Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-09-22
SITUATION IN MADRID.
Sagasta Disappointed Over the P0-
litical Composition of the
Peace Commission.
Grave EVENTS ARE FOREsHADOWED.

The Alleged Intention or the United States
to Demand the Island of Luzon Regard
ed as an Infringement of the Protocol
The Political Situation, ON tho Whole,
Has . Rather Dismal Outlook.
New York, Sept. 1S.-A dispatch to
the Tribune from Madrid says:
sagasta's Bitter Disappointment.
It is bitter disappointment to Pre-
mier Sagasta that he has failed to get
for Spanish peace commissioners rep
resentative men of all parties to give
It a national character over and above
sectional politics. In spite of all his
promises and persuasion, the premier
has been unable to obtain the consent
of any statesmen outside of his own
immediate followers who are willing
to act on the commission, where, to
use an expression of Scnor Silvela.
Spain can employ nothing but empty
words and parallels to oppose any de-
mands the American commissioners
may see fit to make"
Grave Events Foreshadowed.
The scenes in the cortes, and espe
,cially Count Almena's violent on
slaughts upon the liberals, which are
said to be Endorsed by numerous young
officers, are regarded as foreshadow-
ing events of far greater Importance
that can not be avoided after the sign
ing of the peace treaty.
The sole point upon which all par
ties here now seem to agree is that Sc
nor Sagasta must remain in power un
til the conclusion of peace, and there
by drink the dregs of the cup which
his enemies maintain, he himself
brewed.
An Alleged Infringement of the Peace
Protocol
The alleged intention of the United
is regarded by Madrid foreign officers
as an infringement on the peace pro-
tocol. If Spain is compelled to cede
that island to the United States, great
efforts will be made to retain the right
to determine the disposal of all the
other Philippine islands, with view
of actually abandoning them altogeth-
er. On this point it is asserted that
an arrangement is under discussion
with Germany, by which Germany will
get, by way of a brokers commits
sion," Palawan and Sulu.~
The Drift of Opinion.
In reference to the Philippines. it is
significant that the DRIFT of opinion
among members of the cortes is that
If Spain must cede to the United States
anything more than a mere coaling
station, 1t would then be preferable to
withdraw Spanish sovereignty entire
ly. Among civilians outright abandon
ment is considered the wisest policy,
especially now that military men, like
Senior Polavieja, say that under the
new situation a permanent garrison of
at least $4,000 men would be required
to hold the islands, and that to main
tain such force would be too severe
4 tax on the national resources.
The Cuban Debt Bugaboo.
In diplomatic circles here great con
fidence is felt that the Spanish peace
commissioners will succeed in sad
ding upon Cuba that portion OF the
Cuban debt incurred previous to the
last instruction, and which is said to
be guaranteed by the Cuban custom
receipts.
A Dismal Situation
The international political situation
is more dismal than the military lead
ers think. Although they presented a
solid front during the recent session
OF the cortes, they are in reality di-
vided among themselves The queen
regent las already discounted Senior
Sagasta's eventual retirement, and
pins her faith in Senior Polavieja,
whose lack of political experience will
be supplied by Senior SilEela or Senior
Canalejas They are ready to join
hands with Senior Leon y Castillo, who.
been almost hourly consulted by the
queen regent.
Military Leaders Prepared to Act rs Soon
as Peace 10 Signed.
1t is impossible to longer conceal the
fact that The military leaders are now
preparing to act as soon as peace is
signed. Gen. Weyler never misses an
opportunity to discredit the dynasty,
and is bitterly opposed to Senior Pola-
vieja. Weyler is believed to be aiming
st an outright dictatorship in his ewn
personal interest, and is known to
have promised the highest and most
lucrative places to his military follow
ers. The queen, however, is firmly
convinced that Polavieja will, when
the time comes, prove more than q
match for Weyler.
Where the Great Danger Lies.
The great danger in the situation is
that the military element is considered
as offering the only solution of the
present difficulties, which party pas
sion has so embittered that cool-head-
ed men fear an era of pronuncia-
mentos, dictatorship and civil war.
More Rebellion In Formosa.
Tacoma, Wash, Sept. 1s--Mail ad-
vices from Japan state that another
formidable rebellion against Japanese
rule has broken out in Formosa, this