The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-23
THE SELF OF A ONCE
GREAT NATION.

the peace negotiations al Paris is not
contemplate only, It IL pitiable The
protocol. agreed to by her when, as she
now says, her situation was desperate,
is plain and precise, and leaves no sort Of
room for discussion Of the questions that
her commissioners continue TO press upon
the attention OF our commissioners. 1t
Is Just as well TO republish the protocol
here 1t IL as follows:
1. That Spain will relinquish ell claims
of sovereignty over and title 10 Cuba
2. That Porto Rico and the other Span
ish Islands ia tAe West In@ies, and an
island in the Ladrones to be selected by
the United states. shall be ceded 10 tho
United States
g. That the United States will occupy
and hold the city bay and harbor or
Manila pending the conclusion OF a treaty
OF peace Itch shall determine the con-
troll dis IN ana government OF the
PhilippiISs
A. That Cuba, Porto Rico and tie other
Spanish islands in the West Indies snail
be Immediately evacuated. and that COM
missioners TO be appointed within ten
DAYS shall within thirty days from the
signing OF the protocol meet at ha-
yana and San Juan respectively to ar
range and execute the details of the
evacuation.
3. That the United states and Spain
will each appoint not more than uVe
commissioners 70 negotiate and conclude
a treaty OF peace. The commissioners
are 70 meet at Paris not later than Octo-
Der list.
Here is an express agreement 10 relin-
quisl al claims TO sovereignty over
Cuba and Porto Rico and to evacuate
both islands Immediately" The only
thing left open for discussion is the flu
iure OF tho Philippine Island. and the
continued efforts Of SPANS commission
ers 10 draw our commissioners into ar
guments over the disposition OF the debt
Spain contracted f. endeavoring 70 sub
due the Cuban insurgents is simply
childish.
1t is 10 no purpose that her commits
sioners urge that she was in such ex-
trenities when she signed the protocol,
and that she could do nothing else. That
Is the fate which nations that engage in
war mus. expect. War IS not pastime.
Vac victis las been its Jaw from tho
beginning CT time ana II wlll be rs law
20 icAs as men engage In war. She
should have thought before the
war began, OF the possibilities that war
Nigh, 20 PROSTATE her that she would
be compelled 20 accede TO any demand
we made. Anybody with 4 srain % COM
mon sense would have known that that
must be tho inevitable outcome OF a
war between the United states and Spain,
30 that instead o. forcing us 10 drive her
out CT Cuba she should have abandoned
Cuba. and thus have saved Porto Rico
and the Philippines But she chose the
alternative Of war, ana having driven
ehis country 10 Il, she can expect no
consideration now on account OF the war
having resulted most disastTously to her.
She chose her part ana must now accept
and bear the consequences
The Paris correspondent OF the London
Times telssrs phed that paper on Thurs
day last that a great Spanish parsonage
had been discussing the situation with
him. ana ne stated the following as the
posicn the Spanish commissioners should
take:
What our delegates should say to
them II they persist "a II Is 10 be feared
they win. .s thls; we are In your hands.
lou are the victors We for once CON-
nitied the folly 4 going 10 war with you
because you left us no tifne 10 avoid Il:
because You treated us In such way
that. even al the RISK Of suicide. we we're
povn1 q plunge into war. although the
result II n was evident TO us Bui We
will Doi commit tAc fresh folly OF lecom-
menciug wa IN aay form We are. there
fore, q; yonr mercy. We shall submit TO
yomr Ciciatcs. ail shan leave the world
10 ~ l,e OF those dictates, but no human
force NIL compel rs "a subscribe 70 them.
and We shall not subscribe"
lhis Is what our delegates oueh; 10
say On this Cuban question. As for tie
other points they viii wait to hear what
they are
A more pitiable and ooniemptiole posi-
uon than this II h imposslOle to con-
ceive OF a nation taking. II is Ike the
position taken by the ass In sternes
sentimental journey. who Is represented
~ sayig 20 his driver. You may beat
me II you wiz but rope you will not"
The dignieed position for Spain to take
y 20 march up 70 TIE consequences Of
hss rash act and face al Of them a. tia