The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31

IN HILLlONS for defence, but
Nj not one cent for tribute"
u the slogan uttered by
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, our
Ambassador to the French Republic
in 1896, while soul uplifting mouth
full of words, has not been invariably
justified in succeeding events. Nations
like individuals often times are forced
to swallow their grandiose enuncia-
ton of principle and compromise in
deeds that have been dictated by over
whelming circumstance. That very
recent payment of a ransom for the
lives of two American aviators cap
tured by Mexican bandits is a case
where the promptings of humanity
proved to be greater than pride in the
adherence to a noble sentiment.
1t is true that a general feeling Of
disgust swept over the country when
the War Department at Washington
decided to meet the demands of these
Mexican thieves and outcasts. Par
ticularly did the soldiers who recently
have returned from successful war in
France groan in spirit at the idea of
yielding to outlawry. In a high flush
of enthusiasm they were all for or
ganizing band Of adventures that
should cross the Rio Grande and riddle
their bodies with machine gun bullets
or spike them on their native rocks.
A very warm plan, but 1t was one
that would require time to carry-out.
By then the aviators undoubtedly
would have been killed Reason pre-
vailed In the war council, tribute was
paid and two lives were saved.
AIgiers Ransom.
Ransom money and tribute paid by
the American Government to the Bey
OF Algiers from 1885 until 1912 lac
tually for longer period) fretted this
free people like a canker on the body
polite. From the former date to the
autumn of 1898, when Washington
called the attention of Congress to the
necessity of a navy, the Algerian
vessels and made slaves of $50 officers
and seamen. To redeem the survivors
of these captives and others taken
later the United States Government
paid about 100000 in ransom money.
In 1875 the Government was COM
PEELED to agree to pay 10 the Bey of
Algiers an annual tribute for the re.
lief Of captured seamen, according to
long usage among European nations.
Illuminating? Yes, but without a
navy what else could be done but
listen to the promptings of humanity
and set free American citizens who
mad been reduced to a revolving
slavery? The insolent Bey himself
brought this condition of affairs To n
climax and ended il. In 1872, offended
because he had not received from the
American Government the annual
tribute IN precisely such articles. as
ne wanted, the Bey dismissed the
American Consul, declared war on the
United States and his corsalrs can
tured American vessels and took their
oincers and crews as slaves.
This was in 1912, just as the war
broke out between the United States
and Great Britain. 9elieving that
Great Britain would instantly annihi-
late our infant navy, this African rob-
Der renewed his depredations upon
american commerce in violation of
treaty obligations. The Bey, it may be
wei remembered, ruled over but one
OF the Barbary powers in northern
Africa. They were the independent
states OF Algiers. Tunis, Trlpoli and
morocco. His State was the richest
and most populous. his pirates more
numerous and more ruthless, and in
consequence the tribute paid him ex-