The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-08-18
SPANISH REPRESENTATION,

At Lieutenant Hobson's meeting in
New York City on the 4th inst. ex-
Minister to Spain Woodford was the
last speaker. In the course of his elo-
quent Grafton he said, as illustrative Of
Spanish character and methods, If you
had a dispute with Spain over yell
low dog she would protract the negotia-
ton for fifty years. That was a con-
else and emphatic, if not an elegant,
way of illustrating a Spanish trait
Since then we have had an intima-
ton from Spain that such tactics are to
be employed in the settlement Of the
terms of peace. Senior Moret, who it is
believed will be one of the Spanish
Peace Commissioners, is reported as
saying that he is unable to understand
how a treaty settlement can be fixed
up by a commission to meet in Paris,
which is composed of an equal number
of men from each Of the two nations,
and with no umpire to decide when the
commission is at a deadlock.
Moret added that there were many
grave questions to consider, and that
they will take weeks of elaboration.
For instance, he added, there is the
Cuban debt. and he went on to express
his belief that it would legitimately
arise before the commission, and that
even among the American Commission
ers the matter of its payment will pos
sibIy find favor. There is also the
Philippine question, involving so many
grave and weighty matters, that he
could not conceive of an evenly bal
anced commission coming to a verdict
unless Spain is to do as the Americans
may dictate.
That is pretty nearly the size of it,
Senior Moret. The commission was
made even in membership because the
United States does not propose to risk
its case by giving to an umpire, who
would of necessity be foreigner, the
power to say what the fruits of our
victory shall be- 1t is perfectly clear
now that Spain proposes to wedge into
the peace negotiations this matter of
the so-called Cuban debt. AS to that,
the United States can have but one
reply, namely: The protocol makes no
mention Of debt settlement: the United
States did not contract the debt; Cuba
did not contract the debt; Spain can
discharge her own Indebtedness, when
and as she likes
Senior Moret's suggestion of the diff
culties involved in the Philippine mat
ter is obscure. It may mean much or
little. 1t may refer to the difficulties
we are to encounter in dealing with
the natives of such part as we occu-
py Of the island territory; or it may
relate TO the difficulty we will have
in bringing Spain into compliance with
our demands in ceding naval stations
and harbors and sufficient territory for
their convenient and safe occupation,
or in ceding to US the island of Luzon,
for which 1t is probable our Government
will contend, at least, for the southern
half Of it.
But beyond this matter of extent of
territorial cession, and the usual ad-
justment concerning the property rights
of Spain's subjects in such territory,
there can nothing in reason come up
that will call for the concern of Spain.
But Senior Moret gives it to be under
stood that his country will do its best
to outgeneral US in everything; he
does not even except the evacuation of
Cuba, matter that is settled already,
and which his commission viii assured
~ not be permitted to touch. We must
keep an eye upon the willy Spaniard
He will procrastinate, scheme for delay.
prolong the controversy, wiggle in and
wiggle out, and leave no device untried
to make the whole matter of peace set
tlement a knotty problem, and to fin
ally wear out our patience, and seek,
when we are thoroughly Disguised, to
provoke us into yielding to Spanish de-
sire
But he is reckoning without his host
We are already in possession of Porto
Rico. We hold the best part Of Luzon
to-day, and absolutely control the bay
and chief harbor and the capital OF
the Philippines. We will not let go
except Of our own free will, and Moret
and his fellow diplomats may as well
make up their minds to it. We are
going to have peace with Spain even
If it has to be fought for once more.
We will not do her injustice; we will
not be unreasonable in demand, but we
will not be stripped of the legitimate
fruits of victory by the chicane of the
Spaniard, nor tricked out Of it by his
procrastinating cunning.
The Monadnock has safely reached
Manila The voyage of the Monterav