Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-08
THE uPROAR IN THE CORTES.
Threatening Attitude of the Spanish
MiIitEry lenders

The d1Spat CheS from Madrid giving an ac-
count of the uprCar in the cortes and dis
closing the extremely threatening attitude
of the military leaders toward the govern
ment has attracted a great deal of attention
in Washington. This outburst of passion
awakens realization that peace is not
absolutely assured until the treaty of peace
has been drawn up and ratified and as long
as passionate and unreasoning elements are
contenling for power In Spain. No appre-
hension is felt that anything that has thus
far been accomplished can be undone nor
that the failure of Spain to carry out the
plan for the establishment of peace can
result in any danger to the interests of this
country.
1t is realized. however that with the
spirit In Havana which, it is indicated by
the recent talk Of Pande exists among the
army under Blanco the excited discussion
and charges and threats passing between
the representatives of the army and the
clvll government at Madrid may lead to
disorder among the Spanish troops in Cuba
and possibly cause friction when the time
arrives for the evacuation of the island
Keeping Up the Army.
The determined position taken by the
President and Secretary of War against in
creasing the number of troops to be mus
tered out is regarded as Indicative of the
Intention of the President not to take too
much for granted and to weaken our mill
tary and naval force until after peace has
been actually established permanently 1t
has been announced firmly that no more
than the 100000 selected to be mustered ont
will be discharged.
Without any reference to the possibility
of a renewal of hostilities. a very large
force will have to be maintained in the
army If the islands taken are to be retain
ed; but whether the policy of territorial
expansion is to be followed not, it is the
Of a1r ,N;.-t,.
tain an army strong enough to meet any
emergency until after the treaty of peace
has been concluded. The department has
been almost overwhelmed with petitions
1or the mastering out of troops whose re-
tentfon has already been decided upon and
announced.
Appeals to the President.
Appeals have been made directly to tho
president himself. A committee from Ohio
waited on the President today, making a
very earnest appeal for one of the Ohio
regiments to be mustered out and. though
the influence was strong and the local
reasons behind it great, the President re-
sisted the appea! with great firmness, as
nave all similar appeals been resisted
The administration has taken a firmer
tone In the matter Of dealing with the dis
position of the army, and it Is evident that
political influence and outside interference
are not to be permitted to disturb the army
organiZa ton. The responsibility resting
upon the administration Is too great to
ADMIT OF a vacillating policy with respect
to this matter. and the President so sta ted
plainly to those who have been importunate
in their request to have troops mustered
out.
1t is not felt that any evil can result
from the discharge of the troops whose
services it has already been decided 10
dispense with, since the force to be retain
ed Will still remain sufficiently large for
any necessities that may arise, and it is to
be organized and equipped, drilled, dis
ciplined and put into such shape as to be
probably quite as efficient as the larger
force Of green soldiers. 1t is simply to DE
made more compact and readily responsive
TO the requirements of the occasion
Condition of the navy.
The same thing is true of the navy The
vessels are being put in first-class trim,
only those that are not needed being dis
pensed with, and the squadrons are to be
reorganized with reference to securing the
greatest efficiency
Senator Bacon of Georgia. who was in
washington today and called on the Presi-
dent In relation to the mastering out of
some OF the Georgia troops, says with ref
does not think that there Is anything in
the situation at Madrid that need cause
this government great concern.
They may, he said, "have serious from
BILE In Spain, and the government there
may not be able to maintain itself, and 1t
Is possible that this might cause some de-
lay in the conclusion of peace treaty
But 1t Is absolutely impossible for Spain
to renew the war. Her navy is DESTROYED
and her army demoralized, and she has
got to do what We say. We mead have no
apprehension OF renewal of hostiities"