Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-15
Peace Prospects.

Every few days reports reach us, by
the way of various European sources,
that Spain desires peace and is anx-
ious for the American government to
submit terms on which to end the
present war No doubt these reports
are true up to a certain point. Spain
would undoubtedly be pleased to have
the war end at once, provided she
could name the terms. We know what
those terms are, and they are not such
as to make the prospects of immediate
peace very bright. Spain must not
only be beaten. the defeat has already
come, but it must be pounded and
mauled until defeat is acknowledged.
A few days ago Sr. Castillo, the
Spanish ambassador to France, al
lowed the fact to be made public that
he had consulted with the Queen
Regent in the presence of Premier
Sagasta and Duke Almodovar. In tn 1t
interview the queen is represented as
1dNIuS Sttlu luit pubilN ol'liiiciA -
Spain could not tolerate a peace
which would involve the loss of Span
ish territory in the West Indies or the
Philippines" She also stated, accord
ing to this story which has been pro-
mulgated by Spanish officials, that
only in the event of some crushing de-
feat like the capture of Cervera's
squadron would Spain be willing to ne
gotiate peace on any other terms than
IAN integrity of the Spanish possess
sions"
The Spanish congratula over the
wonderful skill of Admiral Cervera'
have already begun to die away. 1t is
now growing palmer every day that
the Spanish commander was out-gen~
eraled. Admiral SIMPSONS lombard
ment of Porto Rico really served 20
evident that Admiral Cervera had plan
ned to go to San Juan, there to receive
supplies from a number of vessels
which had already been ordered to
meet him at that port. The Spanish
admiral received advices which made
him afraid TO risk the trip to San Juan
He went to Curacao, but could get
little coal or provisions there.
Plainly the admiral grew still more
uneasy and was at loss how TO act
He finally decided to put in at San
tiago, to learn whether the coast were
clear at San Juan. He thought the
harbor was deserted and that he could
easily escape from that port in a day
Louis from the harbor's entrance; but
the American cruiser quickly informed
the St Paul what had happened. Be
fore Cervera could get out of Santiago
harbor he was securely caught, trap
ped as neatly as the Americans could
desire, in a port where he could expect
no assistance from the Spanish navy
department.
Meanwhile the transports which
We're to bring Cervera fresh supplies
haye been captured one after another.
His escape is impossible and his cap
ture likely to occur at any time. This
is the news that has thrown the Span
iSh government into detection and has
n j,i1 n IT
any peace which can be secured on
terms that will satisfy the Spanish
people should be had at once. 1t is
doubtful. however, whether the Queen
Regent can bring herself even yet 20
accept any terms which the American
government considers fair and reason
able under the circumstances.
Yet surely it would be the part Of
common sense for the Madrid govern
ment today to accept almost any terms
that President Mckinley may offer
The financial panic in Spain has
reached such point that the govern
ment has threatened to imprison, or
otherwise to punish, some of the
people who are rushing to the Bank of
Spain to drain from that bankrupt in
stitution its few remaining stores Of
silver. The paper imitation throughout
Spain is increasing constantly and the
value of paper money is naturally de-
creasing in like proportion
The financial panic has almost pros
trated every form of legitimate bust
ness in the industrial centres, the fae-
tories are being closed, failures are
spreading, and hundreds of thousands
of the working people are being added
every day to the large armies of the
| unemployed. Riots are increasing in
| number in the different provinces; and
in some sections the military gaTrisOns
seem too weak to prevent the distur-
| Dances. Ruin, financial and political,
| has swept over the land and shakes
| the corners of the Spanish throne to-
day. For Spain to persist in prosecut-
! ing the war under such circumstances
| is merely criminal recklessness.
McanW lille the A American government