The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-27
SPAIN SUES FoR PEACE.

The news of the victories of Dewey,
Sampson and Schiey. and shafter was
no more welcome than the news that
Spain. through NJ Cambon, French
ambassador at Washington, had made
overtures to the secretary OF state for
the opening Of negotiations for peace
These Oyertures were received just
three months after this country de-
clared war, and a momentous three
months they have been, filed with
glory for our own country, shame and
humiliation for Spain.
That the Washington authorities are
perfectly willing to open negotiations
for peace there is no doubt; on what
1 terms they an agree to conduct them
only the administration knows, and it
may not have arranged them in detail
as yet. One thing is certain, and that
IS that there viii be no negotiations for
( peace except on the basis that Cuba
] shall be free. and Spanish dominion
! over it cease; that is a sine qua non
/ to the preliminaries TO peace. To Sc
cure independence for Cuba was the
object OF the war. In the declaration
/ Of war there was a distinct disavowal
OF any intention to annex Cuba, and
the spirit Of that declaration should
govern on cur part in arranging the
terms Of peace. Thee can be no dis
cTssion Of the terms on which this gov
+ eminent viii consent t. negotiate for
peace until they are made known. The
administration viii look after the in
terc<ts and honor Of the United States:
of this there need and viii be no ap-
| prehension.
The effect Of the war on this country
/ has not been bad so far as deranging
business is concerned, and if peace
now comes it will have a tendency. in
all likelihood to stimulate business.
In nationali1ing way its effect has
been good. FIR beyond anticipation. it
has brought the north and the south to-
gether as nothing else could. brought
together the very generation that di-
N'ded and fought each other a third
OF century ago.
The war has taught the country that
II should be better prepared for war
than 1t was. This does not mean that
there shall be maintained large
standing army, but that the govern
ment shall be able to arm and equip
q large army 50 soon as called into
the field; and the arms and equip
ments should be of the very latest and
best. The government gun factories
should be increased so as to be able
TO turn out not a hundred and twenty
rites day. but two or three thousand
a day. And if the government is to
have a powder factory. its capacitv
should be not merely a thousand
pounds a day, as now proposed, but
hFe or six times that amount.
The war has demonstrated that while
the government can soon raise vol
unteer army of any size, it finds il diff
hcult to properly officer that army.
west Point should be turning out in
future at least two or three times as
many officers as it now does.
50 far as the navy is concerned. the /
war has taught no particular lesson.
but it has emphasized anew that the
navy OF today is the worthy and legit-
innate successor of the old navies that
produced Paul Jones, Decatur, Porter.
+ arragut and others. The lesson for /
the navy is that it should be added to;
that is all
Contemplated in its entirety, it is |
really wonderful what has been ac- !
complished in three months. The
country did not desire The war. but
was compelled to undertake it. and will
willingly continue it if necessary; yet
the people will welcome peace. The
only danger that threatens the country
Is that there may be those in power
who will want to saddle upon it all
the colonial possessions that have been
such a curse to Spain.