Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-03-30
Peace Ireatu Ratified.

Peace between the United States and
Spain is now restored. in theory and
in practice. The first step toward it
was taken on August Y last. when
the protocol was signed and an ar
mistice proclaimed. Next came the
signing OF the treaty by the commits
sioners at Paris on December 10. The
Senate Of the United States ratified the
treaty on February 8, and on Febru-
airy 10 the President signed it and
made it valid and effective so far as
lay within the power Of the United
States. Ratification by Spain was al
that then remained. Under the ma
lign influence Of Weyler and his kind
the Spanish Cortes hesitated to per-
form that act, for reasons well known
TO the world and not creditable to the
Cortes. In those circumstances the
Queen Regent who had on more than
one occasion shown herself worthy
defendant Of one Of the worlds great
est royal families, herself assumed the
responsibility. She dismissed the re-
calcitrant and factious Cortes. and
herself ratified the treaty, as she had
a constitutional right to do. That
was last week, and thus the process
of peacemaking was technically com
pleted.
Upon this contamination it is fitting
heartily to congratulate the Spanish
nation and the Spanish sovereign. We
do not know that they are yet in a
frame Of mind greatly to care for Am
erican congratulations. Yet the ex-
preston OF such sentiments may be
properly made by US. without ungen-
erous exultation, and viii all SINGER
ity
The Queen Regent. too, is entitled
to personal congratulations for the
fine moral heroism she has shown, and
the devotion to the best interests of
her som $ kingdom and people. III was
not she, but the Ministry and Cortes.
that led Spain into war And now.
when .he results of the war are to be
accepted, Ministry and Cortes fail her,
and she is compelled to act alone. The
reason why the Cortes would not as
sumo the responsibility of ratification
is no secret. Some were afraid an
odium would attach to the act, and
wished to avoid il. Others malign-
antlv desired that odium to fall uron
the Queen Regent, in order to dis
credit the dynasty and open the way
for revolution. The Queen Regent
faces the situation bravely. She does
not share the cowardice of the one
side, nor fear the treason of the other.
And there is cause for confidence that
in her heroism she will be triumphant.
1t cannot be that the chiYalry of Spain
will sacrifice woman for doing what
men dared not to do. There must be
between the Pyrenees and the Pillars
of Hercules enough of the spirit that
moved the Hungarian mobiles to cry
I'VE will die for our King. Maria
Theresa to hold this not unworthy
defendant Of Maria Theresa secure
upon the throne which she received
from her husband and which she
guards for her son.
II is peace al last. Our title to the
Philippines and Porto Rico is completes
and our assumption of responsibility
for their welfare is irrevocable. From
all that means, the United States will
not shrink. 10 Spain the way Is open
TO seek the benefits of freedom from
what had long been burden TO her,
and that of domestic rehabilitation
which is the task nearest TO her hand.
1t may be that her task will be less
arduous than ours. Al least we may
hope for her in it success compar-
able with that which we desire for
ourselves. In war one is victor, the
other vanquished But Peace hath
her victories, no less renown'd than
War" and it is the fine feature OF the
victories OF peace that they may equal
IN be won by both sides in the recent
quarrel. 1t is fitting aspiration for
this day that he victories of this new
made peace may be for both this
young Republic and that ancient King
DOM. Y. Tribune
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