The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-23
THE TERMS OF PEACE.

THE TERMS OF PEACE.
Unless all signs fail the peace negotiations
will virtually end on Monday next in the
acceptance by the Spanish commissioners of
the terms conveyed in the American ulti-
matum. 1t has been evident from the be-
ginning that Spain was completely at the
mercy Of the United States and would have
TO accept whatever terms were granted.
spain's commissioners may possibly have
thought they could bring about some other
conclusion through the arts of Spanish
diplomacy or perhaps through the interven-
ton Of some of the powers, but the rest
I OF the world has seen very plainly that
these hopes were futile and that there was
nothing left for Spain but to accept such
terms as were offered. Considering the cir
cumstances the terms are not ungenerous
The United States had practically conquered
the Philippines as far as Spain is concerned
and would have been justified in holding
them by right of conquest and without any
pecuniary compensation whatever To such
proposition as that the Spanish commits
sioners might have filed a protest, and brok-
en- off the negotiation, but that would not
have affected the result, and the world
would have said that Porto Rico and the
Philippines together were not more than a
fair war indemnity. But the United States
does better than this. We will hold the
Philippines. but Spain is offered a pecuniary
salve of $2OOOO,OO0 on that account, and per-
haps 100000 more for one of the Caroline
islands The London Daily Mail calls this
"a surprising act Of generosity on the
part of the United States and it will be
generally so regarded by the European
press. A special cablegram from Paris says:
Assuredly no more liberal terms have ever
Deen offered by a victor to a. defeated foe
ana IN the opinion of most people here it
would be absolute folly for the Spaniards
10 reject them, all the more as if there is
any resumption of hostilities Spain is in
the natural order of things bound to lose
the Philippines, since no European power
VIII come to her assistance and she would
IN that event not only have to dispense
with the large sum of money now offered
by the United States, but might be called
upon for the surrender of yet other pos
sessions. as well as for the payment Of
war indemnity.
Besides the offer of $20,OOOOOO there are
two other conditions attached to the re-
tention of the Philippines by the United
States that make it easier for Spain, and
one of which will commend it to other pow
ers. These are, first, that it will be the
policy of the United States to maintain in
the Philippines open door to the worlds
commerce; and, second, that the United
States will relinquish all claims of American
citizens against Spain for damages sus-
tanned in Cuba. The open-door policy in
trade will enable Spain to maintain what
ever commercial relations it may have al
ready established with the Philippines, and
will be a friendly invitation to other nations
to engage in the same trade. This is de-
cidedly liberal and is certain to be favor
ably received by Great Britain Germany
and Japan. 1t is at once commercial con-
cession to Spain and an advantageous offer
to other nations. We shall be surprised If
it is not regarded throughout the CONNER
cial world as an evidence of American liber-
ality and a master stroke of craftsmanship.
A proposition of more immediate interest
to Spain is that that nation shall be re-
lieved of responsibility for the claims of
American citizens for damages sustained in
Cuba, and that these claims will be assumed
of direct pecuniary relief to Spain. 1t
was stated some time ago that claims of the
kind mentioned had been filed with the De-
partment of State to the amount of about
$25,OOO0O0. They are a just claim against
the Spanish government and were proper
subject of negotiation. If the war had not
occurred their payment would have been
pressed by the United States. Their as
sumption by the United States will relieve
Spain to that amount and will put upon the
United States the trouble and expense of
sitting and investigating them. AS most of
the claimants are Americans owning prop
erty, or who did own property in Cuba, the
money paid on them will inure to the benefit
of that island. On the whole the terms of
peace show wise consideration and gem
erosity on the part of the United States
That they will be accepted with little or no
alteration scarcely admits of doubt