Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-28

earnest representations of these
European powers that have been so
persistent in their efforts to secure
peace. Military experts allow two
weeks as the maximum period Of
time necessary for Gen. Miles to
secure this commanding position,
and therefore it Is hoped that
within that space of time the
Spanish government will have
been brought not exactly to the
approval of a treaty of peace but to
an application for an armistice
that in it's conditions will amount
to a concession of those things
most desired by the United States
government.
1t is pointed out that the condi-
lions promise on large scale to
duplicate those existing at Santi-
ago when Gen. Toral surrendered.
The Spaniards surrendered with
provision for commission to adj
just the details of the surrender.
Likewise Spain may secure an
arnistice and provide for a COM
mission to adjust the details of a
peace treaty, but the effect of the
first action will be like that Of
Toral's surrender.
AS to the terms to be imposed
by the United States, it seems
probable that our State Depart
ment is again about to give the
diplomats of the old world a lesson
in straightforward dealing, aban-
doning the devious paths of old
time diplomacy, and striking
straightforward and without
double dealing or hair-splitting
toward the object in view. In
such negotiations, conducted on
the broad and high plane which
has characterized the attitude of
the United States from the very
beginning Of the controversy with
Spain which led UP to the war,
there will be little chance for sue
cessful exercise of what is termed
Spanish diplomacy There will
not be any disposition shown to
take undue advantage of the posi-
ton of a defeated and helpless ma
ton, but to justify and secure the
indulgent treatment that the
United States is now In temper
to accord the Spanish negotiations
must be honestly, fairly. openly
and directly conducted. 1t cannot
be tolerated for an instant. it is
announced, that through the in
diligence of the United States by
granting armistice or otherwise
in the early stages of the peace
negotiations, the Spanish govern
ment shall covertly secure
breathing spell to recuperate and
rally for further resistance to the
American arms.
Generally, as stated, the propo-
sitions seem included in all lists
of demands; namely: first, the alb
solute independence Of Cuba, with
the provision that the island shall
be absolved from the responsible
ity for any debt heretofore charged
against 1t by Spain. The last
clause. It is expected, will cause
some friction inasmuch as 1t is GER
tain to arouse the desperate resist
ance Of certain European holders
Of bonds issued by Spain based
upon the revenues of Cuba.
The second proposition is the abb
solute cession of Porto Rico to the
United States. likewise unincum-
bered by a liability Of any bonded
interestedness. It is believed that
Spain has practically made up her
mind to this condition before in
shutting the overtures for peace.
Another point upon which the
United States. it is believed. will
insist is the cession of certain coal
ing stations in the Ladrones and
Carolines. probably Guami island
in the former and zap island in the
latter, and perhaps one other in a
different quarter Of the world not
yet designated The last consider
alton is the one which promises to
give more trouble than any other,
namely, the settlement of the future
of the Philippines. There is reason
to believe that the President him
self has not determined how this
subject shall be treated. A coal
ing station is wanted there, but be-
yond that 1t may be that we will
not care to go. An entirely diff
ferent attitude might have been
assumed by our government. but
the course adopted by the insur-
gents under Aguinaldo. which. it
is asserted, leaves the United States
under no moral obligation to care
for his people.
Touching the question of indem-
nifty, it may be stated that our gov
eminent will not be in the mood to
abandon any claim on this score
if Spain. by further resistance,
obliges it to go to the heavy ex-
pense of sending a naval expedi-
ton to Spain and of continuing on
a large scale the military move
ments now under way.
Nothing was heard from the
Miles expedition to-day at the
War Department, but Captain
Higginson. the senior officer of the
naval convoy. forwarded a brief
cablegram that gave keen delight
to the Navy Department because
of the unstinted praise it accorded
to a popular and dashing young
officer, Dick" Wainwright. the
commander of the little Glouces-
ter. Wainwright, having been
commended by his superior, Hig-
ginson, for his actions at Guam
lea, enjoys the solitary distinction
Of being the only officer attached
to SIMPSONS fleet who has been