The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-01
TAYLOR CONDEMNS TREATY.
FORMER MINISTER 70 SPAIN CRIT
ICIZEs COMMISSIONERS.

when Mexico Wns a Helpless ana
NnnuuiShcd Country the United
states showed Her "a Merciful
Considcrntion--spai Deserved the
Mercy of an Old Friend-POrtO
NicO's value AN Indemnity Double
the Cost OF the War with spain.
New York. Nov SO-Hannis Taylor, late
American minister TO Spain, publishes in
the December number of the North Amer
lean Review a scathing criticism of the
work of the American peace commission.
Mr. Taylor contends that in tne negotia-
tons with Spain respecting Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines the members Of
the commission should have been guided
by the precedent esta ablished by this
country in its dealings with Mexico after
the victorious issue of the Mexican war
Then he says, we refused, as Mexico lay
helpless at our feet, TO take from her a
single square mile of territory by right
of conquest. Our commissioners were in
structed to offer SIS, 100000 in cash and the
assumption on our part of more than $3,-
coo, 600 due from her to American citizens
as our compensation for the area out OF
which has been carved California, Nevada
Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.
and thus" says Mr.. Taylor. "was es-
tablished a new principal of moral law
which stands alore, perhaps in the an
mails Of nations
Mr.. Taylor contends that now, when
for the first time since the conquest OF
Mexico. we have another vanqushed ma
ton at our feet. we owed to Spain all the
consideration and justice that can be due
to the weak from the strong. especially
as Spain has been an old and good
friend, with whom we had never before
broken off diplomatic relations.
The arrangement which has been con-
cluded by the American commission. Mr..
Taylor characterizes as vast ravlsh-
ment
We have refused arbitration We have
summarily demanded the surrender of the
entire Philippine archipelago, and, as a
salve tc pain, We have rendered 500 COX, 900.
"The war has cost us directly about
$l6o-OO0OO0. and as compensation for that
outlay we have appropriated Porto Rico.
which can hardly be valued at much less
than double that amount 1t Is difficult
70 understand, therefore, why, in dealing
with Cuba ana the Philippines, we should
have been unwilling to recognize those
| reasonable and natural equities which
! follow acquired territory.
'tr the case OF the Philippines We have
| admitted that. so far as the debts OF
| these Islands represent expenditures for
| the Improvement of the country they
must run with the land" and const-
tute q charge upon it.
Upon what grounds have we rejected
the application Of that elementary prin-
ciple Of law and common honesty TO the
! case of Cuba? The pretense that Il can
not be there applied because we do not
intend 20 accept sovereignty over Cuba
will not avail, for as soon as Cuba is
evacuated by the Spanish troops, the
! United States will exercise a qualified SOW
ereignty over the island, establishing a
| military government there and rigidly en-
| forcing all laws for the purpose of col
| lecting revenue, both external and inter-
| nal a condition which must exist until
| Congress orders otherwise.
I'm the case of Cuba as well as In that
| OF the Philippines, the amount of pacific
| expenditures made by Spain for the per-
manent Improvement OF the island should
| have been recognized as a legal charge
1 uDou il "