The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03


confined to a very few Senators, who had been
opposed TO the movement In favor OF the Cubans
as well as TO the entrance into war. and were now
consistently opposed to the wars results But
as Senator Lodge reminds us. "tho necessities Of
factions In tho Democratic party ultimately de
veloped an opposition which included n majority
Of the Democratic Senators representing nearly
onc-third OF the Senate II not even n larger pro
portion No attempt is made In the book before
TO trace In detail tho Of the debate which
from the side Of the opposition, proceeded three
lines 10 wit: an alleged lack Of Constitutional
power 10 acquire and hold tho Philippines an
alleged violation Of tho principles Of the DECLARE
ton Of Independence involved In doing no, and
finally. a sudden and ,nex poctod outbreak Of
sympathy and admiration for tho Tagal followers
OF Aguina1do. Our author points out that "tho
friends Of ratification took the very aimpo grounds
that tho treaty committed the United States 70
no policy but left them FREQ 70 do acty seemed
best with all the islands; that tho American pco-
pie could be safely entrusted with the grave re-
sponsibillty and that patriotism and common
sense alike demanded tho ending Of the war and
the recstabishment OF peace which could only
be effected by the adoption Of tho treaty" The
result Of the contest was alarmingly close. opin-
ion as 10 tho outcome had fluctuated oven among
tho best informed, to the very last moment when
III Q Senate went into executive session Mon
day Fob 8, with tho tmo Of tho vote fixed at 3
o'clock, the treaty had only SO sure votes 80 DO
ing needed for ratification; the opposition had 20
sure votes. and tho remaining were doubtful
Al half past two. ono Of the doubtful voters
declared 70 be for tho treaty. making 81 just
bcfoNo o'clock. another vote was promised, and
the third doubtful vote was given 70 the treaty
after the roll had been called. The final vote
stood 80 to 81, or. including tho pairs 81 To %,
lust ono vote TO spare Nothing remained
10 be done after tho end Of the contest in
the Senate but tho exchange Of ratihcatons,
which took place on April IL. 1900.
We are reminded by tho author ON page 81 that
both on tho Contpent and In England, after tho
first shock caused by Dewcy's victory had passed.
critics appeared who snoorod at the battle called
IL q butchory. exaggerated tho American foroo
and diminished that OF Spain. One English
critic called the victory o marvollously easy ono,
and one English Journal said that Dewey had
merely destroyed few old wooden ships Mr..
Lodge points out that the last allegation was
wilful falsehood. innsmuch as, out Of tho twelve
vessels composing the Spanish feet only ono
was a wooden ship; the fact that the others also
burned proved nothing for all Cervcra's armored
cruisers, the very latest products Of European
dockyards took fire In the Santiago fight like tho
older types at Manila. The statistics relating
70 the battle set forth on page 81. Commodore
Dewey had fighting ships and a revenue cutter
the Mccullough which took no part in the action
The Spaniards on tho other hand had 10 lght-
ing ships and torpedo boats though the latter
were, practically. not In action Dewey had no
armored ships at all, and no more protection
against shells than his opponents The Spanish
vessels for the most part of types inferior 10
those Of their American opponents, but as they
fought from an anchorage. speed and engines did
not count, and they were armed with modern
guns which was by far the most important quail
fcaton. The Spaniards had 81 classified big
guns and ~ rapd-hrc and machine guns,
whe the Americans had 81 classified bin guns
and "A rapid Are and machine guns: the
Americans had 10 eightinch guns while the
largest Spanish guns were 90 inches Dewey,
therefore, had the advantage in weight Of metal
and in heavy guns and his lagehin the Olympia,
outclassed anything opposed to him. On tho
other hand, the Spaniards had l. 798 men against
the American 1873 engaged In action. 1t Is
further to be borne in mind that the Spanish ships
were supported by powerful, strongly manned
shore batteries. mounted with strongly rined guns
some Of which were Of very largo calibre More
over the bay at Cavite was known 10 be mined
and two OF the mines exploded while Dewey
entering the hhrbor When VIC add that every one
Of the Spanish vessels was destroyed or taken.
and that the shore batteries wore captured. while
Dewey. on his part lost not single man. the com.
peteness OF the victory. and its right 10 a high
place among naval battles seem 10 be sufficiently
demonstrated.
Why did Spain consent to the signing on Aug.
IL, 1893, OF t,c protocol. which involved a sus
pension Of hostiliues and, practically, brought
tho war TO a close? Mr.. Lodge makes II clear that
this act Of submission upon Spains part was due
TO the apprehension felt not only in Madrid but in
other European capitals, Of the consequences that
might flow from the arrival ofC ON modoreW stson's
fleet in the home waters Of Spain. We read on
page 222 that, even before tho destruction OF Ger
ycra's squadron on July s, 1903, the naval depart
ment at Washington was making ready 10 send
a fleet consisting Of the Iowa, Oregon, Yankee,
Yosemite, and Dixie under Commodore Watson
in the flagship Newark directly 70 Spain. primarily
to fight the fleet Of Admiral Camara, which had
wandered hclplessy across tho Mediterranean,
with vague outgivlngs about going to Manila,
but which merely went through tho Suez Canal
and then turned round and came back again"
After the destruction Of Ccrvcra's squadron, how.
ever the preparations Of Watson's squadron wer!
pushed more energctically than before reinforce
ments for II were made ready and the fact became
known In Europe es we'll as America, that II was
10 cross the Atlantic In any event. and carry war
TO tho very doors OF Spain's coast cities What
American ships and seamcn could do had Just
been shown at Manila and Santiago, and there
was reason TO suppose that they would DO less
effective on tho Spanish coast Spain did not
like the prospect. and some Of her neighbors were
she 10 tho sound Of American guns In
the Mediterranean. not heard In those waters now
for nearly century" II became clear to Europe
an diplomatic minds that Spain must make peace
al any terms Hence arose what Is
politely called pressure, although Spain did not
need much pressing" For her tho war had
suited In series Of rapid and crushing defeats
Her sea power was shattered and entirely gone
In tho Pacific and American waters Manila
hay was In the hands Of Dewey, and the surrender
Of the city waited only for his demand Cuba
could no, DO relieved; Santiago province was In
American hands, and the rest Of tho island would
fall into them ns fast the United States could
land troops and capture ports Puerto Rico
half gone and the American columns were march
ing rapidly possible 10 complete the con
quOst OF tho island, And then there In the bacl;
ground was Watson's feet very imminent now,
and likely to be of CAdiz or Barcelona In a fort
| night" Clearly, II was high time for peace, and
so the protocol was signed,