Evening star., 1898-06-06
The Presidents Idea Not Entertained
in Congressional Circles.
SPAIN WILL RESIST TO THE LAST
Not Believed She viii Yield After
Porto Rico's Capture.
MAY THREATEN HER PORTS

Ahe 'oed the PRESIDENT is said to hold
'ha' spain VIII probably sue for peace after
the fall OF Santiago and Porto Rico, is not
generally entertained among the best In
formed men IN Congress. Men like Senator
Lodge, members of the foreign committees
and students of International questions and
OF war, have little confidence in the good
sense OF Spain to recognize when she has
been whipped and to sue for peace The
opinion of these men is that there is MOTH
ing In the course of Spain to indicate a dis
Position to accept the inevitable until il is
actually forced upon them. Some believe
that even after the fall of Porto Rico and
the conquest Of Cuba, Spain will hold out
with semi-barbarous and obsolete idea
OF honor. and that it may be necessary to
attack her ia the Canaries and nossihlv
at home.
Spafn's Present Idea of Pence
1t is well understood to be the exnecta-
ton of the Preside mt that after Santiago
has fallen and Porto Rico been occupied
the path TO peace will be smooth and easily
Travelled. 1t is known to be the opinion in
some quarters that after these triumphs
the Spanish forces in Cuba will be sur
rendered and that when We are ready for
the general invasion il will be necessary
only TO take possession of the Island of
Cuba and to proceed with the establishment
OF government and to protect the Spanish
IN their evacuation. This opinion is not
entertained to any extent among senators
ana representatives in Congress, and IL is
peIleVed by them that the war will have
10 De conducted to the last extremity be-
lore Spail. will render complete submission
On terEls winch this government must ex-
act While Spain is making every possible
effort to save herself by trying to incits
foreign Interference, it is on the basis of
little or no secrifice to herself 1t is not
believed that the Spanish contemplate a
peace which involves the loss of any nos
session except Cuba. The truth is that the
Spanish government is not strong enough
to make terms which would secure peace at
this time What Sagasta is trying to do is
TO induce some of the powers to propose a
peace advantageous to Spain Such an in
terference will not be tolerated by this
government. and it is not believed that any
one of the powers Is short-sighted enough
to attempt it.
May BE No Fighting mt Santiago.
troops and ordnance supplies are soon e
be Landed near Santiago. if they are not al
ready being landed. The insurgents are CO.
operating with our plans to the exteu. Ct
closing in upon the Spanish forces SO as TO
narrow their territory and weaken their
source of supplies. The Spanish forces in
that quarter, as well as Cervera's feet are
already confined within narrow quarters
and are powerless. 1t is said that when all
cur troops have been landed they may not
at once reduce Santiago, but may simply
hoid them penned UP until after the Porto
Rican expedition has been landed and has
taken possession of Porto Rico.
Ii Is expected that when the rest of the
troops intended for operations against San
tago have landed they viii be satisfied with
the construction of earthworks around Sam
tiago. and the erection of batteries COM
Handfrg the city and the harbo-. but unless
they ara compelled to do SO will not en-
gage Ia bombardment or an assault Until
after complete possession has been taken
or Porto Rico. y reason given for this is
the belief said to oe entertained by the ad-
ministration that. having lost the Philip
pines and Porto Rico, and seeing the Ger
vera fleet and the Spanish forces at Santi-
ago hemmed in and helpless, Spain will be
ready to make peace, surrenJ ring this fleet
and evacuating Cuba without any serious
fighting and consequent loss OF lite on thai
island. The administration Is expected ~
proceed upon this theory, though very few
persons besides the President and some of
his immediate advisors believe that Spain
will yield so readily and wisely The idea
is approved of, however, since it affords an
Opportunity to avoid loss of lille AMI cam
not render the campaign in any way less
effective.
If Spain Does Not Give Up.
If Spain does not give up after the fall Of
Porto Rico, the plan of campaign will be
carried out to its end, and will involve seri-
GUS disaster to Spain. The general in
vasion of Cuba will follow as speedily as
possible after the fall of Santiago and The
of Porto Rico, and ii is not an
ticpated that Blanco can hold out any
length of time after the general invasion
occurs. If after that Spain is not prepared
to make peace, recognizing the loss of
Cuba, the Philippines and Porto Rico, but
persists in keeping up the show of war,
this government is prepared to follow a
most aggressive course, attacking the
Canaries and even the ports of Spain her
self. This will be the alternative which
will confront the Spanish government after
the success of our immediate operations, If
Spain refuses to submit.
One of the best-informed men in the SEN
ate expressed the opinion this morning that
it would be impossible to bring Spain to a
position of reason until Blanco had been
driven from Cuba and the very ports of
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