The evening times., 1898-07-07

tesy toward women, and in such great
cities as New York, where the ignorant
among the foreigners are in evidence n
the public conveyances and public
places, and set an example of male sell
fishness. there is a notable relaxation
Of that courtesy. If we should measure
American manhood in this regard by the
examples to be found in a great city. we
should find less cause to boast Of our
chivalry than we find elsewhere. The
last extremity of any relaxation in re-
spect for woman is the shameful spec
tacle in the ocean tragedy. The influ-
ence which already affects the men in
New York must be resisted If we are
to continue to show to women the spe-
cial consideration that belongs to them.
In no circumstances could an American
crew save itself while woman was still
unsaved: but Americans can encourage
the inhuman selfishness Of others by
losing the distinction that is now theirs
Europe ON Cervera's Defeat.
The effect in Europe of Commodore
Schley's victory over Admiral Cervera
has been important. and the press Of
the United Kingdom and the Continent
Is almost a unit in demanding that
Spain shall cease useless resistance and
make peace on any terms Obtainable.
This sentiment is doubtless a refiec ion
of governmental as well as popular
opinion, and 1t may be expected that
pressure will be exerted at once upon
the Queen Regent and Sagasta to com
pei them to a line Of action which they
and the party in power would be glad
enough to adopt. if they dared.
But Spain. dazed and desperate, mad
with rage at the Madrid authorities for
the lying reports concerning Cervera's
sortie with which the nsdom has been
fed into a temporary state of exultation.
is on the brink of a revolution, which
may break out at any moment, and
which ii is believed the present gov m
ing power is helpless to avert or con-
troll
The course which Sagasta has taken
in attempting to deceive the country
and to make a hideous disaster do serv-
ice as a triumph of Spanish arms. has
played into the hands of the Carlists
and Republicans to an extent that ap-
pears to place them in command of the
domestic situation. Whatever elsa may
happen. the fate of the Sagasta gov
ernment is fixed, and with its fall it Is
impossible to see how the Alfonsist dy-
nasty. which shares all Of its unpOpu-
larity. is to survive.
In our dispatches today there are in
dications that last effort is being made
TO secure outside intervention in order
that the initiative of surrender may rot
be forced upon Christina and her advis-
ers. an eventuaiity that they are con-
vinced would mean their political, II not
personal. destruction at the hands Of an
infuriated populace. The Austrian En-
peror again is reported as begging the
powers to arrange some joint action.
but the probability that they WILL or
could. do so is reduced to the van sh ng
point by divergent views and interests
connected with American occupation of
the Philippines.
1t is evident, also, that the Pope is
being pressed TO attempt mediation.
and it is very likely that the solicita-
tions of France in this case have been
added to those of Franz Joseph and the
Queen Regent. We do not think that
Leo Mi VIII consent to NEEDLE in the
matter. 1t is stated. but with little ap-
parent foundation. that he has cabled
President Mckinley on the subject of
peace We are sure he must be too
well advised of the American position
in the premises not TO know that the
United States will not consider pro-
posals from any third party, and would
resent foreign interference, whether 1t
came from a state or from the Vatican
On the basis of existing conditions,
the present government of Spain has no
alternative but To haul down its flag
and sue for mercy, or to continue a
struggle which before long threatens to
wipe the kingdom from the map of na-
tons. The colonies are lost irretrieva-
bly,. The peninsula alone might be
saved at this point. but almost GER
tainly at the cost of the little Alfonsos
throne. That is a matter which doss
not concern the American Government
or people.