Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1898 — SPAIN HAS ACCEPTED OUR TERMS FOR PEACE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SPAIN HAS ACCEPTED OUR TERMS FOR PEACE

PROTOCOL IS SIGNED I

I THE WAR IS ENDED

Queen Christina and the Spanish Ministers Bow to Uncle Sam. , • ______ Every Demand Made by President McKinley Is Agreed To by the Spanish Government. | # *■ » mmmmmmmmmmmmammmmmmmmmmmmm

WAR IS AT AN END. Spain Humbly Accepts the Terms of This Country's Protocol. The war is over. The Spanish cabinet, after due consideration of the terms of the protocol presented by President McKinley, decided to accept it, and M. Cambon, the French ambassador at Washington, was instructed to sign it. With this signature the war comes to a close, after nearly ■ four months’ duration. The war hj£ been shorter than even the most sanguine anticipated. Since April 21, the date fixed by Congress as the beginning of the struggle, Torto Rico, Cuba, the Ladrone* and the Philippines have passed Into our posse«B!bn, two Spanish fleets have been destroyed, one Spanish army has been captured, and in every engagement the enemy has been defeated in the face sometimes of overwhelming obstacles. The valor, endurance, skill and discipline of American soldiers have been fairly tested, and they have compelled the admiration of the foreign military observers. The navy has covered itself with glory and challenged the plaudits of the whole world. In thejfe few weeks the United States has taken position as one Of the strong naval nations and a military

power which must hereafter be taken into account in world movements. The country has entered upon its imperial career. The United States Government is now In a position to proceed to the negotiation of terms of peace, and the peaice commissioners, in compliment to the French Government, will meet in Taris. Under the protocol which Spain accepted Porto Rico will be ceded to the United States, Cubn wiil be freed, and Spain at the earliest (racticable day will evacuate nil its West ndian possessions. Tiys country will also feave a coaling stntionfln the Ladrone Islands. Manila Bay, with the city and ■urrounding territory, will be retained by the United States, and the future government of the Philippine Islands will be determined by the commission. Spain is whipped. If she had not recognized that fact she would necessarily have been subjected to an unmerciful trouncing. The proud Castilians yielded to the Inevitable and humbly accepted the terms of peace offered by the United States* In the history of warfare it is doubtful if the conqueror ever treated the conquered more generously. The war that Ims been conducted on our pnrt with humanity amounting to chivalry would have been continued, if need were, but Spain in such •vent could not have looked for any more •f the forbearance that has characterized its conduct thus far. No money indemnity is wrung front an exhausted and impoverished people, and no humiliation pressed upon them other than that which Is entailed upon defeat in battle. So far as the exaction of territory to concerned, It is nothing but what the world foresaw at the beginning of hostilities. When the Spanish Government dismissed our minister at Madrid It placed its American possessions In the scale which the ruthless ■word was sure to outweigh. As_a corollary to Cuban miTepcnacnee "followed Porto Kicnn possession. Then* could be no other outcome. To leave &pain in possession of I’orto ltico would be to leave the seeds of n disease thnt would ■gnin break out rind agnin demand our Intervention. As to the Pacific islands, we arc willing to leave them to the determination of a ponce commission, with the sole reserve that coaling and nnvnl stations at least must be retained by us. Peace comes with all her blessings, and for this a united and humane people may well be thankful. The wnr has not been an unmixed evil. We have gained n prestige in the world that never will be lightly challenged by any power. The purposes for which the war was entered upon on our pnrt have been accomplished. Cubn la Free. We Iluve Uememl>ered the Maine! Spaniards Lay Down Arina. The city of Guantanamo surrendered to Gen. Ewers. Six thousand Spanish soldiers mnrehed to the barracks and piled np their arms, and over two million rounds of ammunition were tur* ed over to the Americans. Now Camp Wikoff. Hereafter the designation of the camp at Montauk Point will be Camp Wikoff, in honor of Col. Charles A. Wikoff of the Twenty-second Uuitcd Stut«?s Infnutry, who was killed at the head of his brigade the Ist of July at Santiago.

