Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-27
SPANISH CASE PRESENTED WIT.
MARKED ABILITY.
ABILITY WASTED, HOWEVER
BETTER PROGRESS Is EXPECTED
FROM NOW ON.
Philippines Question VIII Come I'D
Very Soon-JOint Session Was Held
Yesterday and Another VIII
Pc Held TO-dny-Span-
ixI Crisis.

WASHINGTON. oct. 2G-There are in.
dications that the peace commissioners il
Paris are approaching the end OF the con.
sidcratiUH Of the subject of CuEa and
Porto Rico, and officials here would not be
surprised If to-Gay-s session Of the COM
mission concluded these subjects, leaving
The commission free 10 take up the most
important matter il the protocol, namely,
the disposition Of the Philippines. The
Spanish case has been presented with an
ability and adroitness that commands the
admiration Of diplomats without regard to
nationality, and even our own officials have
been compelled to yield tribute OF respect
10 the arguments produced. but they have
been of no avail in effecting any substantial
Change in the first attitude of the American
commissioners, who are holding firmly
10 the lire Of procedure originally outlined.
II is expected here that henceforth. after
the courteous intimaton that has been con-
Neyed TO the Spanish commissioners that
IT Is time to regard the Cuban and Porto
Rican matters as settled, better progress
will be made toward the final conclusion of
a treaty of peace.
Some apprehension has been manifested
in certain quarters as 10 the possible ad-
verse effect upon the peace commission ct
Paris of an upheaval in France 1t mas
heen suggested that the Spanish cause is
nent has nothing TO lose and everything
TO gain by any change that can be brought
about. However. It may be stated that in
the opinion Of the state department OIL
cials here there is little danger of the sit
uation in Paris becoming so acuts as 10 JUS
tify an abandonment Of the work of the
commission on the ground that the COM
missioners themselves are in physical Jan
ser. 1t is confidently believed that, with
the change of the cabinet in France, the
Present disorder will subside and normal
conditions will be restored.
1t is always possible that the Spanish
commissioners, in despair over their fail
ure to force the Cuban debt upon the
United States in any shape. may break
cft the sessions, but this is not REGARDED
as probable. II is suspected the Spanish
programme Is to trump up many points
ot difference as possible. relying upon The
sympathy sure TO be excited among Eu-
ropean nations by their abandonment ..f
each point under compulsion from the
american commissioners, as the basis for
a supreme stand at the end on, the Philip
pines.
This being the Spanish policy. IT IS ex-
pected that when the commission takes up
the subject of coaling station in the La
drone islands there will be many hair
splitting objections interposed 6y the
Spanish to any propositions from the Amer
lcan commissioners. just as many refer
ences or attempts at reference to MaGrid
ana just as loud protests over each little
point by the Spaniards al the uncompromis-
ing attitude Of the Americans as In the
case of Cuba
No one knows officially just what the ex-
tent of the United States claim will be as
10 the Philippines. Admiral Dewey has a
much higher opinion of the Philippine peo-
pie and their capacity for self-government
than Is generally supposed. He has repre-
scented to the American commissioners that
the Philippines of the northern group,
meaning by that. first. the people on the
island of Luzon ard, after that in order,
Cebu, Panaya, Leite Mindora and samar'
are, as rule, intelligent, tractable and |
ia most surprising statemenD far better |
quallhed for self-Soyernnent than The in |
habitants of Cuba
Admiral Dewey is as familiar with the |
qUallhcatons of the Cubans in this re- |
snect as almost any naval officer, having |
mad personal experience with the people, |
so that his statement IS bound to have |