Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-03

Wisdom Of Suggesting a Commits
sion is Already APP
parent.

New York, Aug. IA dispatch to the
World from Madrid says: President Nc
hinley has stolen a march on the powers
of Europe in the making of peace His
reported leaving of the Philippines ques-
ton to future settlement between Spain
and the United States alone spoils a clev
erly-cOncocted scheme. Behind SPANS
diplomatic maneuver to draw the United
States out on this question of conditions,
the continental governments had spread
snare.
Jealous Of her political and commercial
influence, the old world powers, instigated
by Russia and abetted by France and
Germany, sought to coax America from
the isolated position which is her principal
strength and to coerce her into acting in
concert with them.
The serious international aspects of the
settlement of the disputes between Spain
and the United States must be borne in
mind if the conduct of the Spanish gov
eminent is to be understood at all.
Spain knew the game was up for Der in
the West Indies and that she could not
expect even platOnic, much less material
assistance, to retain any Of her posses
siOns there. But she received positive as
surance of aid in the settlement of the
question of the Philippines question.
From the very first Russia has viewed
with the utmost displeasure Americas
success at Manila. She is as much op-
posed as Germany is to an American pro-
tectOrate or naval or coaling stations in
the Spanish archipelago. So Russia,
prompted by the attitude of France in
that regard, with the entire approval of
Germany, caused Spain to receive assur-
ance that France, Russia and the triple
alliance would not tolerate an active war
policy of the United States in the Medi-
terranean sea or along the coasts of the
Spanish peninsula or Morocco should the
war be prolonged.
All this determined the Madrid cabinet
to make peace overtures with a view to
coming to an understanding with the
United States if President Mckinley
should not insist upon too great conces-
sions in the Philippines. But if American
demands in the far East should be con-
sdered excessive Premier Sagasta was
to simply go on with the war and await
the Developments and complications in
which he had been led to expect Euro
pean support.
The underlying object of all this finesse
was to make the question of the Philip
pines and the limitation of the American
sphere of influence in Oceanica one of
many International points that could not
be settled except by a conference of the
powers. But most Spaniards accept as
inevitable the details which the press
publishes relative to the American peace
conditions.
So convinced are all that the two will
come to agreement that few papers, and
they but feebly, attempt to keep up a war
like spirit by opposing some of the points
laid down in the American reply. Even
the Madrid papers point out that it is evil
dent that President Mckinley will not
permit interference like that which cur
tailed Japan's victory over China.
Gen. August reports not very promis-
ing condition unless he can be immediate
ly relieved.
All rumors of Carlist risings are I'M
founded. The instructions of the pre-
tender prohibit anything unpopular.