The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-24
SPANS LAST STAND
Will Be Made For Holding the
Philippines.
EVERYTHING ELSE GOES
TerritoriaIIy Speaking--C
Debt Question.


where Great Britain and all continental
governments have been informed by their
representatives in Madrid of the intentions
of the Madrid cabinet
Spain does not propose to raise eny
fresh discussion on the points raised in the
Washington protocol of August u, the
surrender of Spanish sovereignty Diver
Cuba, the cession of Porto Rico. and of
station in the Marianas Islands The
Spanish commissioners Will be instructed
to make their stand mainly upon the ques
ton of the Philippine Islands, upon the
Cuban debt, upon the compensation Spain
contends she is entitled 10 for what she
has done and leaves behind in Cuba and
Porto Rico, upon the transfer from Spain
TO the United States of the obligation to
guarantee the interests Of the capital of
the Porto Rico railways and upon the
concessions Spain is anxious TO obtain for
her trade in Cuba and Porto Rico. even If
only for some years. to tide over the seri-
Gus crisis which her agriculture, her man
ufacturing, shipping, and financial inter-
ests are drifting into with the loss of
markets that took $50, 100000 Of peninsular
exports in 1894 before the rebellion.
The Spanish commissioners WIFI invoke
the letter of the protocol, despite the
fourth article, to argue that neither the
government nor its interim representative
at Washington, Monsieur Cambo, had ever
contemplated more than the ceSsion Of an
island in the Marianas group for an
Anne rican naval and coaling station, and
certainly not the cession OF Manila, and
much les than that Of the whole island of
Luzon. They will be empowered to say
that Spain attaches the highest Importance
to keeping in her possession the island
Of Luzon and Manila. which are, and
have ben for centuries, the principal field
of Spanish rule, the capital and strong
hold of the Castilian arcslipelagoes. Spain
considers that her prestige and authority
over the natives will receive a deathblow
if a foreign power establishes itself in
the heart of her archipelagoes in the
most important and prosperous island of
the Philippines, in territories where the
whole fabric of her colonial system had
been most extensively and successfully de-
veloped.
From the very outest, therefore, the
| commissioners of His Catholic Majesty will
state that Spain would fain abandon her
| oceanic possessions if she is not to be
allowed the liberty of action, tree from
foreign annexation, control or il.terven-
ton, which nation and government think
Indispensable to avert the complications
and serious consequences that everybod
| can easily forsee, and TO make possible
any results out of the heavy sacrifices in
men and money that pain is willing to
make in the far east only if she is allowed
a free hand toree stabhsh her rule and
prestige in the archipelagOes.
If America is not to exacung in the set
tlemetn of the Philippine question, and
should President Mckinley allow Spain
to keep Manila and the Islands of Luzon
not only Will the Spanish commissioners
offer naval stations in the Marinas and
Caroline Islands, Guam and Ponape, but
they wiz undertake to promise very ex-
| tensve reforms and liberties for the Fill
pinos. with an almost unlimited amnesty
for Aguinaldo and the allies of Dewey and
Merritt Little as the Spaniards relish
| the idea of colonial self-government. they
are disposed TO make great strides in
that direction and even towards religious
federation and commercial concessions to
retain their hold over colonies that they
| fancy can yet compensate the loss of the
| Cuban and Porto Rican markets.
1t is perfectly understood that the gov
eminent of the regency would pledge it's
| self by the treaty of peace with America
! to grant the Philippines, if not the other
also administrative autonomy; civil in
stead Of military administration; local
assembly with power 10 fix the general
and local budgets OF the colonies: repre-
| sentatives nthe imperial Cortes much
| Ike those the West Indies had; the sepa-
| ration of church and state. which would
! imply a decrease, If not the extinction, of
the influence Of the unpopular religious
| orders; the admission of natives % all
! branches of the civil service; the tolera-
ton of native dialects in the schools.
tribunals, and churches; great reforms in
the colonial tariff and harbor regulations;
disestablishment of state and religious
| real property: extensive alterations in tax
! alton. in navigation, and fishing regula-
| tons and the exemption from all naval
and military expenditure ,henceforth 10
! be covered by the mother country. ANY
one acquainted with the prejudices and in
xeterate repuguance Of the majority OF
| can conceive how keen must he their de-
sire to save the last remnant Of their
colonial empire to induce them to so 81
far in the path Of very unpleasant con-
! cessions
The Spanish commissioners will be IN
. Stvucted TO make strenuous efforts 10
obtain from the United states. or through
| American intervention, from Cuba. the
recognition Of their contention that tns
burden of the Cuban debt cannot be e.
tirely left TO SPAN. This preJention al
| the Spanish government is hacked by
nnanciers and bon5holders. not only in
Spain. but in France. Belgium. and Ger.
many. where parish and Cuban stocks
have been largely bought BY spectators
and bankers wslo certainly would not hav.
acted 50 raShly II they had not supposed
that the United States would interfere (,
relieve Spain Of part OF thee ha-ges .,
the Cuban debt which would ot-erpls-
cripple her recovery from the effects o.
her wars. and oblige her either to repadi
ate the Cuban debts tch.eay held by oel
oRn citizens or 70 cut down the interests
and capital If the said debts and % ne
own imperial debts, If she has 10 aytemp
30 assume me burden OF both because ne
governments guaranteed the debts o
Cuba-
Spain VIII endeavo- 70 ET5ng forward a.
an argument in favor OF her contention il
regard % the Cuban debt the compeusa
tons she believes herself entitled 10 70
what she mas done and Is abou, 70 leay
behind IN Cuba and Porto Rico in ~
shape OF public works and buildings. FOR
thcations and war stores. ports an.