The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-18
PEACE Is N THE AIR
Latest War Prospect as seen at
Washington.

AOtSoI WA AIUopCCt do SCH al
Washington.
Fair Estimate of the Cost of War with
Spain-British Position in the war Scare
/ -spain's Civil TroubIes-Court of Inquiry
to Report Monday.
Special Correspondence of the CHRONICLE.
/ WASHINGTON, March 15:-Peace is in
the air. This is due partly no doubt to
a reaction from the excitement and
clamor that followed the prompt and
splendid action of Congress in voting
fifty millions to be used by the President
at his own discretion in preparing for
possible war. But it is also largely due
to the fact that the very imminence of
war has brought reflection to the people.
They inquire the cost of war. The an
swer, roughly estimated, is five hundred
millions perhaps a billion in money and
/ possibly hundred thousand lives. Not
that number of men would fall in bat
tie, but disease and death would claim
many that bullets would spare. 1t
would be frightful price to pay for the
doubtful honor of defeating decrepit
Spain. But the national honor may de-
mand that that the people of the United
States make this awful sacrifice. Spain
on her part would also be called upon
to make similar sacrifice of treasure
and life. And in both countries it would
be the flower of their young manhood
that would suffer.
-
Men who are not welded to war fol-
wars sake argue that it would be better
if the situation that would result to
Cuba as the outcome of war could be
brought about by peaceful means, with,
out depressing the national dignity on
either side. This idea is stirring stimuli
taneously in the minds of those in posi-
tions of authority and influence both in
Europe and America. So it has come
about that in the past few days both
there and here strenuous efforts have been
making to find solution of the situa-
ton along the lines of peaceful negotia.
ton.
-
If Spain could be brought to admit
what all the rest of the world recognizes
that she cannot maintain control Of
Cuba, re-establish peace, rebuild its
broken industries and restore its lost
prosperity, the rest could be easy
Spain's creditors, the holders of he1
bonds, understand it. They are infuen-
tial with the Spanish Government, but
they exercise little control over the
Spanish people. These are infammable
and liable when dissatisfied to rise
against the existing Government and
not only overthrow it but expel the
reigning dynasty. The alliance entered
into by the Weylerites and the Carlists
is full of danger to the Alfonsan dy-
nasty. The prime object of the Sagasta
Government is to save the Alfonian dy-
nasty, with Cuba if it can, without
Cuba if that be the only way.
~
The immediate problem before Sagasta
and his government therefore is how to
let Cuba go without involving the PENN
sula in civil war. The army in Spain, as
in France, is just now all powerful IN
domestic politics. If Sagasta can bring
the military leaders over to support an
honorable settlement of the Cuban ques-
ton, even though it mean the loss of the
island to Spain, the battle for peace
would be won. To the accomplishment
of this admittedly difficult task some of
the most powerful influences in Europe
are now bending all their energies. These
Influences are, within certain limits, the
strongest in the old world in the shaping
+ n potIOrto1 oo1vnioo
So
As to the President, while preparing
for war he is hoping for peace, and to
that end he is directing his best energies
He does not believe that the Americans
are blood thirsty people. He does be-
lieve that they will be better Satisfied
with peaceful outcome of the Cuban
question than with bloody one, pro-
vlded always 1t can be accomplished by
honorable means. He is not for peace at
any price. He is for an honorable peace.
Failing that, he is for war He is not
for war for purposes of aggression or
conquest. Ii war comes it will be be-
cause the national honor and dignity
leave no other honorable course open.
But he has not the slightest trace of fear
that the enlightened Christian sentiment
of the country will not uphold him in
any honorable measure he may take to
maintain peace and avoid bloodshed.
And this means free Cuba without war.
49,
The recent dispatch from Ottawa that
the British Ambassador and our State
/ Department had concluded a convention
as to the boundary line between Alaska
and the British possessions, south of Mt.
St. Elias, admitting and ratifying the
American contention has bsen authorita-
lively denied. Negotiations are still
pending. In fact there has never been
time since the ratification and exchange
of the deinltive treaty of peace between
the United State and Great Britain IN
! 1888 that negotiations have not been
handling nu..r. disnuted hon nd aru linaa