The evening times., 1899-03-16

to make, since all discussion was now use
less and idle.
The American terms were finally accept
ed, and then began the discussion on the
subordinate points included in the ultima
tum.
In letter dated December H. the day
after the Treaty was signed, Senor RIOS,
referring to the last memorandum filed by
the American Commission and its courte-
Gus tone, says:
"As regards the question of the Maine,
they (the American Commisstoners) de-
cline to make any reply, as the estab ished
precedents and practice of their country
preclude IL. The truth is that above all
these precedents there weighed upon the
American Commission the inability of CIV
ing any satisfactory reply to the Spanish
protest, because OF the action of the Presi-
dent of the Union-violative of the most
! elementary dictates of generosity and pru-
dence-on recalling, with language often
siye to Spain, the Maine incident on the
most solemn occasion in the public life Of
! the United States, and when the negotia-
| tions for the establishment of peace
were on the point of terminating"
Reviewing Work Accomplished.
! Spain's Red Book closes with long let
| ter from Senor Rios reviewing the work of
| the Spanish Commission, concluding in
| this language:
The prostraton and boodless indif-
! ference of the public mind constantly al
| luded TO in the press, the want OF well
meditated exposition of high plane in the
discussion and defence of Spain, especially
! those which related to the colonial debts
perhaps the most important which she had
! TO assert in the conference; the multi
| plicty OF opinions constantly manifested
during these negotiations on the other
! points TO be determined in the Treaty; the
! eagerness apparent from the first day on
! the part of this press that the Philippine
archipelago should be abandoned its pre-
| servation being considered incompatible
with the national interests; the incessant
eXcitation of another part OF the press for
this Commission 10 promptly terminate in
any way whatever its labors. giving away
at once to the exigencies of the federal
| government, and many other things which
| converted the Spanish press into a subject
! for the preferred attention of the Ameri-
can Commissioners, weakened the moral
influence of this Commission and the force
of its demands and of the reasons on which
| il founded them. Would TO God that they
may not also have strengthened the spirit
of the American Commission 10 uphold
and amplify its exactions
The Spanish Commission. considering
the narrow limits in which il could move
anu NIllNi Hdu DCcu iIItNOCaDlg HAeu LOT
Spain in the preliminaries of peace signed
al Washington on August u last during
these negotiations constantly drew inspira-
tion for its acts in the purpose TO save
from the ruin of the colonial empire o
| Spain such remnants as were possible
however lacking in Importance these rem.
nants might be. and, above all, in its un
conquerable resolve TO never consent tha
the honor and the dignity of the fatherlant
| shOuld bpCOma stained
The commission believes. then. that i
has done its duty. Ii understands tn,
treaty concluded is the least prejudicia
for Spain that it was possible 10 obtain il
: view of the foreign circumstances, whicl
could not but inevitably bear down thei
heavy weight upon her 1t trusts hat tn
) coming time will demonstrate this and i
entertains the hope that, despite the so
luton imposed on the terrible cris
! through which the nation has just passed
it may soon recover its strength and gran
deur, and il believes, finally, that the homo
and the dignity of the fatherland have beel
saved in these painful negotiations as tn
} most precious remnants of the wreck OF tn
old Spanish colonial empire