El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-12-05
HANNIS TAYLOR'S IDEA
Criticised BY A Correspondent.


Editor Ell Paso HERALD,
Dear Sir:
1t appears that DIR. Hsnnis Taylor,
our minister to Spain under the late
Cleveland administration, has been
ventilating his ideas through the North
American Review. The gist of his
criticism is, that the peace commits
sion at Paris should have followed the
precedent established by this country
in dealing with Mexico after the Mex
lean war, in which our commission was
instructed to offer Mexico Sl1. 900, 900
and assume further So, 900, 900 indie b.
ted ness due Americans, as conpensa-
tiOn for California, Nevada, Utah, Ari-
IONA, and New Mexico, and the govern
ment refused to take from her any ter
ritory by right of conquest: "And
| thus, says he, twas established a new
principle of moral law, which stands
alone, perhaps, in the annuas of ma
tions.''
engagements just made by our Paris
in that we hold the Philippines and
as salve tender Spain 800, 900, 900.
He says that "the war cost us S165 ,O0O,-
600 and we appropriate Porto Rico,
which can hardly be valued at less
than double that amount" and that
in the case Of Cuba as we'll as in that
OF the Philippines the amount of per
manent improvements on the islands
shold be recognized.
doctor we paid S11 900, 900 for our five
rich states and territories above men
toned and now he thinks $2O, 900, 900
not enough for the Philippines. He
seems not to realize the fact that
war is war and force ia the last resort
when diplomacy fails. He seems also
toshave forgotten our grievances and
long suffering with Spain. Let's touch
his memory.
Only few years since, some forty
Americans against whom the Spanish
had made the charge of smuggling,
were captured, denied any sort of trial,
and stood up against the walls of an
old church in Santiago and shot to
death by the authorities. This was
overlooked by our government, al
though our then minister to Spain, the
gallant old Gen. Dan1 E. Sickles, re-
signed with the statement that he
would not represent such a govern
ment.
Less than q year sioce our brave
consul general, Lee, reported that
more than 10000 Cubans, innocent
men, women, and children, had been
cbdrVeu anu UOFGuTGu I'D Q66GD ana Cl0
dread work was still going on. Later,
at his request and for the protection of
Americans, the Maine was sent to
Cuba. All recollect the horrible death
that met her crew-asSassinated by
the Wholesale without chance or q
fight for life.
A unanimous and indignant congress
could no longer withstand public opin-
ion. War was declared and victory in
=
perched upon our banners.
Macmillan took all Mexico. Ger
many took $1,000, 100000 and Alsace
and Lorraine from France. Russia and
Germany are dividing up China, while
England takes Egypt and much of
Africa.
This they do without provocation or
any idea of retribution for long accu-
mulated wrongs or the payment of a
dollar.
All these conquered nations except
France we're cropping in darkness and
are being brought to the knowledge of
commerce and civilization, to civil and
religious liberty.
If we paid Mexico 81 200, 900 for the
states and territories above mentioned,
now teeming with and settled by a
happy business people, how infinitely
more are we now paying Spain for her
islands of darkness, ignorance and
M.
A sight worth seeing is the pilgri-
q To ha oh Of Al l.