New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-28
HOW TT LOOKS TO THE SPANISH.
A DEMOCRATIC VICTORY WOULD MEAN A
REPUTATION OF THE ADMiNISTRA-
TONS WAR POLICY.

TONS WAR POLICY
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir When Asmodeus stood on the church
tower in Madrid and saw all the roofs in town
uncovered before him he is tabled to have seen
many things surprising and amusing. If he
were standing there to-day he would see still
more that would divert him.
In the royal palace. in the Cabinet Council. in
the groups Of hidalgos that make up the Cortes.
in the clubs and cafes there Is earnest discus
sion going on over the possible result of the
elections In the United States. They know that
there is a new Congress to be elected-a Con-
gress that will either sustain the Administration
thwart and oppose its purposes. They know
who Theodore Roosevelt is. and that he Is
candidate for Governor. They could not keep
him out of Santiago but they hope that he
may be kept out Of Albany. Defeat Of Roosevelt
and OF a Republican Congress would mean more
delay. perhaps more advantage for Spain
Spain Is slow in accedng to our peace pro-
posals in Paris. Spain is slow in evacuating
Cuba. Spain is slow In determining what she
will do about the Philippines.
In our character Of magnanimous victors we
are ready to accept, even to make excuses for
her. We say that II is the Spanish habit Of
procrastination; that it is the love of putting
crippled; that she has to placate unruly
pCpulace and so forth.
The Castilian hdalgo would thank you for
none of these excuses On the contrary. he Is
probably laughing at them in his sleeve. He is
waiting for news Of the elections. Why not?
He may get better terms from the opponents Of
Mckinley and Roosevelt than from them.
Quien sabe? He will wait for the returns. They
may show that the American people have
changed their mind. There is old Spanish
saying that republics and wcathercccks are
alike "sujetos mudanza" tickle of purpose and
likely to change. He is hoping now for
change Of public opinion against the Washing
ton Government"
Most Of us here are assuming that the war is
over. and that may turn our attention to
other things. That is not the Spanish view.
Does any Spanish statesman general admit
that the war is definitely concluded? No; he
says there is "a suspension OF hostilities" He
has no desire or expectation of gaining anything
more by fighting But he believes that much
may he retrieved by diplomacy that was lost in
battle. He still hopes that the caballeros Of the
opposition may undo some OF the work OF the
Rough Riders.
There are many good, well-meaning citizens
of Democratic or independent persuasion who
to the polls and vote Just the way that General
Weyler wants TO have them vote They know
not what they do. They don't mean to give aid
and comfort to the enemy but they will. They
may think they are voting TO mend canal frauds.
to purify elections to chasten unholy am
billions, but the result Of their success would he
to discredt the American Government and hu-
initiate the Stars and Stripes In the eyes OF
Spain and of all Europe
Europe would understand such defeat II
mean IAN American backdown,' and repudi-
alton Of our former policy to the war and its
results The news OF such defeat would he
hailed with as much rejoicing at Madrid as at
Tammany Hall. Spain would wave her ban
ners Of blood and gold over what she would
construe to be Spanish victcry-the more ac-
ceptable because II would he her first one in
the war. FREDERICK w SEWARD
Montrose- on the Hudson. oct. %, lS'S.