The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-08-17
WAR.

Yesterday America was at war with
Spain, and today hostihties have
ceased. The great events OF August
u. 1898, will make the day historical,
the practical termination of the most
remarkable war of history-the day
upon which the protocol was signed
and an order issued for the cessation
of hostilities, the commanding gen.
erals being advised that temporary,
if not permanent, peace has been de-
clsred between the recent beiliger-
ents-the Yankees and the Dons. In
the war and navy departments where,
for the past four months, every effort
has been made to plan campaigns
and to hurry troops to the front, the
excitement of conflict and the talk OF
war and the enemy have been
changed into the complacent pride
of victory, the more deliberate plans
of peaceful occupation and the Or
derly government Of the places so re-
Gently sought to be taken by storm
and force of arms. For, though hos
tilities have ceased in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines, the Ameri-
can armies will occupy these islands
and establish some sort Of orderly
government under our flag as soon
and as rapidly as possible. The pro-
tocol demands that Spain evacuate
Immediately; but it provides for the
appointment of commissions (mlh-
tary) to meet at Havana and San
Juan to arrange for the evacuation
which means that the Spanish troops
may not actually leave these islands
for some months yet-perhsps two or
three. But the islands will pass at
once under our military rule. Porto
Rico will first pass under our COM
plete control; for the problem OF
transformation there is very simple
one. The Spanish army is small and
the Porto Ricans are very friendly to
the United States and anxious to get
under the stars and stripes. The
only problem to be met is the depor~
tation of the Spanish soldiers. But
Cuba holds large Spanish army and
possesses climate which hes proven
TO be very trying upon American-bred
men-is very unhealthy; SO the prob
lem there is not so easy. But by far
the hardest nut which the administra-
ton will have to. crack is the one pre-
sented in the Philippine question.
Shrewd diplomacy and Yankee ingen-
uity will have to be used in settling
the many delicate questions which
the situation there presents, or our
trouble may simply be somewhat
changed in form but only intensified
in character. The deadlock of the
peace commissioners may result in
renewed hostilities with Spain, with
some other possible foreign conpli-
cation. For Spain has ceded Cuba,
Porto Rico and Manila, and there is
good reason to believe that she re-
CARDS this as the maximum conces-
sion which she will have to make,
these were the conditions precedent
to any negotiations for peace. If,
therefore, our commissioners be IN
structed to demand a larger conces-
sion there than the single grant al
ready made, it is almost certain that
the Spanish commissioners will be
instructed to resist any such demands;
50 that deadlock may result, since
there are five commissioners on the
part Of each government, and neither
would have deciding vote. In that
event, there would be no way out Of
the difficulty through the commits
sion, and the problem would revert
back to other means of settlement
possibly a resumption of hostilities.
The international effect of the tempo
rary truce, in that event, has been
considered somewhat by the Cabinet
and other officials. The truce pro-
vides tnat neither side shall make
further preparationsfor war; but such
provisions are often violated, Spain
will, 40 doubt, provide her remain
ing armies with abundant ammuni-
ton and provisions; and it is more
than likely that she will send her
Cuba and Porto Rico troops to re-
enforce her army 10 the Philippines,
which, it would seem, she has a per
feet right to do under the terms Of
the protocol. But, in that event, she
would be very much stronger there
to resist our attack than she is now
So there are many chances yet that
hostilities may be resumed; for it IS
a general rule. recognized by the
highest military authorities, that a
truce always helps the weaker side;