Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-12-15
AT tEACE With SPAIN

at Paris Saturday. y.---Impressivs
cene.---Spaniards Downcast.---
We Get Almost Everything In
Sight.
The treaty OF peace between the
United States and Spain was signed by
the commissioners of the two countries
at Paris last Saturday evening.
The scene would have afforded sub
ject for a great historical painting The
group gathered around the table in the
stately chamber of the foreign ctficc
was impressive in itself, while the fact
that the sense of the momentousness OF
the issues which the act decided was
deeply felt by all the participants gave
an impressive and solemn tone to the
scene.
Around the great mahogany table sat
the ten arbiters Of the dcstinies of an
old and young nation Ranged stand
ing behind them were numerous at
taches of the American commission.
The jets from the crystal chandeliers
above the heads OF those present mag
nified the brilliant green and scarlet of
the upholsterings into gaudiness.
Although the commissioners met at
3 80 O'Clock, expecting to finish their
work in half an hour, the engrossing of
the treaty on parchment was found to
be so troublesome that it delayed the
signing of the document until S:20
O'clock Clerk Martin of the American
commission worked all day without
even stopping to eat. When he came
into the chamber at z 80 o'clock with
the document, he found the commits
sioners waiting.
The Spanish copy had arrived half
an hour earlier. Mr.. Arthur Ferguson
then proceeded to read first the English
and after that the Spanish version of
the treaty. This finished, two copies
were passed around the table. the COM
missioners signing them in the order of
their rank--Judge William X. Day,
Senator Cushman X. Davis, Senator
7. Frye, Mr.. Whitclaw Reid
and Senator George Gray, Senor Mon
Lero Rios, Senior Abarzuzu, Senor Gar
MICA, Scnor Villarutia and Gen. Ccrero
Y Saens-each commissioner signing
lis opponents treaty. Both were tied
with the Spanish and American. coIors.
When the seals were prepared TO be
lfiixed attendants were sent scurrying
or ribbons of the French tTicolor, with
which the documents were sealed as a
to the French hosts Of the
Manu- rfif.sofa srta~ncfnIIxr x+atrtaI
very detail OF the proceedings.
The last seal heing impressed the
rose and without for
nality each member shook the hands i
If all his antagonists and exchanged as
urances of sincere personal eSteem
The Spaniards aiterward commented |
Icridly upon what they termed the bad |
aste OF the Americans in mastering a
rowd of attaches to gloat over the
of their downfall and to
cramblc for relics.
The signing was finished at 8 40. At |
hat time the door of the chamber
pened, and Senior Villarutia appeared
nd exclaimed TO q group of CORE
pon1ents who were waiting in the
orrid0r.
"C'cst fini.r
The other members of the Spanish
followed Senor, Villarutia, !
nd hurried silently through the vesti-
ule to their waiting carriages.
The American commission strolled
ut chatting complacently, and as they
descended the steps the lights in the
ha,nber were darkened.
The treaty contains seventeen arti-
les. Under it Spain relinquishes Gu
IA. with no provision made for the Gu
an debt. She cedes 10 the United
tates Porto Rico and her other West
ndian islands, the Philippines-for
which we pay s20.0O0.0 900 to cover inn
rovements-and Guam in the La
rones. We agree to treat all nations
like In the Philippine trade and to re-
erve no special privileges for our
elves.
The treaty must be ratified by our
'enate and the Spanish Cortes before
{ is binding.
About 200 days interviewed between
he declaration of war-April 2lst last
and the signing of the treaty.
,rn- nrcerA<rn con raoo