The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-17
NOT NON-PARTIZAN.
sagasta Gould Not Get Representa-
tive Men of All Parties on His
Commission

New York, Sept IA dispatch to
the Tribune from Madrid via Paris
1t is a bitter disappointment tn
Premier Sagasta that he has failed to
get FOR Spanish peace commissioners
representative men of all parties to
StEe II national character over and
ABOVE sectional politics. In spite of all
ms promises and persuasion the
premier has been unable to obtain the
consent OF any statesmen outside of his
own immediate followers who are will
ing to act on the commission, where. to
use an expression of Senior SiIveIa
Spain can employ nothing but empty
words and parallels to oppose any de
may see fit to make
The sitting of the cortes, and espec-
tally Count Almena's violent ONSLAUGHT
upon the generals, which is said to be
lnoorSed by numbers of younger Off
GERS of the army, are regarded as fore
shadowing events of far graver i'm
portance that can not be avoided after
the signing of the peace treaty. The
sole point upon which all parties here
now seem to agree is that Senior Sagasta
must remain in power until the con-
clusion of peace and thereby drink the
dregs of the cup which his enemies
maintain he has himself brewed
The alleged intention of the United
states to demand the island of Luzon
is regarded by the Madrid foreign Of
flee infringement upon the shirt
of the peace protocol. If Spain is com
PEELED to cede that island to the United
States, great efforts will be made to
retain the right to determine the dis
pOsal Of all the other Philippine islands
with the view of eventually abandoning
them altogether
On this point it is even asserted that
an arrangement is under discussion
with Germany by which Germany
would get, by way of a brokers com
mission" Palawan and Sulu
In reference to the Philippines, it is
significant that the drift of opinion
among the members of the cortes is
that if Spain must cede to the United
States anything more than a mere coal
ing station, it would then be prefera BILE
to withdraw Spanish sovereignty en-
t1rely- Among civilians outright aban-
donment is considered the Wisest policy,
especially now that military men, like
Senior POlaVieja say that under the new
situation permanent garrison of at
least fifty thousand men would be re-
quired to hold the islands and that to
maintain such a force would be too
severe tax on the national resources.
In diplomatic circles here great con-
fdence is felt that the Spanish peace
commissioners will succeed in saddling
upon Cuba that portion of the Cuban
debt incurred previous to the last in
surrection and which is said to be
guaranteed by the Cuban customs re-
ceiptS.
The international political situation is
more dismal than the military leaders
front during the recent session of the
cOrtes, they are in reality divided
among themselves.
The queen regent has already dis
counted Senior Sagasta's eventual re-
tirement and pins her faith in Senior
Polavieja, whose lack of political ex-
perience will be supplied by Senior
Silvela or Senior Ganalajas. They are
ready to join hands with Senior Leon Y
Castillo who during his present stay
in Madrid, has been almost hourly con-
suited by the queen regent.
1t is impossible longer to conceal the
fact that the military leaders are now
preparing to act as soon as peace is
signed. General Weyler never misses
an opportunity to discredit the dynasty
and is bitterly opposed to Senior Polavie-
ia. Weyler is believed to be aiming at
an outright dictatorship in his own per
sOnal interest and is known to have
promised the highest and most 1ucra-
tive places to his military followers.
The queen, however, is firmly convinced
that Polavieja will, when the time
comes, prove more than a match for
Weyler.
The great danger in the situation is
that the military element is considered
as offering the only solution of the
present difficulties, which party passion
has so embittered that cool headed men
fear an era of pronunciamentos, die
tatorship and civil war.
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