Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-17
Treaty Of Peace and Congress.

With the approach of the time for
congress to assemble, the members of
that body are losing their reticence
regarding the terms upon which peace
should be concluded between the United
states and Spain, and the expressions
made by congressman and senators
would indicate that unless the peace
commissioners at Paris provide for per-
manent possession of the entire Phil
llppine archipelago, refuse to assume
any part of the Cuban or Philippine
debt, and insist upon the %relinqulsh.
ment of all authority by Spain on the
other islands which have fallen into
the hands of the United States as a re-
suit of the war. the treaty will be
refused, and the work done by the COM
m~issioners will be for naught.
The senators and congressman have
been among their constituents the great
er part of the summer and fall and have
learned the wishes Of a majority of the
citizens, and unless the peace treaty
complies with the demands made in ev-
cry section of the country there will be
| "a warm time in congress when it is
presented for ratification. Much has
been said and written concerning what
should be done with the Philippines, but
it is useless to attempt to ignore the
real feeling in the country. The peo-
pie of the United States have made up
their minds that the government is
bound by a sacred duty to provide for
the future of the islands in a manner
which will forever preclude the return
of Spanish authority, the possibility of
complications arising with other ma
tons over the question. and which will
insure a safe and stable government for
the inhabitants. The members of con
gress have been at their homes long
enough to fully realize the situation,
and while the powers that be may de-
sire to wash their hands of all respon-
sibility for the future state of the ISL
ands. in the end the will of the people
| will prevail. Congressman and sena-
tors are shrewd enough to understand
that to thwart a well defined policy
adopted by their constituents is to
court retirement to the walks of pri-
vate life, and to escape that fate the
treaty will have to be all that is
wanted. or it will fail of ratification.
The members of the peace commits
sion sent from this country are not
wanting in knowledge of the situation,
and it is strongly suspicioned in some
quarters that the delay in arriving at
an understanding at the meetings of
the commission is caused by the fact
that the American commissioners are
so busy holding their ears to the ground
to catch the latest rumble of public
sentiment that other matters are una
voidably crowded aside.
The proposition made by Spain that
all matters of difference between the
two governments regarding the as
sumption of debts by the United States
and the Philippine islands be submit
| ted to arbitration, will receive little
| attention. There is nothing to arbi-
trate. IF Spain does not care to accede
to the demands of this country there is
but one thing she can do, and that is te
| open the war again. The time for arbi.
! trat.on passed when the Maine was
| blown up at Havana, and subsequent
events placed the United States in a po-
sition to make demands and to stick to
them.
The American members of the peace
commission no doubt are kept Informed
| as to the development of sentiment in
| this country and will endeavor to ar
range to meet all requirements and