The times., 1898-05-12
The Situation.

1 movement in Congress tc secure an
early adjournment, and so get r.d OF
that body. we cannot help observing
that there is once more ominous talk
of an effort to bring about foreign in
tervention before this country shall
ish colonial possessions, and so placed
itself in a position TO demand Their
total surrender as a condition prece-
dent to peace.
1t is very uncomfortable, from a ma
tional and patriotic standpoint, to OBJ
serve that the people who We're most
viciously in evidence, in support of
the Spanish bond deal in opposing
Hawaiian annexation, and in advocat-
ing peace at any price. are now leading
in the new campaign to defeat annexa-
ton, to denounce our retention Of the
/ Philippine Islands, to secure. under
cover, the interference OF Europe, ana
TO induce Congress to adjourn, in order
that they may have a free field for
operations in prosecution of their main
objects.
That the public may definitely under
stand the true intent and meaning of
the Tory program. it should be ex-
planned that the Spanish bond sharks
still hope for a cessation of hostilities
before Cuba, Porto Rico and the
/ Philippines have been completely
! alienated from the Spanish flag. They
believe that something may yet be
saved from the wreck Their ally, the
sugar interest, is quite as desperately
anxious that something should be done
at once to prevent this country from
acquiring Hawaii and the Philippines.
The objections of this influence to the
former are well known, and exactly
the same apply to-the latter. The
Philippines, in ordinary times, export
about two million tons of cane sugar,
which, if raised under the Stars and
Stripes, would to that extent affect
it is easy to see why we should get rid
of Congress, and make superhuman
effort TO save the credit of Spain and
the unearned profits of the sugar syn
dicate.
Understanding these things, it is not
difficult TO appreciate the disinterest-
edness of the leading diplomatists.
representing the most friendly nations
in Washington, who are reported in
Administration organs as exchanging
views unofiieially as to the opportune-
ness Of movement looking to peace,
on the basis of Cuban independence
and an indemnity, the United States
to hold the Philippine Islands only un-
til the indemnity shall have been set
tied. After that, of course, the archi-
pelago would be returned to Spain, and
once more subjected to the fiendish
prosecutions of medieval barbarism.
Spain would still maintain her hold
upon Porto Rico, and many other
benefits would accrue to her. We may
remark here that the American peo-
pie will tolerate nothing of the kind
If there is anything perfectly well
known and clear to the citizens of this
country, it is that no scheme of foreign
Intervention Will be considered, much
less proposed, unless it is known in
advance that action of the sort will be
acceptable to the Washington authori-
ties. Therefore, if any person con-
nected with the Administration,
whether as President, Cabinet minister
or priyy councillor of the kitchen
stair, be guilty of inviting such inter-
ference. let him be anathema!
The American people have not en-
gagged in this war for conquest, nor
yet to demonstrate the claim of the
nation to consideration as a first-class
power-aIthough something of that
kind may have been really necessary.
They have deliberately entered upon
the struggle, in the interests of c;viliza-
tion and suffering humanity, to rid the
Western Hemisphere, at least, of the
curse of Spain, the common enemy
of mankind. In the course of their
movement, the fortunes of war have
given them the Philippine Islands, and
these viii be held as the spoils of war
To return them to Spain on any terms
would be inhuman and infamous. and
America certainly will not do it, Have
meyer interests to the contrary not
withstanding.
Europe understands the situation,
and is content with it, in that regard.
Europe also knows that not one of its
constituent nations. nor even a combi-
nation of them, at the present stage
of the war, dare to interfere with us,
unlimited by our authorities. If the
attempt should be made, the invitation
would inevitably be assumed, no mat
ter how carefully the negotiations
might be veiled.
Let any American Administration
which would lend itself to such a
scheme bewarel And let the Congress
of the people stick TO its halls and
watch-tower, and never think of adj