The times., 1898-06-06

territory. Whether Christina is correct
in this may be doubted. No one in
Madrid appears TO have realized what
the United States will peremptorily de-
mand as the price OF peace. There is
a persistent and stupid idea that Amer
lea would be satisfied with the indepen-
dence of Cuba and a cash indemnity.
The fact that a money consideration
sufficient to reimburse the cost of the
war could not be raised by Spain is
ignored while the notion that this
country is firmly determined to keep
the Philippines and to take and keep
Porto Rico is never admitted if it has
ever occurred to anyone in the penin-
sula.
When the truth dawns upon the
Spanish mind and the inevitable has to
be met, we do not imagine that it will
make much difference what member
of the present royal family happens to
occupy the executive office. Whether
justly or otherwise. it is altogether
probable that national shame and de-
feat viii be attributed to the ineffi-
N-N-ANJ anu VII uDllOl VI the u1naSlN
ever since the former regency of ex-
Queen Isabella's mother, the elder Chris
tina The riot and rascality which led
10 Isabella's dethronement, the scan
dals and abuses of the reign Of Alfonso
AlL and the blunders of the present
Christmas regime will be all brought
out and used as arguments for the de-
position Of the family, if not for the
abolition of the monarchy
That such a crash is liable to occur is
considered certain by intelligent OBJ
servers of events on the ground. and of
course by the several continental cab
inets. This view is strengthened by the
report that the pretender Don Carlos
has been warned by Austria and Rus
sia that even if he We're to manage
to seize the throne in the general up-
heaVal, his right to it would not be ac-
knowledged. AS this story is probably
founded upon fact. and as il is not pre-
sumable that the Carlist chief would
care TO hold the crown against the
active hostility cf the military powers.
1t is interesting to consider what the al
Tentative is to be when the volcano
bursts The Republicans are hardly in
position TO secure control of the
government. They are divided among
| themselves, are not a majority, and are
not popular either with the army or the
people. The thing most likely to hap
pen is the establishment Of a military
dictatorship under Martinez de Cam
pos or Weyler. Such a rule would be
short lived. and unquestionably would
/ lead to anarchy CT to armed foreign oc-
/ cupat:on under the mandate Of the
| Concert Powers.
I We have discussed the position of af-
! fairs in Spain at some length, because
! The conditions are of a character to
! lend color to the statement now going
/ the rounds CT the capitals that Russia
! has approached France and Germany
with a view TO joint Intervention to
/ stop the war. 1t is said that the French
! government has declined to take any
/ action ON that line at present, and that
the Kaiser has definitely refused to
move in the matter We are always in
| clined to take stories of Russian un-
| friendliness cum grano sails. as we are
unable TO see any reason for it. Ii
could only result in making an Anglo
| American alliance, now merely a more
or less remote possibility, an immediate
certainty, and We cannot believe thai
( such a thing would be favorable tc
Russian political arms and interests
| Nevertheless. within a measurable
time, something is likely to transpire
in the nature of a surprise to us. unless
We manage 10 accomplish some decisive
success, military or naval, without
much more delay. The Hispano-Amer.
ican war is a constant menace to the
! peace of the world and disturbing
factor commercially. 1t is creating ir-
| ritatiCn which We cannot but note is
on the increase, and which may at any
| time eliminate in a movement Of a
| character that this country might be
compelled to resent.
| 1t will not, therefore, escape the at
tention Of American statesmen or men
Of affairs that early, vigorous and con-
! elusive acton Is a stern necessity OF
our position. We cannot too soon make
our hold upon the Philippines secure by
sending an adequate army of occupa-
ton to that quarter, and any sort Of de-
lay in taking possession Of Porto Rico
| Will be matter for eternal regret. The
climax Of the crisis in Spain may, and
We believe will. bring us face to facs
with situation the gravity of which
cannot now be estimated. We are mov-
ing with lightning rapidity toward a
| point which may be either the end
or only the beginning of war.