HONOR FOR BOTH. fechley sod Sampson Are to Be Rear Admirals. The President will recommend to Congress that Acting Rear Admiral Sampson be advanced eight numbers and Commodore Schley six numbers. This will result in making each a rear admiral, but with Commodore Schley ranking immediately below Sampson. Captain Clark of the Oregon will be recommended for an advance of six numbers in the captain’s grade, and Lieutenant Commander Wainwright will go up eight numbers. Other promotions throughout the fleet will be recommended. The promotion of Schley and Sampson adds two more to the roll of rear admirals who have won their advancement by gallant services in the present conflict. The list no.w includes Dewey, Schley and Sampson, all of whom have done heroic work for their country and have demonstrated the prowess of the United States ns a naval power. The promotion of Lieutenant Commander Wainwright marks him for especial distinction, as he is the only naval officer who has been twice recommended for higher honors during the war, and none more richly deserve such recognition than this gallant officer, who first waged successful battle with two of the enemy’s most dreaded war machines at the mouth of Santiago harbor and a few days later gallantly sailed his vessel into the port of Ponce and raised the Stars and Stripes for the first time as a conquering invader upon the soil of Porto Rico. This daring young commander, who comes of splendid fighting stock, has added new luster to his country’s arms and may be counted upon to fill a place in martial history beside the grandest heroes who have done service in army and navy. Captain Clark of the Oregon has nobly won the honors his country bestows upon its heroes. His unrivaled achievement in making the longest voyage ever made with a battleship and then participating in one of the most memorable naval engagements in the world’s history, doing incalculable damage to the enemy’s fleet, proves his ability as a commander.

SIGNING OF THE PROTOCOL. Elaborate Ceremony Attending the Proceeding at the White House. M. Cambon, the French ambassador,, was elaborately received at the White House when he came representing the Spanish Government to sign the protocol. He was conducted to the diplomatic reception room, where he found four copies of the protocol spread out upon the big mahogany table. Two of \hese were in French and two in English. The United States retained one copy of each and M. Cambon the same. One clause in the protocol relates to an immediate cessation of hostilities, and this was ordered as soon as the document wns signed. The telegram which had already been sent to the commanders of the army and navy acquainted them with the status of the peace negotiations and operated by bringing about a temporary truce. The dispatches sent immediately after the signing instruct Gens. Miles and Merritt to cense further operations and notify the Spanish commanders of the fact that all fighting hns ceased. The impressive ceremony accompanying the signing of the protocol was witnessed by a number of invited guests.

WHAT IT CO T 8 TO FIGHT SPAIN. Actual Expense Thus Far Has Keen ♦BOO,OOO a Day. Up to the present time, it is estimated at the Treasury Department, the actual amount paid out in war expenses since the conflict with Spain began is $95,000,(H)0. The average daily expense has been nhtait SBOO,OOO. During July it was about sl,oooi4Jot) a day. It is believed, however, thut when a Anal accounting is made the coat will foot vip $1,500,000 a day for the and navy.

TO RULE NEW ISLANDS. Plans tor Temporary Government Are Considered. Plans for the temporary government of Cuba and the territory which will be acquired from Spain as a result of the war are now under serious consideration by the President and the members of the cabinet. Porto Rico, as an actual addition to the territories of the United States, will be placed in charge of a military governor, who will exercise a supervisory control of all the functions of government, under the direction of the President, until Congress snail determine upon a permanent form of government for the island. The President, under the constitution and laws, has no authority to go beyond this preliminary or temporary stage in the establishment of any system of governmental controls, and although it is altogether probable that in his ipessage to Congress on the subject he will exercise his constitutional privilege of making recommendations, upon Congress alone will devolve the responsibility and duty of determining the character of the political relations which Porto Rico shall permanently bear to the United States. There are reasons for the belief that the President himself favors a colonial form of government, and that this is shared by members of the cabinet. Canada is cited> as having a model colonial govern-

raent which is satisfactory alike to a majority of its people and to the mother country. Upon the evacuation of Cuba U is believed to be the intention of the President to establish for the whole island a temporary military government similar to that now in operation at Santiago. When order has been fully restored and the people have settled down to their peaceful occupations it is believed to be the view of the President that a convention of representatives of the people should be called, to vttte upon the question of a form of government for the islnnd.

