The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-10-13
SPAIN MUST BEND TO THE ROD

Spain, with all her old cunning, is
playing for delay in the adjustment
OF affairs in Cuba, Porto Rico, and
the Philippines. In this she is in
splred both by mercenary and politl-
cal motives. While she retains con-
troll of the customs machinery in
Cuba and the Philippines, every day
turns into her treasury much-needed
money. Many of her public men are
familiar enough with American poll
tics to know that President McKin-
ley's expansion policy may be affected
elections. If there should be Demo
cratic victory in November, Spain
would assume a more defiant atti-
tude, would insist upon conditions
not contemplated now, and would
make stubborn resistance to the
Mckinley program in the belief that
congress would not sustain the presl-
dent.
In this belief, the public men of
Spain are haggling over the Cuban
and the Philippine debts and are
quibbling about the technicalitles of
evacuation in Cuba and Porto Rico.
All this is preposterous. The case is
in the hands of the United States,
not in the hands of Spain. A prompt
settlement depends solely on the at.
titude taken by our government. 1t
should be made clear to the Madrid
government at once that we shall not
assume any debt in Cuba, Porto
Rico, or the Philippines. Spain
would not dream of renewing the war
because of $4O,OOO,OOO item IN the
Philippines. She has no sea power to
enforce any demand whatever. She
has arranged to send home her mill
tary reserves, and her armies in Cuba
and Porto Rico are at the mercy of
the United States. She is in no con-
dition to make a single effective de-
mand, and the American people are
in no mood to tolerate any temporiz
ing 10 the disadvantage OF the United
States and to the benefit of the con-
quered nation.
1t is the duty of our government
tc exhibit in Paris the same spirit
ard energy that were displayed IN
the conduct OF the war. The vigor
with which military and naval opera
tions we're pushed was as effective in
closing the war as was the capture of
Santiago itself. Short as the war
was, it cost US $36O,OOO,O0O. We
are asking no indemnity. This is
treating Spain with more magnanim.
1ty than has been shown any defeated
nation in modern times. In the war
of 1871 France lost two of her most
fourishing provinces and paid an in
demnity of $1,OOO,O0O,OOO. If no
indemnity is exacted from Spain, and
if the United States claims only the
territory which she has conquered,
there can be no question of our as
suming any debt for any island.
There should be no delay in the
evacuation of Cuba or Porto Rico.
The United States owes it to the Gu
bans and the Porto Ricans to assume
control as soon as possible. Waiting
while Spain quibbles over minor con-
ditions is simply an inducement to
disorder and anarchy. It would
serve the purpose of Spain to pro-
mote the rule Of outlawry, but the
United States is not interested in
serving the purpose of Spain. She is
pledged to establish order, to prevent
outlawry, TO give the people of all
the conquered territory stable gov
ernment; and she must proceed to do
this with reference to the people of
Cuba and Porto Rico and the Philip.
pines, and not with reference to the
convenience of Spain. Clearness in
the statement of the American mr.