Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-11-04

CONTINUED from page L,

Again there arose the pregnant ques-
tion Of undesirable neighbors, should
only LuzOn be taken. An aggressively
disposed power might acquire Mindoro,
which is almost within cannon shot OF
Luzon, and thus create most different
situation. Could then wiser division
Of the islands be made?
Pursuing this inquiry, the most
feasible division seemed to be Luzon,
Mindoro and Palawan, forming chain
free of neighbors on the western bound
AIRY. but SO closely tangled on the
eastern side as to make impossible a
line OF geographical division at once
equitable and safe.
The American commissioners have
not been unmidful of the fact that cir
cumstances partially of their own shap-
ing, had imposed upon the United
States constructive responsibility for
the Philippines and that either this
must be forsaken or a larger one as
sumed. They have believed, too, that
before the nations of the world, the
United States have assumed the high
er responsibility Of the stable control
of the entire group; and, with sense
of specific and general obligation, they
felt compelled to propose to take over
all.
On the question of the Spanish debt, by
whatever name known, the American
commissioners seem disposed to take
broader ground than the mere question
of dollars. 1T is evident that they do not
favor coupling any power in debt or re-
sponsibilities. They seem inclined to di-.
facts and equities. Whether the war
ledgers Of Spain and the United States
are to be balanced in the present negotia-
tions does not appear; but the Americans
face the situation open-eyed and with
minds free to any argument based upon
justice to Spain and fair treatment OF
their own national interests.
The correspondent of The Associated
Press ascertains from Spanish sources,
beyond question authentic, that before
the Philippine question Is settled the
they are not here solely to save or gain
all the money possible from the United
States. Senor Montero Rios. president o.
the Spanish commission, and his coll
leagues, waving for argument any classi-
fication of the Spanish or colonial debts,
will point out that Spain has borrowed on
They viii concede that the national guar
antee may have been added, but that, for
all the purposes of this contention. tine
fact is irrelevant. 1t win then be frankly
has pawned the revenues of the Philip
pines and of Cuba that she did so III
GOOD fdItn TO feF cTeGlIOTS ana tHdt tIl5
being true. she has no moral right to
give away or rehypothecate territory al
ready pledged.
Senior Rios will urge that should Spain
take that course her creditors might fair
ly charge her with defrauding them, 10
save for herself the Canaries Carolines
and Balearic islands and to avoid pos |
sFble damage TO the Peninsula. The Span |
ish commissioners will protest that such
a transaction would be intolerable to
Spain. as it would brand her as a ROB
ber and pohtroon. They will declare to
the Americans that rather than be so pill |
loried by their creditors, they will, If |
they must. be deprived OF their remaining |
colonies and suffer devastation of their |
mainland.
If the United States feels It a high duty |
to retain the Philippines. Spain's ENJOYS |
will declare that she has an equally Sa- |
cred duty in holding them to the pledge |
of their revenues in honorable indebted |
ness. and that, while possibly unable to |
make good the Indebtedness in dollars. |
Spain can. If only by fruitless adher-
ence to high purpose, save her name from |
the brand of theft.
This statement of the Spanish conten- |
tfon comes from source which gives II |
all the weight possible to any Spanish Ut
ferance, and, in the presence of these |
conditions, the two commissions will |
meet again, tomorrow.