The times., 1898-07-17
SUNDAY, JULY L, 1898.
The Santiago ohiect Lesson

The murderous antics Of Gen. Toral
at Santiago, which we are sorry to
say would not have been permitted II
our commander at the front, or the
people at this end Of the telegraph line.
or both, had exhibited ordinary COM
mon sense, surely ought TO teach Presi-
dent Mckinley that. in the war with
Spain, he is dealing with an enemy
whose promises can be accorded
neither credit nor consideration.
Inconceivable impudence has marked
theatutude Of Toral, while extreme hu-
nility seems to have character zed
Shafter. IL was the latter's plain duty
under the circumstances, even If with
out specific instructions. TO demand un-
conditional surrender and allow the
officer IN command of the enemy's
forces matter Of an hour to comply
A week ago the non-cOmbatants were
allowed To leave the city. Nothing re-
quired by humanity in war remained
10 be done. Bombardment and assault
should have been the instant alterna-
tives Of instant failure 10 comply with
The order 10 surrender.
Yet Shafter conceded the appointment
OF a mixed commission TO arrange
terms" when the only possible terms
had been dictated in advance, and our
heroic regulars and volunteers rotted in
flooded pestilentlaI trenches While the
commissioners pottered over negotia-
tions, the sole object Of which. as far as
Toral was concerned, was TO secure de-
faN FhgT .TfEEgEa f,l
force Of his adversary, and scare ht!l
into granting terms defensive Of the
objects Of the campaign.
There is a serious object lesson for Mr..
Mckinley in this unhappy history &C.
incapability and foolish concession
10 an enemy devoid of the first
perception Of soldlerly honor. II is
time the President should realize that
the excessive complaisance he has en-
couraged toward the Spaniards. is not
only thrown away on, but is taken by
them as an evidence Of cowardice on
our part. de should. at last. put an
end 10 these pacific blockades and
military commissions" 10 discuss
terms Of surrender which have been
stated and imposed under promise of
destruction. in advance. He should re-
member that every time he, his Admin
istrauon, or his political agents, have
come in contact with the diplomacy and
trickery Of Spain, the latter has uni
formly triumphed over our provincial
craftsmanship.
II rat in a trap like Toral can make
fools Of veterans like Miles and Shafter.
just as De Lone used TO contribute his
country friend in the State Department
10 the milth Of nations, what does Mr.
Mckinley expect when our differences
with the anish kingdom have been
transferred from the field to the cabi-
metz We are very much afraid that.
II the same people and the same meth
DDS that made our diplomacy laugha-
BILE before hostilities, are TO be brought
into play 10 negotiate the terms Of
peace-terms that should be so mex
orably predetermined as TO need no ne
gotiation or discussion, the President
viii find that ultimately the country
has been finessed and swindled out Of
everything it expected to get by the
war
In brief, there is but one way to trea,
the Spaniards. If it is a question of
military surrender. they should be or
dered TO lay down their arms. If they
refuse or attempt to temporize they
should be hammered at until beaten
into abject submission. If their PROPOSE
tion is plea Tor peace, they should be
notified that we demand the Philip
pines, Ladrones. Ganaries, and Porto
Rico, the independence Of Cuba with
out qualification, and a considerable war
indemnity in money. We should inform