Evening star., 1898-08-15
Er
Rull Meaning Of Protocol Dawns on
the People.
FALL TO SECOND NATIONS RANK
London Times Highly Compliments
the Presidents Craftsmanship.
GIST OF AR NEW S

| tocol are veritable funeral hymn on the
| destruction of the Spanish colonial empire.
| Some days ago the desire for peace made
| the people close their eyes to the price, but
| now, upon reading the protocol they real
l'ize that the cost is the loss of that empire
| which Spain had conquered with SO much
glory, and that Spain now falls to the sec
| ond rank among nations. The public mind
| is stunned. and there is general mourning.
| General Blanco telegraphs that Havana
1 is greatly agitated by the news of the sign
| ing of the protocol, and that much anxiety
| is manifested to learn the conditions. which
| have not yet been published. Some uneasi-
| ness is felt regarding the effect that the
| text of the protocol may have on the Span
ish volunteers in Havana Many newspa-
| pers express grief and despair that the men
| VINO brought disaster on Spain by lack of
| foresight organization and ability should
continue to govern the country
| El Pals prints the text of the protocol
| signed by the United States and Spain.
| with mourning borders. and says Spain,
without colonies is reduced to the role of a
| third-rate power"
| An order has been issued by the captain
| general of Madrid suspending the publica-
| ton of Ell Pals
| Precautions I'm Madrid.
The city was patrolled by police last
81
| The publication of the protocol produced
keen disappointment so far as it refers to
| the Philippines, where it had been hoped
| Spain would preserve her sovereignty in
! tact Clause of the protocol dispels this
| illusion.
Echoing public feeling, the independent
| and opposition papers bitterly criticise the
clause as affordins pretext for curtai!ing
spanish sovereignty in an archipelago
where control or interference of foreign
power would make the natives ungovern-
able
| Ell Heraldo wants to know how America
| proposes to make the Cuban and Philippine
| insurgents submit to a suspension of hostil-
| tiles and keep them in leash until evacua-
| ton of the islands by the Spaniards is COM
| pleted.
Ell Naconal says: I'VE would rather lose
! the Philippines altogether than submit to
American tutelage'
| The other papers discuss the proba bi.i.y
| of the abolition of the colonial Office de-
| claring that the total loss of the Philippines
would be preferable to American partner
ship or control" - "a
Ell Imparcial. Ell HeraIdo and Ell Liberal
find fault with clause 4. because it limits
the action of the mixed commissions to the
West Indies, in reference to the details of
| the evacuation, whereas most Spaniards
expected that most of them would be de-
cided upon before tile sailing of the COM
| missions.
Advises a Stand.
All the adversaries of the present cabinet
find fault with the protocol because the
fifth clause allows until October for the
meeting of the peace commissioners, and
stpulates that when a definitive treaty Is
concluded it shall be ratified according to
the constitutional rules of each country
thus furnishing Sagasta with a plausible
preteXt for adjOuTning the convocation of
the cortes until he has treaty of peace
to put before them.
Ell Correo (ministeriaD suggests that
America herself, from motives of internal
policy or international considerations, has
not yet formed a defnitive conclusion on
the Philippine question.
Public opinion attaches great Importance
to the Spanish commission in Paris making
a resolute stand in defense of Spain'S ter
ritorial rights in the Philippines. The gov
ernment, therefore. wants TO send o strong,
competent body of delegates.
Cuba and Porto Rico.
The Times Madrid correspondent, tele-
graphing Sunday, says:
There is no conceivable doubt that the
cortes will approve of peace, and the date
of the convocation of the cortes can only
affect personal party interest.
"It- is too soon to speak confidently OF
the impression the preliminary conditions
of peace, when examined closely, Will make
on the Spanish people generally, but there
is no doubt the news of the termination OF
hostilities will be received by great ma
jority with satisfaction.
In the peace negotiations no serious
complications are apprehended in regard
to Cuba and Porto Rico. If the members
of the local commission for evacuation
have not yet been appointed, 1t is surely
because the government wishes to appoint
officers and officials of the same rank as
those to be appointed by the United States
government, and at last nights cabinet
council 1t was decided to save time by ap-
pointing persons on the spot.
Already some people are beginning to
console themselves with the idea that the
loss of those two islands, though most
palnfu to Spain'S national feeling, con-
Summating the destruction OF the great
spanish empire in the western hemisphere,
Is really not so seSious as is generally sup
posed
Herlin Press Comment.
The leading papers of Berlin welcome
peace between the United States and Spain.
and express the hope that the latter coun-
try will endeavor to accept the situation
and will not regard the loss of her colo
MES as an open wound, only to be healed
by revenge.
The National Zeitung says the United
states Is DehaVinS in becoming and dig
n1hed manner, and that there is no reason
why SPAN should not enter into CONNER
cal relations with her conqueror.
The Nossische Zeitung says: Spain is
preclpitated into chasm of political OBJ
llvion whittier long years of priestly do
minion would inevitably have FASTENED
her"
The paper thinks the United. States will
deal as the government thinks best with
the philippines, hut that the decisions re-
gardlng those ISLANDS are of the deepest
The Mexican rraivass 'coihments variously
on the terms of pesee between the United
States and Spain oifFhee Mexican Herald
says: AZ
Spain may thank the. shortsightedness
OF her statesmen fer tie fbss of Porto Rico.
The Cuban question might have been set
tied long ago Some ispaniards wanted
1t settled--by selling the island to the
American government. Before the Amer
lcan people lies the perpisxing Cuban ques-
tion The island will have to be held as
England holds Egypt. and, in our opinion,
II is extremely unlikely to even enjoy abb
soiute independences perhaps it is not de-
sirable.'
ri Nac.onal. moderate liberal paper, says:
fhe war waged In Cuba by the Ameri-
cans has not been d savage and barbarous
struggle, but civilized as far as warfare
can be civilized. ItI will mot do in the fu-
ture TO disdain the American army. He
VINO does SO will show that he is unable
10 proht by the lessons of history"
Ell Iiempo, the organ of the clerical and
feactionary party, and opposed to the gov
eminent, says