Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-03-04

The resignation Of the Sagasta cab
met, state department officials say, does
not necessarily. in their opinion, IN
volye the failure of the peace treaty.
They believe that the succeeding CAP
met will find the means to forward the
treaty to the point of ratification, and
that the opposition to the government
will express itself as content with the
manifestations of disapproval mani
tested in forcing the cabinet to resign.
The reason for this belief Is that the
Spanish government has much more to
lose by the failure of the treaty of Paris
than has the United States.
Leaving aside the desire Of our people
to be regular and correct in all attitudes,
it is a question whether our government
would not actually profit by the loss CT
the treaty, provided this loss could be
charged to the action of the Spanish gov
ernment, as would be the case If the
cortes refused to ratify it. The United
States. it can be stated on the highest
authority, would refuse to surrender the
Philippines, and on the whole would be
renewed ITOUl lHc lLSaty 6oSAOiiS W
pay the Spanish government 10000, 900
on account of the cession of the Islands.
Cuba would retain her present status,
and all that would be lacking would be
recognition by the Spanish govern
ment of the legality Of that status. That
lack would not be of serious moment,
Judging from the fact that the Spanish
American republics managed to get along
without trouble for a quarter of GEN.
turv after the revOlutiOnists therein had
driven the last of the Spanish troops out
Of the country without the formal ad-
mission by Spain that they had achieved
their independence.
In case the treaty should fail, there
also would be a continuation of the state
of non-intercourse automatically that
has existed since the outbreak of the war,
as technically the two countries would be
still at war.
This state of affairs, though really en-
barrassing in some respects, would not
prevent trade between the United States
and Spain. Trade. in fact. has been re-
sumed already and, although the United
States is under the necessity of paying
larger duties upon imports into Spain
than countries favored with the mini
mum tariffs, still the Spaniards are glad
to buy our wheat and -four and cotton
and other great staples and to pay them
selves the additional duties.
However, as already stated, the Of
ficials here do not believe that the Span
iards will go to the extreme of defeating
the treaty, and probably the worst that
can happen will be a delay in the eX-
change of ratifcatiOns. These should be
exchanged on or before June 10, which
date Is six months from the date of sig
nature of the treaty in Paris. Should
the time limit expire through the in
ternal troubles in Spain without the ex-
change having been made, it is still pos
sible for the United States and Spain to
arrange through the French government,
which has been serving all along as an
intermediary in their relations, for an
exchange of a later date without dis
turbing the articles of the treaty at other
points.
Should the Spanish government under
take. however, to reopen the negota-
tions in the effort to secure another
treaty more favorable in terms, and
especially as to the cession of the Philip
pines, than the pending treaty, it will be
doomed to disappointment. for 1t is said
here that If the existing terms are with
drawn those to follow will be even harder
Cor Spain to bear.
Washington, March 2-The senate is
rapidly clearing its decks for final ad-
journment The naval appropriation
bill. which consumed the time Of the
senate for several days, was passed yes
hours of debate.
In that time. however, it was amended
radically in one respect. The price to
be paid by the government for ar!nor
plate was fixed in the bill at $500 ton,
reduction of the amount fixed by the
house of $l45 ton. In addition, the
secretary Of the navy was authorized, in
the event of the refusal Of the
armor plate companies to sup
ply armor at 5000 ton to pro-
ceed to construct an armor factory to
cost 81, 1,50O0 900, and placing in the secre
tary's control 100000 with which to
operate the government plant. The fight
for these amendments was led by Mr..
Tillman, who made Enthusiastically
sensational speech In support Of the
propositions.
The senate adopted resolutions Of re-
gret at the death of Lord Herschell, and
concluded the days session by pro-
nOuncing eulogles upon the late Rep
resentative Dingley of Maine.
The last lingering possibility of an extra
session OF congress disappeared yester-
day when the house passed the senate
army reorganization bill. Very consid-
cradle and vigorous opposition to the ac-
ceptance OF the senate bill was voiced on
both sides of the hall, and for time it
appeared possible that the bill would not
secure the necessary two-thirds to pass
it under suspension Of the rules.
But the Republican leaders-Nessrs.
Henderson. Grosvenor and Cannon
came to it's support on the Republican
side. and Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic
leader. threw the weight of his influence
in favor Of 1t on the Democratic side,
arguing that II provided for only a tenn
porary increase of the army, which
would be made permanent If congress
We're convened in extra session.
Another big element in the vote was
Mr.. Hulrs recital of statement made
by the president to him that he would
not construe section 12 as authority to
the minority in volunteer Or
ganizations which should elect to re-
main in the service. The bin passed.
eo3 to 80. 1t now goes to the president.
The desks We're also cleared of many
other important matters. The general de-
fciency appropriation bill. carrying $21,-
os?,oOO. was passed under suspension of
the rules. without word of criticism.
This Is the last of the appropria ton bills
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