The age-herald., 1898-07-12
E UROi E BOWS
 TO AMERICA

London July 11.-Since Monday last the old world has realized that all of it's nlots for rearranging the political destines of mankind have been rendered futile by the advent of the world as an active par ticipant in the game of making history.
 Perhaps the shrewd observers at St. Petersburg realized sooner than others. outside of Great Britain, that America was already factor in the situation and as great as any other power, despite her ap- parently limited forces But it needed the smashing victory of Sampsona fleet to demonstrate to France and Germany and even to England. that the American navy possessed vastly greater force than it's merely theoretical strength.
 1t is beginning to be understood also, that the practical experiment gained at Manila and Santiago is worth as much az doubling the American feet in view of the fact that no European nation nas yet sent a modern warship into serious action The sneers at the Ameriean people as I,oastful but impractical fighters have lisappeared in the continental press and public c,:pres- sons of opinion are HOW almost universally respectful.
 In the case of France. where the anti- American sentiment was strongest and most offensive. the peculiar features of the La Bourgogne disaster make the situation humiliating. almost pitiable. 1t seems al- most as if the facts had conspired to drag French self-respect in the dust The moral cowardice of official France In dealing with the Dreyfus scandal was again demon- strated this week. and thus in confbina- ton with the scenes attending the La, Bourgogne disaster, has forced compari- sons with the coincdent record of Ameri- can arms, which afforded an ample return for the insults to which many Americans in Paris have been subjected in the past few weeks.
 But the most important effect of the de- struction of Cervera's fleet is the full con, cession by all classes of European opinion that the United States is entitled to the adequate fruits of it's voctory. It is &C., cepted today in every European capital a .foregone conclusion that all of Spains colonial possessions, except, perhaps, the Canaries, are lost to her.
 It by no means follows, of course. that continental Europe Is willing to see the United States alone profit by the Sr anish disaster. The best opinion in the diplo- matic world today, however, inclineS to the belief that America might annex the Philippines and Porto Rico without excit- ing more than the formal protest of any European power, while the concession of two or three naval stations in the Philip- pines would remove all European oppos- ton.
 The European advice to Spain to sue for peace is of course, unanimous. and it is be- lieved that the Madrid government will de- wise means to control the domestic situation sufficintly to conduct negotiations openly before many days have passed. This, how ever depends upon the changes which are taking place, almost from hour to hour, In the Spanish capital. This weeks evolution of public opinion in Madrid furnishes ap interesting commentary on the situation The correspondent of the Inter Ocean tee- graphs from the frontier:
 Now that the first shock of the disaster Is over the Spanish press and the public criticising Admiral cervera's attempt to escape from Santiago. The criticism is, of course, colored by the result. Some pa- pers which extolled the feat while 1t was believed to have been successful as on of the cleverest and bravest of deeds ever done on the sea, are now denouncing 1t as fdfotio and suicidal.
 "Much is made of the statement from Admiral Cervera to the effect that his squadron left the harbor on imperative or- ders from Madrid and against the judgment of his officers. The report that Blamed and Cervera were at loggerheads undoubt% edly arose from the refusal of Cervera to obey his order from the captain general until it came to him direct from the min.
 
 thorities carefully avoid giving informa- ton on this subject, but it is believed by the public and it has given finishing touch to the unpopularity of the Sagasta minis- try.
 "A prominent French journalist, who has just returned from a tour of the southern provinces, tells me that of the thirteen large towns he visited, only one, Cadiz, fayors a continuance of the war. Here in Madrid it is difficult to gauge public opinA ion. The city is so thronged with soldiers, civil guards, and police that the people dare not express their views.
 "Signs are not wanting, however, that this state of affairs is coming to an end, for the military are beginning to fratern- ize with the people and this will speedily destroy the governments power to use the army to control popular outbreak.
 Another sign is that the hostile allu- sions to the dynasty are becoming more and more unveiled. Even Fl Liberal de- clares: What has to be saved is the fath- erland, and that the person is its enemy who relegates it to second place in these hours of imminent danger'