The times., 1898-11-16
No More Delay.

among them-has not been indorsed by
any nation or any disinterested diplo-
mat. Only Spanish officials and few
enemies of republican growth in our
own land-men of foreign birth or for
eign sympathies who foster an abiding
distrust of the American people-have
pretended to criticise the policy of the
Administration. Among the many
things the unusual results of the of
year" elections are alleged to mean. the
popular approval of this policy is pre-
eminent. with all the external world
either submissive to our demand or
heartily favoring it and with the Ameri-
can people virtually a unit in its sup
port. the President has every warrant
for instructing our Peace Commission
ers to tolerate no further delay. On one
false pretext or another the negotia-
tions have been postponed for nearly
seven weeks. 1t is now four months
since the protocol, which settled all but
one question. that a treaty must EN-
body. was signed by Spain's agent. yet
but for the sudden and positive direc-
tions of the President, that question
would not have been reached at this
time Nothing remains to be done, now
that his instructions have been present
ed, or are about TO be presented, to the
representatives of Spain, but to sign
the treaty.
These four months of suspense have
been quite as hard for Cuba as war it
self and mischievous beyond calculation
in the effects on Cubans and Filipinos.
Cuba is virtually ruined by Blanco's ad-
ministration, and must begin life anew
and with nothing. when American oc-
cupation brings order out of the chaos.
But the beginning of life there and in
the Philippines will be under conditions
that are very bad indeed, wholly be-
cause of this long delay which has given
to the enemies of America every oppor-
tunity TO infiict almost irreparable in
jury on her first years of island admin
istration. II our purpose had been to
inspire in the breasts of Cubans and
Filipinos a bitter hatred of the Ameri-
can flag, growing out of a distrust of
cur purposes, we could not have devised
Il
the peace treaty as we have done by the
failure of our Commissioners TO deal
firmly with Spain. 1t is humiliating TO
admit that our disposition TO be mag
unanimous and considerate has done
more harm than good to Spain, also.
1t is useless to attempt to explain our
seeming Indifference to the appalling
and intolerabie situation that has ex-
listed in Cuba from the moment Blanco
issued his defiant and abusive procia-
nation and denied free entry to the
supplies for the starving. We were
never ignorant of the intense suffering.
the oppressive anxiety, the actual and
monstrous wrongs, the ultimate ruin,
and, worst of all, the Jealous efforts 10
create distrust and hatred of the
Americans and perhaps a determi-
nation to resist American occupa-
ton and government. Not only
the piteous appeals of prominent
Cubans and the reports of special
agents. but the petitions and advice of
at least one of our Commissioners, Cen
eral Butler, have informed US that day
by day the conditions of a veritable hell
were forming and that the hired agents
of a revengeful and polite foe were
shaping obstacles to our easy admins
tration and promoting means to dis
credit us in the eyes of the world. These
things, far more than the simple and di-
rect robbery of the Cubans by Blanco,
have caused the deepest anxiety TO all
observing Americans. Why we have
tolerated all this is inexplicable. In
the Philippines, too, the same mis-
chievous agencies are at work, and
| have been from the day of the proto-
eel, to make our future government
there as difficult and humiliating as
possible. That it should become neces-
sary to raise mailed hand against the
misguided natives who welcomed US so
cordially and who, under the straight
forward course of Admiral Dewey,
trusted US so absolutely and who were
enthusiastic over the hope of annexa-
ton, would be most painful thing to
the American people. Such possibility
could never have arisen but for the long
delay and uncertainty that has made
life burden to the Filipinos and afford
ed to the secret agents of the malicious
Spaniards the opportunity to put a
sense of wrong in the hearts of the in
surgents. AS the touching appeal of
the Filipino Junta says, and as we all
know, false reports are spread broad
cast alleging that the Filipinos are re-
sponsible for all the frictions" The
manufacture of false reports has never
been carried on anywhere with the
| energy and malignity of the agents of
Spain in the Philippines and of the hire
| lings of the domestic enemies of national
expansion.
Perhaps we must endure it all and
| permit tie situation to become still
more serious, until treaty of peace
is effected or the attempt is abandoned
! If this is SO, to give another single day
of grace to Spain would be a crime
| against Cubans and Filipinos and a
srievous wrong to the American people
| If the President understands the con-
| ditions in all their peculiar power for
mischief, he will instruct his Commits
sion to compel an instant termination
Of the conference and under no plea
| however desperate, to concede an hours
postpcnement of the result, whatever il
is to be.
A New Tariff Prophet