The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-15
Speaking of Peace.


authority that Spain would
hasten to propose peace. No suggestions
of the sort came from Madrid. Since
the Mayday victory at Manila we have
destroyed another fleet; we are about
to take possession Of the city of Santi-
ago and also of the province bearing
that name. The expectation is renewed
that the suggestion of peace will now
come from Spain. Probably 1t will
come: yet II 1t does not, that need be
no surprise.
II Spain's people were a united and
patriotic war party intent on UNFOLDING
the thrones occupant and willing to
give the last dollar for defense. we
might yet count with considerable as
surance on a continuation of the war,
even IL we have destroyed two fleets
and have full reason to believe that we
can speedily send the third one after
the other two. Spain has on the island
OF Cuba an effective. fighting and force.
Spain old all of the real strategic
points. except Manila. She has Cadiz,
she has Havana, she has San Juan.
We have Santiago, but for most of the
purposes of the conquest Of the island
of Cuba 1t is almost worthless-in and Of
itself, our capture of that port is in no
sense a decisive achievement. We never
would have operated at Santiago but for
the fact that Cervera suddenly put in an
appearance there. When he sailed out,
we could with all propriety have with
drawn from the region; probably that
would have been done but for the displr-
iting effect OF such a curse on our W
people and but for the fictitious encour-
asement Il would have furnished for the
Spanlards. With Santiago taken, If
Spain does not soon ask for peace, we
shall simply be obliged. in our conquest
OF Cuba. TO begin right back where we
were when we were diverted from our
blockade Of Havana and our PREDATORY
work near Matanzas, by the erratic
proceedings of Cervera. Dur good luck
at Santiago we owe essentially to Blan-
co, who ordered Cervera to sail out at
precisely the right moment for us. In
comparison we are not. as far as our
part of the war is concerned, nearly so
far advanced toward the conquest of
Spanish soil as, In the autumn of 1870.
the Germans were toward the crushing
of France. with the German army sew
eral hundreds of miles from Paris. Yet
France. after that, endured, through
terrible months. the siege of Paris be-
fore IL admitted hat 1t was whipped
and asked for terms.
These things are worth taking into
account because, II Spain proposes peace
now, the government at Madrid will GER
tainly make a pretty plausible plea for
mild terms. We have not conquered
Spain; We have not even taken Havana
and we have advertised to all the world
the fact that. in the long yellow-fevei
season. we DO not deem II wise to try e
take the place-on that score the strate
gy people at Washington have talked
too much and given altogether too much
away that ought to have been KEEP
quiet. We have not taken Barcelona Of
Cadiz or Ferrol or Cartagena; we hav,
not been within sight OF any port o
; Spain's 2.662 miles Of coast. If we ap
proach peace with the proposition tina
we shall take from Spain all manne
of islands. SPANS answer will be tina
we FIRST take Madrid: our experience il
getting a mite Of an army, not wei
equipped. within sight Of Santiago, viii
cause US to think twice before we con
, clude to besiege the city Of Madrid.
OF our from certain practices
points of view. Spain is whipped RICH
o now. That is true. not because We san.
E her ships and took Santiago, but becaus
e the government at Madrid, lamentsbl,
e hopelessly weak. hasn't a loyal. lovin
people to fall back on. Fortunately, on
; own people crave the speedy termins
Z ton OF the war; thus 1t may happe
{ that We can orrer better. terms, If aske
. for them now. than we would offer wei
e We TO carry on a land wal for month
to come-a war for which, as all on
land operations prove, We are not We
b prepared. Better q prompt peace 0