The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-09
SPANlARDS ARE PLACID.
The Santiago Battle Is Not Cause
for Any Regrets.
THINK AMERICANS WASTED POWDEF
At Present the Pence Proposals Arr
Not as FavorabIy Considered
as Few Days Back.

London, June s.--The Madrid corrc-
spondent of the Times says: The news
from Santiago produced little or no ex-
element. At first there was feeling of
sadness because only Spanish losses were
announced. Gradually the feeling changed
when It was learned the Americans also
suffered heavily. In any case there was
justification for patriotic satisfaction in
the fact that the attack had been success
fully repulsed with fewer casualties than
have sometimes occurred in the skirmishes
With the insurgents. This is the tone
adopted by todey's morning papers.
FL Liberal says; II Is new feature for
the Americans but considering the results,
We must not attribute to it the importance
OF a real victory.
The specialists, of course. are endeavor
ing TO determine the object the Americans
had in view in expendng such a large
quantity OF valuable ammunition. Some are
inclined TO regard It as simply another
manifestation OF the prevalent lombard
omania." another sop thrown TO the i'm
patient amateur strategsts who are ig-
Dorantiy clamoring for greater military
and naval activity. Others believe that the
real object was TO occupy the attention o.,
the Santiago garrison while the landing of
troops was Effected. This is confirmed by
The news that landing was attempted at
two separate points, namely, Punta Ca
hrere and Aguadores Unfortunately the
dispatches on this subject hitherto received
are very rneagre. but they agree in stat
ing positively that at both points the Span.
ish forces effectually prevented the intend
ed Decentralization.
In the absence Of Trustworthy news from
the Philippines the widest rumors are
again ahoat Creiulous patriots cling to
'Ae view that Admiral Ceryera can work
miracles and they believe, despite all evil
dence TO the contrary, that his squadron +.
Wen on the way to the Philippines.
inc peace possibilities continue to be dis
cussed. Some sangune people urge that
negotiations might be opened at once. Dur.
Ing the last few days several influential
peTsonages have tried 10 convince me that
the moment has arrived, but / confess I
am sun skepticaI. All sensible people con.
inue 10 say, as they have bsen sav{nz far
weeks past, that short OF miracles there
is no doubt o. the f7al result OF an nm
equaI struggle, and that the longer the
stausgie continues the greater will be tbs
sacrifices. But | still fai to perceive in any
influential quarter readiness to act on
this conviction. When | ask my friends
why they DO not propose 10 make peace they
reply that Spain. being the aggrieyed party.
can not take the initiative
On analyzing the opinion that the psyche
logical moment for starting peace negotia-
Mons has arrived, find it was based not
on the consciousness that Spain is rapidly
eXhausting her resources, but on the be-
lief that the greater majority of the Amer
leans have already tired of the war. that
President Mckinley is becoming more un-
popular, and that the peace suggestions OF
the Paris edition OF the New York Herald
were inspired by President Mckinley him
self.
AS for Spain. my friends maintain that
she is In no hurry, as recent events have
shown her powers of passive resistance
TO be far greater than has been supposed. |
The conquest OF Cuba, they say, will re- |
quire TWO years al least and probably !
mlch more and if the island is ever con- |
Qneftl u wall be they argue, white ele- |
ph4nt Tor the United States. The con-
clus4n is that America has much more |
res .on than Spain to desire a termination
OF hosillities. Such is. If | diagnose II
arieht, the present state NJ public opinion
among most reasonable people here. Such
an attitude is hardly likely 10 serve the
purpose of peace
venture even 10 declare that during
the recent days we have drifted away from
rather than toward the goal all reasonable
people desire to reach. The Spaniards
naturally shrink from adopting a coneilia.
tory attitude, when they find Piatonic ev-
prfssoins about the desirablity of seeking
some honorable solution Of their internal
tional difficulties only excite the buster
ing tendencies OF American journalism ex
pressing in such headlines as "snain Cry-
ing for Peace" and SPANS Affect poy.
erty." w
ON The other hand the Standards havs
syn 10 learn that the Americans in spite
-, ~. . clustering propensities. have some
OF mat dogged tfnecity az purpose which
forms the dominant trait in their own
national character. t o"h