Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-19
TEE PRESIDENTS TERMS,

The opinion is expressed, in both Paris
ana washington. that Spain will accede
10 President McKiney's terms regarding
the Philippines and that there will be no
arbitration. and this opinion is fortihed
by advices from Madrid. We have never
contemplated seriously any other out
come of the negotiations OF the Peace
Commissioners. r. indeed their lapors
can be called negotiations.
The hiegling and trimming Spain has
rcsorted 10 so FAR was to have been
expected. To begin with, it would De
a violation of an Spanish precedent LOT
her to approach any proposition or meet
any situation IN a direct way. Dllatoil-
moss and evasion are the first principles OF
snanish diplomacy. But aside from THIS
II is natural that Spain should feel that
precipitate action would compromise her
dignity. 1t is natural that she should
resort to every possible bubble ana
delay which could in any degree
contribute to saving her dignity. Further-
more. the longer she can stave OIL
the fnallty. the longer the time that VIII
be afforded the Spanish people for SOBER
thought and the greater Will be the
chances of their accepting the conclusions
of the commissioners in such manner as
moi "a give internal trouble. Therefore
despite the assurance that the ultlmatuhl
has been laid down and the crisis reached
we shall not be surprised II SPAN
raisas more points of order and con-
tinues TO seek TO take advantage OIL
technical expressions in the protocol etc.
However. when it does come to the
test Spain will surrender and accept
president McKinley's terms. No other
course will be open to her. without a
navy. without money, without circuit
without sympathy, and without friends
she Is in no condition to renew the fight
and Is absolutely at our mercy.
In aluding TO the terms laid down by
our commissioners as president Nc
Kinley's terms" we have written au'
v,sedlv. We have also written adVisedlS
IN suggesting the question whether "the
negotiations" could be properly termed
negotiations. The result of the eiectioh'
this month. in which the President mau'
,nnerialism an issue, the protests oil pus
mess organizations in great trade ah'
manufacturing centres, ana the tone
,,,arv NJ the most influential papers OF IN
countrv Democratic and Republican, shoV
,ho, the demand for the annexation o
the Philippines is not The demand o
the people of the United states al laise
II Is the demand OF President Mckinney
nc representing certain DIVISION ana
certain set of interests in his parry y
ror The question we have suggested ever
deyelopment regarding the instruction
60 o,,r commissioners tends TO show ina
these were sent to Paris 70 do all TN
negotiating" along hard ana last me
Of imperialism. 1t never was intehde
that the party Of the second part shoui
he nermitted 10 negotiate at all ina
a. 10 say. the commission was nstructe
10 hundoze Spain into accepting the dlc
tam OF Mckinley. Hanna, Foraker eros
venor & Co.
Hence we say, that 20 speak OF IN
terms regarding the Philippines iaid COW
bv the American commissioners
.,our terms" and TO refer TO the Pari
proceedings as negotiations" Is TO EN-
ploy misnomers. The whole performanc
would be farcical did II not Involve sue
a serious menace TO our form OF govern
nent and such defiance Of public sent
ment. as that sentiment has been reeen
ly expressed at the polls, in business
meetings. and through the press.
Yes. Spain will surrender, and yet tn
may not be the end. The Senate will haN
80 pass on the work OF the commission
crs. and let us hope that That body vi
have more regard for public gent
ment. the doctrines OF The fathers. an
the safeiy Of our institutions, than ha'
President Mckinley and his coterie
imperialistic advisers.
Mrs Grannis ana her kind should no
az least one more negro mass-meetIn