in obtaining the right to
navigate the river was the cauSa of much
untavorable comment in the valleys of the
Ohio and Mississippi, and the settlers We're
Inclined to open the Mississippi by force
and the Threats made found their way to
l.ft. rFrf. s1,.
the goods of settlers had been cunfscated
at New Orleans, and the yield of the coun-
try was such that all the Spanish ships
could not carry it off assar rted that the
river must be opened, and unless Congress
acted and a satisfactory treaty made
whith would give them an outlet
t" the sea. they could raise 23,Wso men
to enforce the demand. and closed with
these words: In case we are not sue
Corad by the United States. our allegiance
VII be thrown off. Great Britain stands
ready with open arms to ceive and sup
port us, and with Canada will be able to
conquer you"
Thus. in ouI infancy the stability of the
Union was endangered by its own people.
a secession OF the west and southwest being
threatened. Fortunately. Spain found
trouble nearer home. and October -. 1875
signed treaty which allayed the feeling.
BY this she agreed that the navigation of
the Mississippi in its whole length. from its
source to the ocean. should be free TO the
United States unless the King of Spain
should extend the privilege to subjects Of
other powers.
In a few years Spain ceded Louisiana to
France, and she. holding ii for three years.
in 1903 ceded it to the United States. Thus
the bone of Spain's contention was forever
removed, aud Spain. by the treaty of Feb
ruary -, 1914, ceding the Floridas. to the
Union, gave us a boundary marked by the
oceans shore from the Bay of Fundy to
the Sabine.
Treaty With France.
Our first treaty with a power beyond the
seas that with our ally and friend,
France of February 6. 117S. by which the
United States agreed, should war break oui
between France and England, she would
make it a common cause. and France and
the United States be good and faithful
allies. Spain was at this time the friend
and ally of France. and il was confidently
hoped she would treat with US, but, as
stated above, she possessed the key to the
Mississippi valley, and she was also diSin-
clined to incur the displeasure of England
While she received some of our ministers
courteously, in their private character, she
was extremely cautious not to violate the
comfy of nations by giving aid and com
fort to the recalcitrant children of Mother
E,r~i"nd. beyond profferng a small loar
which could be called private accommoda-
ton.
Spain then possessed such rank owning
vast possessions in various parts of the
world, and the products of the infant re-
public wera of vast proportions, that a
commercial treaty between Spain and this
country was viewed as of more Importance
than -reatv with any other nation. and
politically the importance was equally
great. Her influence. 1t was supposed,
would affect both our politics and COM
meree, and Britain would rejoice if We were
at variance with Spain. Being then the
greatest consumer among the European ma
tions. her friendship was worth having,
and strenuous efforts ware made by our
commissioners to arrive at some under
standing.
Spain when finally willing to negotiate,
insisted on an invariable boundary. the ex-
elusive navigati ton of the Mississippi and
the possession of the Fioridas. The Snaris"
cabinet insisted that our western border
extended no farther than the settlements
noted in the royal proclamation of l16S, and
that ii was probable Spain would capture
Florida and that the lands east of the
Mississippi, where settlements were prohib-
tied by the proclamation of 1862, were 'os
sessions of Britain and might be objects of
conquest for the Spanish crown. Thus the
two nations were kept apart till after a
number of other nations had treated with
us. and in 1195 the papers were signed.
In the meantime Sweden. in 1888, and
Prussia in 17s5, had made treaties, each
recognizing the principles that free ships
make free goods and freedom of con-
science and of worship. In the treaty with
Spain the first principle enunciated.
and in the treaty of 1919 the doctrine of
free ships make free goods; that the flag
covers the property; that 1t shall be under
stood with respect to powers recognizing
sucE principle; but, If either of the
contracting parties shall be at war with a
third party. and the other neutral, the flag
OF the neutral shall cover the property of
enemies whose government Acknowledges
this principle, and not of others"
Cession of Louisiana.
In the treaty with France of April 30.
1893. the clause in the treaty between Spain
and France of October 8, 1900 is quoted,
making the King of Spain promise 10. in
six months, cede to the Duke of Parms
the province of Louisiana, and the French
republic cedes the same to the United
States in compliance Herewith By this
the citizens were incorporated in the Union
and secured in the free exercise of their re-
ligion without restriction: the vessels of
France and Spain, laden with the products
of their respective countries, were granted
the same privileges that United States ves-
sells enjoyed for twelve years, and after
ward with those of the most favored ma
tons. By the treaty of February 1919
Spain ceded to the United States all her
territory east of the Mississippi, known as
East and West Florida fixing the bound
ary west of the Mississippi, the Sabine. the
rixyarc h.