The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-11
AMERICANS HAPPY,
SPANIARDS DEPRESSED
FINAL SIGNATURES WE'RE Ara
TACHED TO THE DUPLICATE
TREATIES AT $40 p. M.
SCRAMBLE FOR SOUVENIRS
DISPLEASED SPANlARDSI

striking Contrast in the Attire OF
the Representatives Of America
and spain-FOrmer In Evening
Dress, Latter I'm sOmber BIack--4
Official Notification OF Signing OF
Treaty Received at Washington,
PARIS, Dec. 10.-The war between
Spain and the United States is formal,
ly at an end. At 8:45 this evening thai
doors to the chamber Of the neetinE
room Of the peace commission werai
thrown open and the announcements
made that the treaty had been signed.
This simple announcement constituted
the only demonstration. The newsf
meaning 80 much to America of neV
aspirations and new problems and so
much to Spain of humiliation and de4
feat, came with no bIare of trumpets
and no show Of ceremony.
But If the climax of weeks of diplo-
matto sparring, following the conflict
on land and sea, as witnessed from the
outside, seemed lacking In dramatic in+
ctdent and power, there was no want
Of this behind the closed doors where by
q few strokes Of the pen Spain was
divested Of the last shreds Of empirel
and the new republic elevated almosE
in moment into the problems and
perplexities Of colonial power. The
signing Of the treaty might easily havel
afforded a subject for great histori-4
cal painting. The group gathered about
the table in the chamber Of the foreign
office was impressive in itself, whil6i
the fact that the momentousness of the
issues Of the act was deeply felt by
all the participants gave an impress
sive and solemn tone to the scene.
HISTORIC SCENE.
Around the table sat the ten arbiters
Of the destinies Of an old and young
nation. There was theatrical con-
trast between the black clothed actors
and the scenery. To the Americans iI
was a happy ending of the epilogue of
war; for the spaniards it was plainly
bitter tragedy, none the less pain
full because long foreseen. They sat
silently, as though almost crushed, and
none could withhold sympathy from
Senor Montero Rios, the president Of
the Spanish commission, who, coming
from his bed, was bundled in a great
overcoat, though logs were burning in
the fireplace near by.
The standing Of the two bodies was
symbolized by the dress worn by thu
Representatives Of both countries-for
the Americans were attired IN evening
dress for the dinner given them irnrne-
diately after the meeting by the Duo
de Loubat, and the Spaniards wore
black frock coats.
Although the commissions met at $3.50
o'clock, expecting to finish their work
In half m hour, the engrossment Of
the treaty Of Paris was found to be SO
troublesome that 1t delayed the sign
ing Of the document until $40.
Clerk Martin, of the American CONF
mission, worked all day without even
stopping to eat. When he came into
the chamber, at 1880 p. M, with the
document, he found the commissioners
waiting. The Spanish copy had arrived
a half-hour earlier.
Arthur Ferguson then proceeded to
read, first the English and after that
the Spanish version of the treaty. This
finished, copies were passed around the
table, the commissioners signing them
in the order of their rank: William
r. Day, Senator Cushman K. Davis,
Senator William P. Frye, Whitelaw
Reid and Senator George Gray; SenoP
Montero Rios, Senor Abarzuza, Senior
Garonita, Senior Vnlaurutia and Cen.
Cereo y Saons, each commissioner sign4
ing it's opponents treaty. Both were
tied with the Spanish and American
colors.
When the seals were prepared to be
affixed attendants were sent scurrying
for ribbons Of the French tri-color with
which the documents were sealed as a
compliment to the French hosts of the
commissions.
Many officials interestedly watched
every detail of the proceedings.
1T IS FINISHED.
The last seal being impressed, the
commissioners rose and without for-
rualitv each member shook the hands
Of all his antagonists, and exchanged
assurances Of personal esteem.
The Spaniards afterwards commented
acridly upon what they termed the bad
taste of the Americans In mastering a
corps Of attaches to gloat over the con-
summation of their downfall, and to
scramble for relics:
The signing was finished at S:45. At
that time the door Of the chamber,
opened and Senor Villaurutia appeared
and exclaimed to group Of correspond
dents who were waiting in the corri-
dor.
"C'est fini."
The other members of the Spanish
commission followed Senior VilIaurutlai
and passed silently through the vesti-l
bule to their waiting carriages The
American commissioners strode out
chatting eomplacency, and as they dens
seconded the vestibule the lights in the
chamber were darkened.