Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-10-20
SPAIN IS IN DESPAIR
Americans Will Not Modify the
Terms Of the Protocol.
pOyS EXPECTED VICTORY At PARIS.
Premier sagasta Urged to Break on Neg0-
tiations with Us and to CAil Upon
Europe 10 Arbitrate or
Intervene.


While the Spanish masses take little
or no interest in the deliberations OF
the peace conference, the politicians
and journalists are much depressed BY
the growing belief that the American
commissioners will allow no moditica.
tion of the terms of the protocol. The
Spanish government and the press had
staked everything upon the issue OF
diplomacy Overwhelmed by superior
force they hoped to recoup some Of
their losses by superior strategy.
Beaten at Manila and santiago, they
looked forward confidently to VIC
tory at Paris.
AT the least they had counted upon
American assumption, in part or as a
whole, Of the Cuban debt to neutralize
the loss Of Cuba and Porto Rico Now
that Senior Montero Rios, the presi-
dent Of the Spanish commission, no
longer processes any hope Of being
able to persuade the American COM
missioners to accept any proposition
involving American assumption of
SPANS financial obligations in Cuba, a
gloomy feeling is spreading, not only
in ministerial circles, but among all
classes Of SPANS public men.
That the American government may
go further and even ask, as is reported
here. for the costly floating dock at
Havana and the heavy artillery OF
Spain in the Antilles, is an additional
cause of dismay. In their rage there
are not wanting prominent Spaniards
who urge Senior Sagasta to break off
the negotiations and to call upon Eu-
rope to arbitrate or intervene. These
people are still unable to realize that
neither the intervention nor the arbi-
tration of Europe is practicable thing.
Senior Segasta knows that the Ameri'
can government intends to settle the
whole question Independently, but
there is probably no other responsible
politician clear-sighted enough to un'
derstand this verify.
Thus far, as Is understood here, the
question Of the Philippines has not
been formally raised at Paris. When
the matter is taken up, then the real
agony of Spain will come. Nowhere
in the kingdom had there been until
very recently the least doubt that
Spain would retain the Philippines.
Very few have even admitted to them
selves that the American government
would get even naval coaling station
there. But there now tricxles through
the hands Of the censors an occasional
intimation that large section of the
American people is urging the govern.
ment to retain the entire Philippine
archipelago, and paralyzing sense of
what is possible-though nobody yet
believes it probable seems to Cypress
all the WE'LL informed.
Senior Sagasta is stalking everything
upon this card-the retention OF the
Philippines, or OF such portion as would
be salable. SPANS greatest difficulty
is financial, and while her money mat
ters are in better condition than they
were at the close of the war, her re-
sources have been pledged almost to
their limit, and the revenues upon
which the government depends for its
subsistence have been cruelty cur
tailed II she is to be compelled to
carry the whole burden of the Cuban
debt, while Cuba, out of which she
might expect to get the interest, slips
away from her, there will be nothing
left for her but to offer some remain
ing colonial possessions to the highest
bidder. A transfer Of title to the Phil
ippines must inevitably involve polit-
ical complications. but the Spanish
politicians have been hoping that
these could be got around in some way.
If the United States, having refused
to assume the Cuban debt, should in.
sist upon holding the Philippines,
even though assuming the Philippine
debt, SPANS predicament would be
infinitely worse than anything she had
ever seriously contemplated as the re-
suit of defeat. Whether Sagasta could
defend the dynasty in the presence of
such calamity is very doubtful.
WOULD APPEAL TO EUROPE.
Madrid, Oct IL, La Epoca, the con-
servative organ, renews the suggestion
Of La Correspondence independent
and semi-ofliciaD regarding the arbi-
tration between the United States and
Spain. 1t says:
The negotiations OF present are going on
without touching the question OF the Philip
pines. which Is most obscure, and which lends
itself to the gravest dissensons Owing to the
ysvucness and lack Of clearness OF The protocol
the commissioners are meeting with serious
difficulties 1t has been said that. II our
adversaries are obstinate in their exaggerated
demands, Senior Sagasta should address the
European governments, asking arbitration at
least upon the points to which an agreement
could not be reached, but, In view Of the cleo
tora struggle now In full vigor in the United
States and Of the declarations OF the lingo
press. which afirms without limits the rights
Of the conqueror it is safe to assume that re-
quest for arbitration would be without avail