The record-union., 1898-11-30
THE PEACE SETTLEMENT.


Paris reports to the home Government
that the Spanish Commissioners have
fled with them acceptance of the peace
terms proposed by the United States.
This acceptance, according to the
press dispatches, contains what may
be construed as protest, in that it
recites the claim that Spain had the
best of the argument on all the issues
involved, but that she yields to SUI
perior force.
The protest is no cause for slightest
disturbance of the serenity of the
American mind, and it may therefore
be dismissed from consideration The
terms Of the settlement are, in brief.
that Spain relinquishes sovereignty
over the Philippine and Sulu groups;
that there may be no question in the
future as to the delineation of the
area thus relinquished, the bounds Of
the land and marine territory set over
to the United States are defined by
latitudinal and longitudinal lines.
The Sulu group is properly a part Of
the Philippines. But it was not al
ways so recognized. Some of the Pow
ers so far disputed its integrity as
Of the Philippine archipelago that the
matter was for half a century in ques-
ton, and not until 1877 did Spain by
final decree assert her proprietorship
over the islands as a part Of the Phil
ippines. Prior to the issuance of that
decree she had claimed them and dis
puted with the Powers concerning
them, but In that year she issued a
proclamation, and made it good by
acts, which led England and France,
and subsequently Germany and the
United States, to recognize her SOW
eretgnty as impregnable by any rival
claim. For twenty-five years. there
fon'e. her ownership has been undis-
prIted.
In consideration of these relinquish-
ynents by Spain the United States Gov
ernment agrees to pay to the Spanish
crown the sum Of $20O00,OO0, but
just when and how is not as yet re-
vealed. 1t is provided in the prelim-
mary settlement that the commissions
shall proceed at once to formulate the
necessary treaty. That document is
to contain also cession of the island of
Guam in the Ladrones, and of the
island Ualan in the Carolines, and
one or two other small islands for
telegraphic, naval and coaling sta
tions for the United States.
1t is possible also that negotiations
will be authorized by the treaty for
purchase of the entire Caroline group.
The treaty will also include the formal
cession of all Spanish sovereignty in
the West Indies. as already deter
mined by the protocol The question
or the Cuban debt will not be taken
up In the treaty at all, and it is safe
to conclude that we have heard the
last of 1t so far as Spain is concerned.
we are uninformed regarding the
agreements concerning colonial and
municipal Indebtedness of the Philip
pines, but 1t is assumed that these
viii form no part Of the treaty terms,
the $20000O00 giving us practically
unincumbered title to the Oriental ISL
ands.
The fact that Immediately upon the
announcement of the settlement hav-
ing been arrived at, the German EN-
bassadDr to France called upon the
American Peace Commission in his Of
f1cial capacity and extended the con-
<rra f1r1a ffopc of Carroopxv ,o,,1lo<z ,.~s41.
expressions of the profoundest sympa-
thy and regard for the United States,
may be taken as dispelling wholly
the fears Of European Intervention
from any direction. England has al
ready assured us of her friendship in
the matter, and Russia long ago gave
it 10 be understood that she would
take no concern to heart regarding the
disposition Of the Philippines if we
were to become the new owners.
This leaves France and Italy alone
unfriendly in attitude or by oninous
silence. But we have no reason to
fear either. France Is the last nation
on the globe to chatter of injustice,
conquest and the mercilessness of the
victor. History of her conquests is
still sufficiently recent for all men TO
point at her with laughter, should she
undertake to scold America. They
Will recall how within century her
lagions overran Europe. conquered
Italy, imprisoned the Pope, divided his
State, disrupted Austria, dismembered
Germany, set up French throne over
Holland, invaded Russia. destroyed the
Tyrol, and dictated their rising up
and sitting down to all the German
Princes, and never ceased her ambi-
tious raids until Schwartzenberg and
Forward Blucher crossed the Rhine,
and laundering at the gates of Paris
drove Napoleon into retiracy at Elba.
1t is probable that the treaty will
be completed within a fortnight and
our Commissioners be en- route for
home. Then will come the sole re-
manning question, namely, the ratih-
cation of the convention. That the
Senate will confirm the treaty may be
accepted as foregone But that the
ratification win meet with opposition
is We'll understood. After the ap-
proval will arise. indeed it is already
matter of serious public debate, the
question OF the government Of the new
possessions, and intermediately and
interviewer with it Will be the perplex-