The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-11-03
WEYLER1SM OR M'KINLEYIsM

Spanish commissioners at the Paris
conference. 1t is not mere case of
''manana,' doing nothing today
which can be put off until tomorrow.
1t is rather subtle game of diploma
cy. Spain won no victories on land or
sea and can hope to win none.
Neither was she able to summon any
of the powers of Europe, great or
small, to her help, but an ally has
been found right here in the United
States. Negotiations are hindered
in the hope that the Democratic party
will win the November elections.
Nowhere will the election returns
be awaited with such feverish anxiety
as in Madrid. Sagasta and his cabI-
net, the Queen Regent, and the
COrtes know perfectly well that de-
feat of the American administration
is their one forlorn hope. Such de-
feat would be interpreted everywhere
as popular rebuke of our war policy
and demand that the fruits of vic
tory be thrown away.
While the war fever was coming
on the people were eager and united,
but now that hostlllties have been
suspended and a chance given for
sober second thought how do the
American people feel? Do they still
stand by the president and his ex-
pansion policy? An old Spanish
proverb says that republics and
weathercocks are alike tickle, and
Spain's own Republican episode of a
few years ago has evidently en-
phasized this proverb at Paris.
The Spanish conferees at the French
capital are waiting for what next
week Tuesday will bring forth. The
best known American state, New
York, has in the field for governor,
Theodore Roosevelt, whose name is
familiar to every Castilian hidalgo.
He and his rough riders were the
picturesque and sensational feature
of our army in Cuba. His defeat
would be hailed at Madrid as a
glorious victory for Spain. 1t would
be the next thing to a similar humili-
alton for Dewey. No other land
soldier stands out with such distinct
ness as the colonel of the rough
riders. But still more distinct is the
composite picture of congress. A
Democratic majority in that body
would fire the Spanish heart as moth
ing else could except the destruction
of our fleet now in Manila bay. II
would be accepted at Madrid as proof
that the Americans want Mckinley
thwarted in his expansion policy
That is the Interpretation which
would be put by every European
court upon a general Democratic
victory. Intervention then woulC
menace US and perhaps necessltate 6
renewal of hostilities on a larger and
bloodier scale than ever.
In view of all this nothing could
be more timely than the danger
signal Mr.. Frederick W. Seward has
just hung out. "Most of us" he says
in a letter to the New York Tribune
.'are assuming that the war is over
That is not the Spanish view. Doe:
any Spanish general or statesman ad
NIT that the war is definitely con-
cluded? No; he says there is a sus-
pension of hostilities. He has no de.
sire or expectation of gaining any
thing more by fighting, but he be-
lieves that much may be retrieved by
diplomacy that was lost by fighting
Mr.. Seward adds that Democratic
victory would be interpreted as al
American backdown, the Reputation
of our policy as to war and its result
and that for this reason "Spaln woulC
wave her banners of blood and gold
over what she would construe to be s