The herald., 1898-06-26
DURATION OF THE WAR

An honorable peace will be welcome to
the great masses Of the people Of the
United States, as we'll as Spain. Peace
Is talked there as here. But the war
proceeds. and both governments are ap-
parently conducting it upon the theory
that hostilities will not end until decisive
events have taken place.
Those who read the proceedings of Fri
days session of the cortes might easily
have interpreted the utterances Of some
of the deputies as sure indication of
the early collapse of the Spanish cause
Indeed, the post obtum declarations of
everything save honor, and If that tired
statesman had been speaking for Spain
there would have been left little to do
aside from arranging the petty details.
But the doleful predictions of Gonzales
had as little effect, presumably, as the
vote against declaration Of war cast III
the house by Congressman Loud Of Cali
fornla. They only afforded General
Csmpcs an opportunity again to IRE the
Spanish heart and nerve it's arm, by de-
claring that he would be ashamed to
abandon Cuba when there were 100000
men there: that if the Conservatives
should refuse to accept power when called
upon and maintain the dignity and honor
of Spain, then he himself would pick it
up, even from the gutter! A few minutes
later royal decree suspending parlia
ment was read. Before nghtfall Madrid
was under martial law.
Such episodes and such climaxes, oc-
curing at Washington, would be sig
nificant, if not ominous But the scenes
occurred in Madrid, and the actors were
volatile Spaniards. They pass for what
they are worth. They simply indicate
the progress of events--the close of one
war period, the beginning of another.
The London Spectator June 4th), after
a phenomenally logical and lucid review
of the situation, concludes that it will
be "a slow, long war, possibly punctu-
ated at intervals with offers of impos-
sibe terms of peace" Because in Mad
tastrophe is assumed to be "a glory for
Spanish arms" the Spectator prefers to
point out that. judging from all appear
ances. and reserving the possibilities that
lie hid in American energy and Spanish
inefficiency, "the characteristics of this
war will be delay and expense. Even
when the fleets have encountered and vic
tory has proclaimed itself on one side or
the other, nothing will be settled; for
the Americans, if defeated, will go on for
ever, and the Spaniards if defeated. will
sullenly challenge their enemy to come
over and fight in European waters.
There is talk of peace. of course, but war
depends much on character, and when
bloodhound and bulldog meet it takes
pretty strong intervention to separate
them, and interveners, unless very care
full, may get severely Bit"
Not all opinions of British editors are
worth traversing. To their thorough
knowledge of European politics is not
always added a comprehensive under
standing of America or Americans. The
clearness of the conclusions of the Spec
tator, however, are not wholly depend
ent upon this, but are based upon the
logic of the situation. uncolored by trans
atlantic ~antipathies. They help us to
view the situation from disinterested
standpoint. They reinforce our own Wis
ion with the strong glasses of calm
and dispassionate on-looker. Thus:
Surely we shall be told, all these circum-
stances. with the wealth of suffering which
must be hidden in them must tend to peace
Europe may intervene, or the pope may per-
suade Spain to give way, or Mr.. Mckinley
tc whom 1t is obvious the war is still ex-
cessvely dlstasteful, may accept very mod
crate terms. 1t may be so, of course; but
also it may not; and our own judgment ILL
clines towards the negative view. We do
not believe in Europe" which is utterly
callous to human suffering, intervening in
any effective way for the protection of
Spain. Mr.. Mckinley. who has no legal
right to make peace or war, will obey the
people as he has always done, and the terms
which seem to Americans moderate will
seem to Spanards unendurably oppressive.
Their notion is expressed in Senor Sagas-
ta's speech of this week. and they regard
dEy peace lHNOlViIlS ctSslOHs DI uOmlntOn
as dishonoring to the rank of Spain among
the nations. She may not be able to protect
her colonies, but at least she can, as she
thinks. refuse to cede them under compul-
sion. At all events. they will not yield until
they are compelled. and invasion being out
Of the question-unless, indeed. they defeat
the Americans. and so really turn them into
! military people-we cannot see whence