Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-08-17
PEACE.
WAR WITH SPAIN PRACTICALLY
ENDED LAST FRIDAY.
HOSTILITIEs CEASE PENDING SETTLE
MENT OF FINAL PEACE TERMS
ARMY AND NAVY MOVEMENTS.

-hih-h SNb MA hoN
With the signing of the protocol and
the peace proclamation last Friday after
noon. the war with Spain was practically
ended, though technically it will not end
until the final treaty of peace as arranged
by the peace commission is signed, and
diplomatic and friendly relations between
the United States and Spain are resumed
The protocol is virtually a temporary
treaty of peace, under which hostiities
cease, pending agreement on the final
treaty. In signing the protocol Spain,
the suppliant for peace, agrees to certain
conditions imposed by the United States.
An official statement regarding the terms
OF the protocol; also the text OF the peace
proclamation issued by President Nc
Kinley Immediately after the signing of
the protocol, appear in the "war news"
column on page 5.
President Mckinley delivered MASTER
ly stroke, and proved his knowledge OF
Spanish diplomatic methods, by his treat
ment OF the Spanish reply to our demands.
The Spanish reply was lengthy, and its
meaning was clouded by suggestion and
evasion. 1t was calculated to lead to long
diplomatic correspondence.
But President Mckinley refused to con-
slider the Suggestion" contained in the
Spanish reply, and construed it as COM
plete acceptance OF our terms. Under his
direction the protocol embodying those
terms was drawn up, and Spain was asked
to sign it. Spain was unable to parley
further-she had to sign the protocol or
suffer continuance of the war.
PEACE PROCLAIMED.
Immediately after the signing of the
protocol and the issuing of the Presidents
proclamation of peace, all army and navy
commanders were ordered to cease hos
tilities, and the blockades at Cuba, Porto
Rico and Manila were raised. The Span
ish government also notified its army and
naval commanders. The Cuban insu
gents also took due notice of the proc
lamatioa, and have stopped fighting.
Thus in effect the war was ended by the
protocol. Within thirty days from
the signing of the protocol commits
sioners will meet at Havana and San
Juan to arrange for the evacuation of
Cuba and Porto Rico. Before the first of
October a peace commission will meet
in Paris to negotiate treaty of peace.
1t is with universal satisfaction that the
people of the United States know that
Secretary -of-State Day will be one of the
peace commission. The able manage
ment of state affairs in the trying
months leading up to and during the war,
is a guarantee that the interests Ct the
United States in the peace commission
are safe in the hands OF Judge Day.
THE EASTERN QUESTION.
The hardest problem which the peace
commission will have to decide is the
final disposition Of the Philippines. The
administration has already given this
question careful attention, studying it
from all points Of view, and consulting
public sentiment in regard to the ques-
ton.
The news that the protocol had been
signed did not reach Admiral Dewey and
Gen. Merritt early enough to prevent
their attack on Manila, and dispatches
record the unconditional surrender OF
Manila to them.
1t is Impossible to conceal the feeling
OF satisfaction which this news causes
American sentiment is against taking
anything that has not been earned, and
though Manila would have been ours by
the terms OF the protocol, no one regrets
that it has come into our possession as it
has.
But the capture OF Manila in this way
has more than a sentimental value, as it
will undoubtedly strengthen our status
in the Philippines before the peace COM
mission, and lend force to whatever we
may demand.
1t is generally admitted that The United
States will retain some foothold in the
Philippines. A suggestion which seems
to meet with popular favor, and may be
accepted as a compromise between reten-
tion of all or none of the islands, is to
keep the island of Luzon.
Luzon is larger than all the other Phil
ippine islands put together, and has a
larger population than all the rest. 1t is
$50 miles long, with breadth of 100 at
It's Droauest, anu one ol us rivers Is lou
miles long. In area it equals New York
and New Jersey combined. Its popula-
ton is about 100000.
Its two mountain chains with peaks
1000 feet high, are covered with mighty
forests, while the valleys and plains are
wonderfully luxuriant, as the crops of
hemp, sugar, tobacco, rice and other
products show. Gold, copper, iron and
coal are among its minerals. Manila, its
capital, is one OF the great marts of the
far East, counting, with its suburbs that
manufacture many things, from cheroots
to cordage and embroideries, 10000 peo-
pie.
The only other island approaching
Luzon in size is Mindanao, at the south,
and that is far inferior in cultivation,
wealth the character of it3 OODulat ion.