The record-union., 1898-12-02
MR.. TAYLoR,s CRITICISM.

Ior, is reported by wire as out In
magazine article in condemnation OF
the Paris Peace Commission for paying
Spain SO small sum as $20,OO0.O0O
and for refusing to assume certain
Spanish indebtedness. For it must be
remembered that IN other numbers of
the same magazine Mr.. Taylor at great
length proved that we must hold the
Philippines That is to say that having
taken them we could not possibly re-
turn them to the misgovernment, cru
city and neglect of Spanish administra-
tion
{ Mr.. Taylor's contention therefore is
! that we have ''ravished," abused and
mistreated Spain, because, defeated and
at our feet she was helpless to defend
in taking her possessions by conquest
and without fair compensation. He
cites in support of his contention our
treaty with Mexico. There, he says,
after a sharp war we refused to take
her lands by way Of conquest, but paid
her for them when we had full power
to seize and hold them without pass
ing over a single cent That action he
sstys was great moral triumph, stand
gng alone in the annals of the world.
Mr.. Taylor, for whose vigor, courage
and scholarship we have all respect.
fcrgets an important fact, namely, that
Mexico never conceded that she was
paid full value, or anywhere near it
for her possessions wrested from her
under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidal-
go. Nor will any one new contend that
we paid one-fiftieth the value Of that
which we received as q result of the
wer waged against her. We certainly
did have her prostrate at our feet, and
we did pay her sum of money. But
1T was bagateIle compared with the
true value.
Moreover we guaranteed and held
good the individual titles to vast tracts
granted in the ceded territory by Mex
leo, but even with these taken at their
full value we did not compensate Mex
leo by so much as a fortieth part of the
value of that we won from her.
Moreover, our war with Mexico was
a very different affair from that with
Spain. One was practically an unsen-
tiinental war, and the other was q war
IN the interests of humanity and civil
1zatton. That with Mexico might have
been avoided; the other was as newt
able as the sweep Of the planets through
SPACE.
War was on; in the harbor of Manila
ethere was gathered a powerful Spanish
squadron which at any moment might
issue forth to prey upon our commerce
and shell the towns and cities Of the
Pacific Coast Self preservation de-
manded that we attack and capture
that feet, and instantly too. Thanks
to the swift courage and rare wisdom
OF Dewey that was done, the Capital
or the Philippines fell into our hands
and we extended our dominion over
The territory of the archipelago where
as gross misgovernment and as un-
speakable cruelty prevailed as in Cuba.
The war ended and then came the
settlement Of the terms Of peace. With
Porto Rico, one Of the Ladrones and the
Pninppine group in our hands it be-
came question only of mercy. We
measured the quality by purse Just
$20.0O0,OOO long. We could by no
means restore the rule of Spain. To
have d0ua so would doxyo bao,, -, e..
sion that our charge of incompetence.
nis17ule and barbarity on her part was
q lie To restore the islands to Spain
would have been to confess that our ex-
pendfture Of blood and treasure had
been useless, fruitless and unjustifiable,
The ethics 'of war gave the Philippines
and Porto Rico to US, and our payment
TO Spain of any amount became gener-
ossity pure and simple,
But we paid far more than the 500
OOO.OOO. The war cost us $165. 200, ,OOO
or mere, and when we come to forecast
the pension list, its cost will double that
sum. For the lives sacrificed we can
name no money value. But the cold
cost of the war (Which is not to be con-
sidered at all if its declaration was not
wholly justifable, and Mr.. Taylor in
previous papers has himself proved oui
Justifcation) is to be added to the sum
we pay Spain in considering what the
new possessions really cost us.
In the reasoning of Mr.. Taylor at this
late day then, the difference between
right and wrong action in the premises
lies between $2O.000,O00 which we pay
and $4,000, 600 which Spain demanded
and was willing to take. We confess
inability to perceive that there is con
quest, unmercifulness, uncharitablenes:
or 'ravishment' lying between the two
figures. True. Mr.. Taylor holds thai
We have violated an elementary princi
pie Of justice in refusing to assume the
Cuban debt SO far as it is represented
by permanent Improvements in tha
country, since in law such indebtedness.
is charge upon the land, while W,
have assumed similar Indebtedness il
the case Of the Philippines He 6enie.
that cur plea that we have not takes
Cuba to hold, and therefore we are no
to be made liable for her indebtedness
for improvements, is sound. But her,
he begs the question. by saying that W,
do in fact take Cuba for a time, exer
else over it sovereign power and mak'
and enforce orderly regulations; there