Evening star., 1898-12-31
The Great Events Which Have Happened During Year.

the island was only matter of few days,
as the Spanish would surrender, and that
the people of the island were overjoyed at
the arrival of the American troops. There
was some sharp fighting as the army
marched northward through the island
toward San Juan. but the losses were slight
as compared with the land operations at
Santiago, and the capture of Porto Rico
might almost be regarded as a bloodless
victory.
In the meantime Admiral Dewey had
called for land reinforcements at Manila
and several thousand troops We're hurried
over to him by transports, the soldiers en-
barking at San Francisco.
On August 13 the land forces under the
command of Major General Merritt sup
ported by the ships of Admiral Dewey
made a successful attack upon the Spanish
forces at Manila. About 11,G00 Spanish
prisoners were captured, and Gen Jauderes
finally agreed to surrender
Peace Negotiations.
On July % NJ. Jules Cambon, the French
ambassador at Washington, notified Presi-
dent Mckinley that he had been requested
by the Spanish government to make in
quiries as to what terms the United States
would be willing to end the war. On July
- the President replied to Spain's inquiry,
demanding the independence of Cuba, ces-
sion of Porto Rico and Guam, and the re-
tention of Manila, which was to be dis
posed of by the action of joint commits
sion. On August it was announced at
Madrid that the queen regent had approved
the condition of peace offered by America.
On August . a protocol embodying the pro-
posed terms Of peace was agreed upon be-
tween President Mckinley, Secretary Day
and Ambassador Cambon. This protocol
was referred back to the Spanish govern
ment and was approved August H. and was
promptly signed in this city the next day.
On September 8 the Rresident appointed the
following gentlemen ito constitute Il COM
mission which was to meet a similar com
mission appointed by Spain, in Paris, to
arrange the details bf the peace: William
r. Day, who resigned his position as Sec
retary OF State to accept the place at the
head of the commission; Senator Cushrnan
*. Davis of Minnesota Senator William Z.
Frye of Maine, Senator George Gray of
Delaware and WhitelaW Reid of the New
York tribune. These gentlemen met the
Spanish commission in Paris in the latter
part of September, and, Immediately after
organizing, industriously pressed the claims
of the Cnited States TO successful issue,
which was attained by the signing of
treaty on Saturday, December 10 The
American commissioners at once started
for home and delivered the instrument to
the President the day before Christmas.
Under the provisions of the protocol the
Spanish troops in the surrendered posses
sions had already begun to be repatriated,
and United States troops gradually took
their places. Some disorders occurred in
Havana between the Cubans and the de-
parting Spaniards. The question of the
government of the new territories aroused
lively differences of opinion among leading
politicians and publicists of the United
States, and what was termed the doctrine
of expansion became a lively political issue,
upon which both the leading parties divided
to some extent. The eXpansionists took the
ground that it was the duty of the United
States to guarantee to all the people of
the acquired islands a stable form OF gov
ernment, while their opponents took the
position that all this government should
do in the matter was TO prevent outside
interference, as had been done in the cases
of Hayti and Mexico, and let the people
of the islands select their own form of gov
ernmenI and run it themselves. What
might be termed middle party favored
the adoption of the treaty as signed, and
proposed leaving the question of govern
ment for the islands to Congress. Presi-
dent Mckinley in his message to Congress
had practically recommended this course
of procedure.