Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-08
Wednesday, June s, 1898.
PROBABILITIES OF PEACE.
President Thinks That the End Is Almost
In Sight.

The idea the president is SAID 10
hold that Spain will probably sue for
peace after the fall of Santiago and
Porto Rico, is not generally entertained
among the best informed in congress.
Men like Senator Lodge, members of
the foreign committees and students of
international questions and of war,
have little confidence in the good sense
of Spain to recognize when she has
been whipped and to sue for peace.
The opinion of these men is that there
is nothing in the course of Spain to in
dicate a disposition to accept the inev-
liable until it is actually forced upon
them.
Some believe that even after the fall
of Porto Rico and the conquest of
Cuba, Spain will mold out with a semi
barbarous and obsolete idea of honor
and that it may be necessary to at
tack her in the Canaries and possibly
at home.
1t is we'll understood to be the ex-
pectation of the president that after
Santiago has fallen and Porto Rico has
been occupied, the path to peace will
be smooth and easily travelled. : 1t is
known to be the opinion in some quar-
ters that after these triumphs, the
Spanish forces in Cuba will be surren-
dered, and that when we are ready
for the general invasion it will be
necessary only to take possession of the
island of Cuba and to proceed with
the establishment of q government and
to protect the Spanish in their evacu-
alton.
This opinion is not entertained to
any extent among senator's and repre-
sentatives in congress-, and it is believ-
ed by them that the war will have to
be conducted to the last extremity be-
fore Spain will render complete SUBJ
mission on terms which this govern
ment must exact.
While Spain is making every posi-
BILE effort to save herself by trying to
incite. foreign interference, it is on the
basis of little or no sacrifice to herself.
1t is not believed that the Spanish
contemplate a peace which involves
the loss of any possession except Cuba.
The truth is that the Spanish govern
ment is not strong enough to make
terms which would secure peace at
this time. What Sagasta is trying to
do is to induce some of the powers to
propose peace advantageous to Spain.
Such an interference will not be tole-
rated by this government, and it is
not believed that any one of the pow
ers is short-sighted enough to attempt
it.
More troops and ordnance supplies
are soon to be landed near Santiago, if
they are not already being landed.
The insurgents are cooperating with
our plans to the extent of closing in
upon the Spanish forces so as to mar
row their territory and weaken their
source of supplies. The Spanish for
ces in that quarter as we'll as Cervera's
fleet, are already confined within mar
row quarters, and are powerless. 1t
is said that when all our troops have
been landed they may not at once re-
duce Santiago, but may simply hold
them penned until after the Porto Rico
expedition has been landed and has
taken possession of Porto Rico. 1t is
expected that when the rest of the
troops intended for operations against
Santiago have landed they will be
satisfied with the construction of earth
works around Santiago and the erec-
tion of batteries commanding the city
and harbor, but unless they are COM
PEELED to do so will not engage in
bombardment or an assault until after
the complete possession has been taken
of Porto Rico.
A reason given for this is the belief
said to be entertained by the admins
tration that, having lost the Philip
pinces and Porto Rico and seeing that
Cervera's fleet and the Spanish forces
at Santiago hemmed in and helpless,
Spain will be ready to make peace,
surrendering this fleet and evac-
uating Cuba without any serious fight
ing and consequent loss of life on that
island.
The administration is expected to
proceed upon this theory, though very
few persons besides the president and
some of his immediate advisers believe
that Spain will yield so readily and
wisely. The idea is approved of how
ever, since it affords an opportunity to
avoid loss of life, and cannot render
the campaign in any way less effective.
If Spain does not give up after the
fall of Porto Rico the plan of campaign
will be carried out to its end and will
involve serious disaster to Spain. The
general invasion of Cuba will follow
as speedily as possible, after the fall of
Santiago, and the occupation of Porto
Rico, and it is not anticipated that
Blanco can hold out any length of
time after the general invasion occurs.
If after that, Spain is not prepared to
make peace, recognizing the loss of
Cuba, the Philippines and Porto Rico,
but persists in keeping up the show of
war, this government is prepared to
follow a most aggressive course, at
tacking the Canaries and even the
ports of Spain herself.
This will be the alternative which
will confront the Spanish government
after the success of our immediate op-
erations if Spain refuses to submit.
One of the best informed men in the
senate expressed the opinion this
morning that it would be impossible
to bring Spain to position of reason
until Blanco had been driven from
Cuba and the very ports of Spain men
ooo6 hy our fleet