The times., 1898-07-28
THURSDAY JULY. 2s. 1885.
The Pence PrnhIem

A grave condition confronts President
Mckinley. He stands at the cross
roads OF his country's fortunes and fu-
ture. Upon his patriotism, courage in
the face Of possible menace from
abroad. and stern indifference to the
influences Of Toryism, provincialism
and monopolistic corruption at home,
may largely depend what those for
tunes and that future are to be-
We are glad 10 believe that at the
very beginning Of the active campaign
for peace inaugurat5d by the French
ambassador. in behalf Of Spain, on
Tuesday. Mr.. Mckinley has shown
his hand" though not exactly in the
way desired by the several interests
now openly conspiring TO save the en-
emy from the natural and legitimate
consequences Of war and its antecedent
Spanish crimes. He had previously
declined 10 consider even a diplomatic
hint looking To an armistice. We are
greatly mistaken in him if now he has
not plainly and even bluntly informed
n. Cambon that discussion of terms"
IS equally out Of the question. II ever
burned child had need to dread the
fire. the President and his Secretary of
State have reason TO avoid "neg0tia-
tions" having the remotest connec-
tion with the diplomacy Of Spain.
If We can credit statements made by
gentlemen presumed TO have confiden-
tial relations with the White House,
the trick sought to be covered by the
latest peace movement is completely
plain to our Government. 1t ought
L. be 70 any sane man familiar with or
binary affairs. 1t does not require any
great amount Of penetration to discover
that. while Spain undoubtedly wants
peace on her own terms, just at the
present moment il is not so much a
cessation Of hOsulities that is hoped
for as the construction of a situation
favorable to Europ an intervention. The
willy Sagasta evidently believes that
if he can trap the United States into
an official acknowledgement that moth
ing short Of q complete surrender Of Gu
ba. Porto Rico, the Philippines and
the Ladrones, with a coaling station in
the Canaries add d, VIII appease the
American people, il viii Be possible for
him 10 secure the active interference of
continental Europe.
Un0fiicially he knows, as well as does
President Mckinley, that nothing less
would be tolerated by American pub
lie sentiment. as the price of peace. But,
while the fact is notorious in
the diplomatic circle in Washington.
and. hence. well understood in every
European cabinet, its official formula
tion is needed to precipitate q line of
action for which Madrid Vienna and
the Vatican have been scheming for
weeks.
The position held by the President
is an impregnable one, If he viii stick
TO it. and carefully guard it from the
least invasion. The minima Of our
terms are as fully before the Spanish
ministry as if they had been stated
in formal note. The Queen Regent.
Sagasta. Franz Josef and Leo XIII
are absolutely aware that soon or late
Spain must offer TO accept them, or be
annihilated, unless they can be modified
through q European war scare. 1t is
such a scare that is intended 10 consti-
tute the next step, if the American
Government can be cajoled into com
uniting itself in the manner hoped for.
The policy appropriate 10 the occasion
Is obvious Knowing that Spain is
only endeavoring TO change the strug-
gle from the field Of war, in which she
has been miserably beaten, to that of
diplomacy, In which she might have a
better chance, and the prospect Of al
lies, there is but one thing for Mr. Nc
Kinley to do, and that is to refuse 10
listen TO any representations or propo-
siuons which do not specifically cover