Evening star., 1898-07-13
TALK OF PEACE ABROAD
Its Based on Conditions That Cannot B,
Entertained Here.
Sp8ins Kept From Yielding by the
Ghost Of Her Honor-sagasta's
Deception.

Apparently. there is nothing in the peace
talk in Europe which encourages the be-
lief here that there is fair prospect of
an early termination of the war. Leading
men in congressional and administration
circles, reading the European dispatches
say that the peace talk is all based on
conditions which there is no possibility of
being entertained here 1t Is suggested
that the Spanish government suffers the
same embarrassment in connection with
the proposition for peace that 1t did IN
connection with the efforts to avoid the
war originally.
Same Ghost In the Way.
The same ghost of Spanish obsolete honor
stands between the two governments that
stood there in the beginning. The terms
which, according to the Madrid dispatches
the Sagasta cabinet are discussing now,
are those which they rejected as means
Of avoiding war. As member OF the
House of Representatives said today. Sa-
gasta is talking about terms of peace as
if the United States were the petitioner
and as long as this spirit inspires the
Spaniards there can be no hope of peace
The opinion is still held that no matter
what reverses the Spanish forces may sur
fer the government cannot be brought 10
acceptable terms of peace until the war
has been carried to the Spanish coast. The
policy of Sagasta of keeping the Spanish
people in ignorance of the actual cond1-
ton of affairs operates to restrain the
government itself in seeking peace. 1t is
believed that if the actual state of affairs
had not been concealed from the Spanish
people they would be clamorous for peace
on any terms, instead of still Insisting on
the vindication Of moth-eaten Spanish
honor
SaEasta stopped by His Own Acts.
SapaSta has opfanpiad hippSo1f in the
meshes of his own policy Of concealment
and it is believed that he is not in a posi-
tion to propose acceptable terms of peace
but is compelled to live up to his own false
pretenses.
1t Is understood that the talk of peace
Is In no way affecting the plans of the
United States, and that the effort to force
the remnant of the Spanish navy, under
command Of Admiral Camara. to give bat
tie Is to be pressed with energy, and that
either this fleet will be met and destroyed
or such operations will be begun against
the Spanish ports as will enlighten the
people OF Spain as to the situation. 1t is
said that the sailing of Commodore Wat
sons feet will be hastened much as pos
sible, and that the purpose is to smash in
to the fight in a way to put an end to all
temporiziug on the part of Spain.
Effect of Yellow Fever's Appearance.
1t is feared that the fact that yellow fever
AdS Hiauc itS dpptdI duCe dAiOAs our lfoOpS
at Santiago is going to be ayailed Of by the
Spanish ministry to still further deceive
the people. No doubt is felt that the ap-
pearance of two or three cases of yellow
fever will be ma gnified in Spain to an epi-
demic, and that the party there intent upon
maintaining the war will advertise that this
ally of Spain has appeared to help them
out of the difficulty.
The news from the Philippines concern
ing the abortive attempt at interference
by the Ger rnans in affairs there is likely
to be distorted in Spain in manner to
arouse the expectation that the United
States is liable to become involved with
Germany. tn Dugh the facts in the case are
regarded here to he such as to very much
lessen the danger of any real interference
on the part of Germany in our opera tions
In the Philippines.
No Interference In the Philippines.
1t is believed that the very prompt and
vigorous course pursued by Admiral Dewey
wfll make it apparent to all foreign powers
that we do lot intend to brook any inter-
ference. and the prompt retirement Of the
German commander. with excuses, is re-
garded indicating that Germany Is not
prepared to take any steps which this gov
ernment would resent. The action of the
German commander is regarded as a sort
of feele- to determine what our attitude
would be If any attempt were made TO deal
with Spain with the iGea of acquiring pos
session in the Philippines. The course of
Admiral Dewey, it is believed will make il
very plain to the German emperor that no
negotiations of this sort can be entered
into with Spain with impunity. and what
ever schemes may have been on foot are
likely to be abandoned.
Representative BeIknap's Opinion.
Representative Beiknap of Chicago said
to Star reporter today: Il see no prospect
of peace in the talk that emanates from
to US. Peace cannot come until Spain rec
ognizes that she must accept whatever
terms this government offers. I do not be-
Heve that Spain can retain Porto Rico nor
the Philippines any more than she can re-
tain Cuba. We will hold the Philippines
and Porto Rico, Most emphatically the
people of this country would not approve
of anything short of this
NAVAL ORDERS.