The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-08-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFron Our Regular Correspondent
wAsH1xoros, D. G., July 20, 1888.

WASHIN0TONs ". W, July ~, 1875.
President Mckinley and the members
Of the Cabinet have agreed upon the
course to take in dealing with the re
quest of Spain, through the French
ambassador, as to negotiating peace. If
Spain is ready to surrender and to accept
our terms Of peace, there will be no diff
ticulty in bringing about speedy cessa.
tion Of hostilities, but il the inquiry was
prompted by desire to entrap this gov.
ernment into declaring its intentions
toward the Philippines in the hope that
they might be of such nature that
some Of the powers would attempt to
otject, she will find this government is
not TO Re easily entrapped. Presi
dent Mckinley has already intimated
to the representatives Of several
powers who sought to obtain hint Of
his intentions toward the Philippines
that it was none Of their business. Spain
lie in no condition to quibble over terms
Of peace. 1t is only question of carry
ing out plans now well under way when
We shall bs in possession of every foot of
territory she owns outside her own
boundaries. The sooner she makes q
complete surrender and willingness to
leave the terms of peace to the magma
nimity of this government, the more
liberal terms will she get. This must
sooner or later become apparent to
Spain, just as it did that no talk of peace
through any other power or powers
would be paid any attention by this gov
eminent. 1t was only when the rt quest
to know whether this country would
entertain propositions looking to peace
came directly from the government of
Spain that President Mckinley replied
to it, and it will only be when Spain an
nounces her willingness to accept our
terms that peace will he had
Those who have fro n the first contend
ed that when Admiral SIMPSONS off,
cial report of the naval battle resulting
in the destruction of Cervera's feet was
received it would show that full justice
would be done to all who participated
in the great naval victory are fully jus
tilted by the report, which was this week
made public. Admiral Sampson does
not in the slightest degree attempt to
take credit for himself or his flagship
that should belong to Commodore Schley
and the captains Of the ships which as
sisted in destroying the Spanish feet.
Admiral Sampson says of his flagship,
the New York: ''She was not at any
time within range of the heavy Spanish
shipe, and her only part in the firing
was to receive the undivided fire from
the forts In passing the harbor entrance
and to fire few shots ct one Of the de-
stroyers, thought at the moment to be
attempting TO escape from the Glouces-
ter" The reports Of Commodore Schley,
Captains Evans, of the Iowa, Philip, Of
the Texas, Taylor, of the Indiana, and
CLARK, of the Oregon, to Admiral Samp-
son, were at the same time made public.
That Commodore Schley had no hard
feelings is shown by the following words
in his report: II congratulate you most
sincerely upon this great victory to the
squadron under your command, and
am glad that had an opportunity to
contribute in the least to victory that
seems big enough for all Of u.s."
Full details received by the War De.
partment show that Gen. Shafter was in
no way to blame for the action of Gen.
Garcia in Withdrawing his troops from
near Santiago and declaring he would no
longer act under Gen. Skaters orders.
Garcia refused to be satisaed with any
thing less than such official recognition
by Gen. Shafter ~ would have been .
practical recognition by the United
States Of tho Cuban republic, and that,
Of course. Gen. shafter could not give
without violating the very positive or.
ders he receivsd before going to Cuba.
President McKinly wishes to treat the
insurgents with every possible courtesy
and consideration, but his reasons for
declining to recognize the insurgent gov
ernment. or alleged government, are
much stronger now than they were pre-
vious to the war. In the eyes of the
world this government is responsible for
the government of Cubs after it passes
out of the control Of Spain, and it 10 60
ing to be military government until
such time that the President shall decide
otherwise. In deciding upon the per-
msnent government for Cuba, the in
surgents viii not be Disseminated
against, nor will other orderly residents
of Cuba be Disseminated against.
II Spain attempted to open negotia-
tions for peace with the expectation that
1t would cause any cessation Of active
military operations on our part, she d
l. A.