The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-04
PEACE AT HAND.

indescribable buster and rodomontade,
she Giles down in the most abject way,
and seems ready to accept, on the instant.
virtually any terms that we propose.
The surprise to those familiar with
Spanish diplomacy is the promptness and
entirety with which she accepts results.
Most of us had anticipated, when she got
tired of the war, long, aggravating peri
cd of haggling and fnessing, with the
Spanish appetite for inconsequential de-
lays manifested to the uttermost. On the
contrary, she seems to desire to come to
terms as quickly as the most businesslike
people in the world would.
There are several explanations given
for this. The most reasonable is that
the sensible, thinking people of Spain
have become utterly disguised with the
corruption, incompetence, and falsehood
of the official class. 1t has become APP
parent to them that they have been lied
to and deceived without stint. The
official class is only interested in filling
its own pockets 1t can neither govern
the colonies nor make war. 1t has
brought down upon Spain the wrath of
a mighty Nation, which is on the eve
of sending a powerful feet TO ravage
the coasts of the country and infct in
calculable injury upon its commerce.
Therefore, the commercial and bust
ness classes want peace made before they
suffer any more. There is no doubt
that Commodore Watson's squadron
was the most powerful argument for
peace. So long as the war was in Cuba
and the Philippines the mass of the
people Of Spain had only a modified
interest in It. But the prospect of
Commodore Watson brought the real
tiles of war directly home to them
When they began flying into the in
terror, taking their families and valu-
ables, the desire for peace became con-
tagious.
The terms which the President pro-
posed seem very reasonable. The exact
wording Of his answer cannot be made
known ut present, but the President has
given the people the substance, and
asked their judgment upon it. The |
portions relating to Cuba and Puerto
Rico receive unanimous approval.
Spain is to absolutely surrender her
authority in the West Indies, and pass
it over to us Puerto Rico and the
contiguous islands are 10 be ours in fee
simple, as the lawyers would say.
She is to withdraw her land and
naval forces from Cuba, and hand the
island over to our protection, when we
shall carry out our promise of giving it
a stable Government. AS to the char
acter Of this Government, etc, We are
to be the sole Judges. We assume no
part Of the Cuban war debt.
The portion relating to the Far East
is neither go definite nor so universally /
satisfactory. We are to have the prin-
cipal island in the Ladroncs for coal
ing station, and possible similar privilege
in the Carolnes. We are to have i'm
portant concessions in the Philippines
The exact limit of these is to be settled |
by Peace Commission sitting after the
close of the war. Just how much we
shall demand as a preliminary basis is |
not made clear, but the present impress
sion is that it will be not less than the
City of Manila, if not the whole island
of Luzon. The popular feeling is daily
growing stronger that we shall make a
great mistake if do not take the whole
Of the Philippine Archipelago, as well
as the Carolines and Ladrones. While |
leaving Spain portion of the Philip
pines as a salve to her National pride
might seem judicious and merciful,
yet any division Of authority in the
group will inevitably lead to future
clashing, if not with Spain, then
with other powers, and we had better
prevent this now by extending our
claim over all the groups
1t will be easier to give them away,
if we want to do so, than to squabble