Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-11-26


ban Government Was Established -
SantiagO's Victories - News and
Notes.
Paris, Nov. 23.-Ihe Spanish commits
sioners have sent the American PROPOSE
ton by special M ssenger to Madrid,
where it will arrive today. 1t is felt that
| the Spanish government must now an
sWer the American tltinatum, but, as
it is not likely that the answer of Madrid
will arrive today in time for the commits
sioners to formulate their reply to the
Americans this afternoon it is probable
that the joint meeting will be deferred
from today to a day later in the week.
|
| There Is quit II difference Of Opin-
ion among unofficial people near the
peace commissions but the prediction is
made that Spain viii decline tie Alneri-
can offer of money: that Sine Will refuse
TO cede the Philippines, ana will say to
the United States: You may take the
archipelago because you nave the power
to do so. AS you advance, we will retire,
protesting against greedy aggression.
We will faithfully carry out our protocol
|
In your hands. You came heie to ngage
| in discussion under the terms OF the
protocol, but you evidently meant, when
drawing up that document. to provide
conference in which, though we differ,
man to man, you proposed to announce
at the proper time what you will do,
whether we agree to ii or object. Such
an attitude robs the conference of a
negotiatve character and sets up the
| United States as a dominant power
whose first purpose is to listen, but
whose ultimate determination is to do
Its own will"
AS Il matter of fact, Seuor Rios is re-
ported to have used Virtually such
language and arguments as the fore
going. He said more. even, indicating
a high degree of eXasperation at the
American offer of 100000 900. His man
ner, no less than his words, betrayed his
repugrauce.
His display of feeling and utteranCes,
however are not wholly approved by his
| Spanish colleagues, who did not hesitate
| to say as much after Monday : session
ttterances later by Il Spaniard of i'm
pOrtanCe. whose name is withheld for The
present indicate another line nf az ton.
a treaty Cession of the Philippines.
Suppose" said the speaker in que stiun.
that Spain says to the United States:
| We are exhausted. We have no funds
with which to continue the war We do
not want to continue 1t, and we cannot.
| YOll with NJ,
| must submit to your power Prepa re
your treaty, and when you want us To-
sign We will sign. We must bend 10
physical force. You have the Antilles,
and you will possess the Philippines as
a conquest from helpless people. We
tyield, but we decline $40 900 600 for prop
erty on which our valuation was not
asked nor respected. You have your
will. We trust You will not continue the
war; because. forsooth, we decline your
| 10000. 900. Surely this waiver by us Of
your money viii not provoke a further
use of arms against Spain. We ssn, We
cede. we are dumb 1t Is finished; and
We may be permitted to retain the privi-
lege of assuring our people ard our ma
tional creditors that we at least have not
stolen and resold territory we had
pawned.'
Should Spain cede by treaty or, on the
other hand. should she refuse and break
| off the negotiations here. her protests
will embody some such declaration as
this.
| AS against such sentiments it is argued
that the business in hand is work for
grown men. that it would be childish
| folly to refuse $20, 600 600 and that the
Spanish government could not jus tify
such Il refusal before the Spanish people
or the public creditors of Spain-a de-
liberate throwing away of $4,000 900. in
addition to the loss of the Philippines.
The Spanish commissioners have sent
the American proposition by a special
messenger to Madrid, where 1t will arrive
today. 1t is felt that the Spanish gov
ernment must now answer the American
ultimatum. but. as it is not likely that the
answer of Madrid will arrive today in
time for the commissioners to formulate
their reply to the Americans this after
noon, II Is probable that the joint meet
ing will be deferred from today to a day
later in the week.
In connection with the proposal of the
United States to pay Spain $40 600, 600 for
the cession of the Philippines, it may he
stated as an interesting historical fact
that of all nations this country has been
the only one to pay for ceded territ ory
In all wars ancient and modern, the
conquerers have taken everything avail
able without scruple. and all losses or
acquisitions of territory have almost
without exception been the immediate
result of war. The United States fur
nishes the most notable exception as the
Louisiana. the Florida and Gadsden
purchases were all made in a time of
peace We also have the exceptional
distinction of paying for land already
won by the right of conquest, as we did
with Mexico in the case of California,
and as is now proposed in the case of the
Philippines.
Spain, of all the nations of Europe. is
far in the lead in the cession Of territory
without compensation as the result OF
unsuccessful wars. From the time of
Philip the Second. or for more than three
centuries. Spain has one after the other
parted with her valuable possessions
without the suggestion of compensation
until in the present negotiations with
this country. Prescott in his ornate and
fascinating style, describes the power
and grandeur of Philip the Second OF
Spain when he ascended the throne in
1866. The empire which acknowledged
his sway had no parallel in the history Of
Father Identified Body. ,
Boston. Nov. 22.--Frank Ward OF