The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-07-22
PEACE NEAR AT HAND.
And ALI the Great Business Interests OF
the Country Prepared for Il.


WASHINGTON. July 20.-The President
and his official advisers are highly
pleased with the reports they receive
from the business world. According to
these reports the commercial, financial
and industrial interests of the country
have practically eliminated the war with
Spain from their calculations for the fu-
ture and are proceeding on the assurance
that peace, if not Immediately ahead of
us. is sure to come at not distant date.
This state of feeling in the business
world gives great qualification to the
President and those who hold official re-
lations with him. 1t is realized by them
that the impulse of development and
growth, interrupted for time by the
war and the exciting period which pre-
coded the outbreak of hostilities, again
sways the business mind and in conse-
quence buoyant feeling prevails, capt.
tai again seeks investment, and enter
prise is once more the order of the day.
The only feature at present that disturbs
the business mind is the situation in the
Philippines, and even that is not regard
ed as gravely serious. Still it affords an
element of uncertainty though few look
for grave embarrassments from that
point, though it may complicate the
final solution of the problem of peace.
The destruction of Cervera's feet set the
business mind at rest by removing all
danger of disturbance to our foreign
commerce on the high seas and quoting
any alarm that might have been felt on
account of possible attacks upon our At
lantic seaboard cities. Business people
generally find time to discuss terms of
peace, but they do not permit specula-
ton thereon to take up time which can
be more proftably employed in their
regular pursuits. They feel confident
that the President and his advisers will
be entirely able to cope with the peace
problem, as they have been with the
problems of war.
AS reflected in correspondence and
personal interviews with members of the
Administration, business men in all parts
of the country look with disfavor on the
demand for the permanent retention of
the Philippines. 1t is recognized that in
settling upon terms of peace it may be
necessary for this country to hold the
Philippines for time, perhaps for
/ v1o, s;r.5 OE ix,0 80
Spain or some other country indemnity
in the shape of money wherewith to pay
a part of the expenses of the war. If we
should occupy the Philippines for
time with this object in view it would
be necessary that we should control the
foreign relations of the islands during
the period of such occupation. This
would be required for our own protection
and the safety of any government that
might be established there 1t is gener-
ally agreed that the retention of one of
the islands or some convenient harbor
for coaling station is essential to our
interests in the Orient. Coaling stations
in the Canaries and the Balearic Islands
are also regarded as desirable.
At the same time there is a growing
feeling everywhere in the country that
the United States should not be harsh
and exacting or territorially avaricious
when the time comes to arrange definite
terms of peace. On the other hand, the
feeling is strong that this government
should not display weakness in its settle
ment with Spain and that it should not
give up anything to which this country
is entitled. The just medium is what
the business world wants the government
to strike and an avoidance of yielding to
a spirit of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
simply for the purpose of adding to our
already vast domain The question as
to where and by whom peace negotia-
tons shall originate does not disturb the
business world. It has put all these de-
tails on one side and reached the conclu-
sion that events are making rapidly for
peace and that that desired consumma-
ton will be reached without further
great sacrifice of life.
The opinion, however, is very general
that the war will hardly end until after
Havana has fallen into our hands, and it
is believed that it must be captured by
force of arms as Santiago was. The ex-
pulsion of the Spanish army from Cuba
was specifically declared to be one of the
objects of the war. Until that has been
accomplished the Madrid government
may feel justified in denying that the
United States has carried its point, al
though victorious everywhere else and
wherever there has been conflict. The
necessity therefore of proceeding with
vigor and energy is recognized. The oe-