The times., 1898-07-22
FRIDAY. JULY %. 1898.
spnir,'s Attempts MT Peace

Under most circumstances the idea Of
abandoning the much-advertised expe-
dition against the Spanish coast would
be received by the country not only
with surprise, but with a suspicion that
q humiIiating backdown in the presence
Of the enemy had been effected. The
real motive for disbanding the Eastern
Squadron has not been fully or Off
cially disclosed, but il seems to be suffi-
clently clear that il has some relation
10 the reported desire of the Spanish
government to beg for peace.
Beyond any doubt, the Cabinet at
Madrid is at length unanimous in the
conviction that further resistance to
the power Of the United States is hope
less and would be suicidal. Financial
and political collapse are both at hand
In the kingdom. and we think 1t a fair
presumption that q peace movement
has been Initiated There ara reasons
for inferring that it has taken the
course Of a request to the British for
eign Office, through Sir Henry Drum
rnond Wolff, her majesty's minister at
Madrid, that it viii advise the Washing
ton authorities Of Spain's desire to sub
init upon some terms 20 be agreed upon.
We are inclined TO credit the stories,
which assert that Sir Julian Pauncefota
has intimated to our Government, a
British understanding that Madrid is
about TO become a suppIicant. and that,
pending receipt Of what might prove to
be an acceptable offer Of surrender.
Lord Salisbury thinks it would be i'm
polite to imperiI Sagasta's ability TO
carry the Spanish nation with him. by
an assault or an invasion. the effect
of which would be 10 drive it TO mad
ness and a despairing Indifference TO
the consequences Of a struggle to the
death.
Upon the assumption that such
friendly representations have been
made and considered, it is possible to
see that President Mckinley might feel
compelled TO heed them, and, as an
evidence Of American humanity and
single purpose. suspend the purpose OF
forcing the enemy TO capitulate by car
rying the war into the peninsula If
this be the correct point Of view, no
doubt the course Of the President is
justified. But it does not follow
that his action necessarily involves
ultimate abandonment of the project, in
case future circumstances should jus
tify Its revival
Neither would a concession to Eu-
ropean opinion, as to the propriety of
an immediate movement against Spain
on the continent, in view Of probable
peace proposals, amount to any express
sion Of American willingness to dis
cuss terms with the enemy. Amply
sufficient notice has been given that
there can be but one condition prece-
dent to peace, and that unconditional
surrender. The terms which would be
imposed, following that, are as well
known in Madrid, London and Berlin
as they are at the White House Any
effort that Sagasta may make to intro
duce the foreign equation into the
problem Of settlement viii fail. There
is not an tpch Of ground for negotia-
ton. certainly not for mediation. Spain
must accept fate and part with Cuba.
Porto Rico, the Philippine and Ladrone
islands as the minimum Of her pun
ishment, and she knows it The war must
continue until that end is reached, and
any overt act on the part of a third
party power to curtail our exactions.
far from promoting peace, would only
result in extending the sphere Of war.
Having firmly determined upon the
policy and course of this country in the
premises, Mr.. Mckinley can afford to
give the Spanish government a chance
10 say that 1t viii submit to what alone
can bring IT relief. Our observation
OF Spanish diplomatic methods, does