The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-02
THE COST OF THE WAR
Must be Paid by Spain in
Territory.
ANY AMOUNT DUE HER
WHEN PHILIPPINES BECOME
OURS TO BE PAID IN
LUMP.
THIS AMOUNT WON'T PASS $50, 900, coo
Possibility Of SPANS Refusal Of Our Ter m
Causes no Uneasiness. We can Hold
What we Claim Without Dam
apo IA Orr Interests
age TO Our Interests.

Washington, Nov. 1.-The Cabinet to-
day devoted most of its attention to con-
sideration of questions connected with
the administration of affairs in Cuba
and Porto Rico. The administrative
feature of the Philippine question also
received some attention.
There is no longer any doubt as to
the general purpose of this Government
to retain the entire Philippine archipela-
go. If after final balancing of the &C
count, viz, the cost of the war to the
United States on one side and our ac-
Quisitions on the other, it is found that
any compensation is due the Spaniards,
it will be made in lump sum. No
Spanish bonds of any character or
amount other than local or municipal
bonds, will be paid or assumed by this
Government. What sum of money this
Government would consent to pay to
Spain cannot even be estimated, but
when the final account is rendered, it is
believed that the balance due Spain will
be small, probably not exceeding %
100000 or 3O,O00,O00. The belief still
prevails among majority of the Cabi-
net that the Spaniards will accept the
terms laid down by the United States,
fore that result is reached will be charge
able only to the purpose of the Spaniards
to extort the last possible million dol
lars before acceding to our demands.
The administration has satisfied itself
that Spain is neither able nor willing
to resume hostilities on any scale that
would make her dangerous opponent
to the United States. Therefore. sup
posing the Paris conference to fail, all
that would be imposed upon our Govern
ment as an immediate duty, would be
to take complete military possession of
the Philippines. This, it is believed,
could be accomplished without loss OF
time or life The last vestige of Spanish
military power in the islands is that
under Colonel Rios, commander-in-chief
of the Vizcayas Islands, and by depu-
tized authority in charge of all Spanish
territory not directly within the control
of the United States in the Philippine
Islands His force is insignificant from
a military point of view, and it IS doubt
full if he could hold his own against the
insurgents had the Tagals been allowed
by Admiral Dewey to make Manila the
base of an expedition directed against
the Spanish commander.
So far as Cuba is concerned, the diff
Guilty would be the more serious; but
even there the Spanish military force is
not in a condition to offer prolonged
resistance to the American conquest of
the island, and with the Spanish navy
at the bottom of the sea, they could not
be reinforced by troops from Spain.
Therefore about the worst that could
happen would be the necessity imposed
upon us of struggling along without the
signature of treaty of peace, but in
full possession of all the territory we
desire, and that such conditions can ex-
list without damage to material interests
is shown by the history of the Spanish
American republics which revolted from
Spain's rule.