The age-herald., 1898-12-18
NOTHING LEFT BUT HONOR
RaViShed Of Her FaireSt Possessions to
 Satisfy InSatiate Greed.
RECKONING WILL CUME IN FUTURE
Some Day the Young Republic May Lie Groveling At the Feet of an Inhuman Conqueror Refusedto
 Arbitrate Maine Disaster.

LondOn, DecemDer lf.-Ine IonoWlnS iS the text of the Interview between Senor Rios, president of the Spanish peace com mission and M. De Blowitz, the Paris cor respondent of the London Times, published in that paper today. Senor Montero Rios is quoted as saying:
 "We have fulfilled here a very painful mission in which it is impossible to dream of looking forward with any satisfaction, but that of doing our duty. We depart without other consolation than the exelam- ation: , Tout st per due sauf rhonneur,' Call is lost but honorO
 ""We knew in advance that we should have to deal with an implacable conquerer who would in no way concern himself with any pre-exsting international law, but whose sole object was to reap from victory the largest possible advantage This con- ception of international law is absolutely new. It is no longer a case of might against right, but of might without right As for us, we had only to protect ourselves against the abasement which 1t was desired to infiict upon us, and to prove, in spite of our blunders and mistakes, that we had not compromised the proverbial loyalty to the Castillian fatherland.
 Misfortune Has Grandeur
 Misfortune also has grandeur. The Americans have acted as vain conquerors parvenues,' (upstarting conquerors) They do not know the misfortune of defeat, but there are things which the most fortunate nations cannot escape later on-when they, too will have had reverses-when they will have become homogeneous and are no longer obliged to satisfy the exigencies of political parties, they, too, will form, like all other nations with past, code of international rights and duties and be less nfiexible to- wards those who have suffered defeat. They will better understand that strict ob- servation of conditions agreed even in the trick of a fight is guarantee and pro- lection for all concerned, for the conqueror as well as the vanquished.
 eve signed on August 12 protocoi sus- pending hostiities, and 1t was on the i4th that the American general demanded the surrender of Manila. The archipelago had not been won, and has not yet been con- uuered. The fate of the Philippines fe- mained undetermined and Spanish sover- eighty was still in force. since we were still waging war with considerable forces to suppress the insurrection. But after tourney across a portion of the United States, President Mckinley changed his policy and decided upon claiming the Phil- ippines by right of conquest.
 Are Still Unconquered
 "Yet repeat the Philippines even now are still unconquered. The two chief is- lands the two richest-Mindinao and Lu- zon-are not won Mindnao and the island of the Great Lake contain population Of half breeds, half Malay and half Spanish, constituting a military oligarchy which rules the rest of the islands and occupies the richest portion of the territory on the shores of the lake, They are proud, strong and warlike, and not only are they uncon- quered, but their conquest will not be ac- complished quickly. Yet the United States claimed them as well as the other islands, as though their conquest was complete.
 "But what most pains me is that in this great whirlwind in which we have lost al- lost our last armada, there has been an attempt to deprive us of our honor as we'll On December proposed to the Americans to appoint technical commission to ex- anime the question of the Maine. We said America will appoint an American, an Eng lsman and a Frenchman, and we will ap- point a Spaniard, an Englishman and a Frenchman, all specialists, and that the commission appoint German, and that these seven men bring in verdict. If they declare Spain innocent, the president of the United States will address a message to the senate declaring Spanish honor Antact and that Spain was falsely accused of having betrayed the laws of hospitality by blowing upia vessel at anchor in one of her ports.
 Would Salute Our Flag
 'If Spain Is declared guilty, a Spanish ship will go to America, salute the United States flag and Spain will pay the costs.
 "On December in his message to con- gress the president made no allusion to our proposal but described the blowing up of the Maine as a suspicious event.
 ''0n December 6 the American commits sioners declared they refused to discuss this question. This is what especially irritates us. We have great defects. Our hot tenn per and cruelties even, but our national honor is dear to us. Yet at that honor the Americans wished to deal the rudest blow.
 "Well, we are now going home to help Spain staunch the wound. We have hap oily at our head a woman whose virtues, courage and intelligence are our strength and hope, who Is beloved and esteemed by all parties, who henceforth has the heart of Spaniard.
 .The latest news from the frontier is that all is pretty quiet. There are, moreover really no Carlist, but the prieses who recall the gloomiest period in our history. Don Carlos himself Is no Carlist. He has lived too long in the most advanced countries to be retrograded and our earliest fanaticism has disappeared. Nor are there any longer men who want republic. Castellar, Mar gat and Salmeron are loyal opponents
 Spain has ceased to be great Spain, but we shall abide by our traditions of honor | and sobriety. Perhaps by the time our | young king, who has been brought up in | the school of adversity under the eye of a | noble woman attains his majority, we will | see days. of peace and prosperity return