The times., 1898-08-01
MONDAY, AUGUST l. 1895.
A Very Sinister Transaction

n
1t is very difficult to discuss the sur
render of the Administration to the cor
porate and quasi-corporate Influences
interested in preventing American pos
session of the Philippine Islands with
the judicial calmness appropriate in the
case Of a grave national blunder.
which some people will not be slow
TO call by a harsher name We
know now the extent Of the conces-
in the premises. and the more they are
considered and analysed the more OBJ
noxious they appear. We need not
stop to notice the gong sounded indi-
recty from the office of Judge Day. in
tended to create the impression that the
conditions demanded are so hard that
there is little prospect of their accept
ance by Spain. All reasonable doubt
OF such acceptance. as far as the pres
ent controlling power in Madrid is con-
cerned, was dispelIed when long an
ticipated conference with a gentleman
very close TO the Vatican was held for
several hours at the White House last
Thursday night. 1t was then that the
startling proposition was adopted. to
leave the future Of the archipelago won
by Admiral Dewey to a mixed Spanish
American commission. the result of its
action, Of course, being foreordained.
Nothing could have surprised the
American people much more than this
total abandonment of Mr. McKinley's
previous position in regard to the ne
Eotiation Of terms. He has carefully
fostered public belief that no diplo-
nGatic or other discussion of conditions
with Spain would be thought of. and
that the enemy would only be notified
of the conditions upon which we would
make peace, and might submit to or
reject them at her option
in place Of finally assuming that attf
tude. we find that the Administration
has deliberately surrendered its position
as speaking for a sonquering nation.
and with a purpose hardly open to
question has attempted distinctly to
commit the United States TO a course
the inevitable consequence of which
must be our loss of everything in the
Philippines, coaling station perhaps
excepted. To voluntarily give Spain an
equal voice in the future disposition of
the islands violates every ground of
principle upon which the American
people have gone to war 1t definitely
and disgracefully gives our case away.
If Spain is worthy TO join with US on
sn equal footing in settling the fate of
eight millions Of human beings whom
her rascaIity and barbarism have driven
10 frenzy. then we are either caIlous
10 the dictates of humanity, or our con-
tention that Spain has outlawed her
self and is no more to be treated as a
civilized state has been hypocrisy and
humbug.
Indeed, the proposition OF the mixed
commission is 50 obviously abhorrent
TO the logic of our position that its
gratuitous conception and offer justify
the strongest suspicion that it forms
the groundwork of a political trade
with certain influential elements look
ing to the support of tn, Administra-
tion candidates and party in the Au-
tumn elections and in the Presidential
campaign of 1900. We had sincerely
hoped, and almost come to believe. that
President Mckinley had outgrown the
malign methods and men of 1896, and
that he would finish the war with
Spain without resort to Hanna, ..good
politics or sound business methods"
with view to the promotion of selfish
domestic party ends. 1t must be ad-
snitted that the Philippine commiss on
surprise-or shall we call it scandaI?-
rather effectually disposes of any such
pleasant idea. 1t vanishes all the mors |
Eompletely when the press exponent in |
&his country Of the Spanish bondhold- ]