Victoria on Spanish War. Parliament was prorogued Friday. The Queen’s speech concerning the SpnnishAmerican war says: *'Her .-majesty has witnessed with the deepest sorrow the hostilities between Spain and the United States. The present .negotiations give hope of an honorable and enduring peace.'’ Would Hell the Philippine*. Spain is considering favorably the proposition to sell the Philippines, as it is believed the United States will only take Manila and the adjacent territory,

A THOUSAND MILLION DOULAR& That I» About What the War WtliCeat the United State*. The evidence on every hand that the war is about at an end has aroused the mathematicians. They are now engaged in demonstrating what the cost of the whole war will have been to the Government, when the last volunteer soldier is at home, the last penny of war bond interest paid, the last pension awarded. This calculation is of course far-reachmg. Fairly accurate estimates of the extraordinary expenses of the army and naVy during March, April, May, June, July and August gave them as $150,000,000, of which about $105,000,000 was expended between April 25 and Aug. 6, and $123,000,000 between April 1 and Aug. 6. The latest calculation, based upon treasury reports and comparisons with similar expenses during the civil war, calculates the war expenses from April 1, 1898, to April 1» 1899, at which time it is assumed all extraordinary expenses will have ended, and adds thereto interest and pension charges growing out of the war and an arbitrary estimate of the value of/ the labor lost by volunteers entering the army. According to this calculation the war will eventually have cost the United States $1,000,000,000. Here is a table of estimates of war expenses: Current war expenses, April 1, 1888, to April f, 1809 $400,000,000 War expenditures of the separate States 15,000,000 Citizen contribution to soldiers’ aid 15,000,000 War damage claims against the Government 20,000,000 Loss of labor of 250,000 volunteer soldiers one year 100,000,000 Interest on war debt 90,000,000 Probable new pensions to be paid 800,000,000 Value of the Maine 3,000,000 Total $943,000,000 This estimate is so close to $1,000,000,000 that the round total may in the end represent the expense of Spain’s mistakes for us. JAPAN OFFERS AGUINALDO AID. Will Supply Arm* to Rebel* if United Btatea Withdraw*. A dispatch from Hong Kong says that a delegation from the Philippine junta visited Mr. Wildman, the American consul, and informed him that certain officers of the Japanese cruisers Matsushima and Takasago had declared that Japan

hnd authorised them to offer to supply Aguinaldo with arms and ammunition gratis in the event of the United States abandoning the Philippines and the insurgents wishing to fight for their independence. SPANIARDS BLOW UP A BRIDGE Enemy Driven from Vicinity of Cosno by Our Troops. After the capture of Coamo troop C of Brooklyn was ordered out along the road leading to Albonito. The American troopers had not gone far when they discovered a party of Spanish engineers who were attempting to destroy all the bridges spanning th* streams. The Americans at once started toward the Spaniards, who fled, and pursued them for five miles. The pursuit was so close that the Spaniards did not succeed in doing any damage to the bridges until they reached a point three miles from Aibonito. Here they were able to halt long enough to blow up a culvert bridge. First I.oss la Porto Rico. Two of Gen. Schwnn’s soldiers, privates in the Eleventh Infantry, were killed in a battle near Mnynguez, Porto Rico. These were the first deaths in the Porto Rican army of invasion. Fifteen others were wounded, including Lieut. Byron of the Eighth cavalry. Fpunish Craft Destroyed. In a skirmish on the coast of Pinar del Rio, Culm, between American marines and Spanish soldiers Emanuel fvoulouris. a Greek, belonging on the gunboat Ihincroft, was killed. Several Spanish vessels were captured or destroyed there and off the Islft of Pines. Not Fit to Fi«ht. It is jown that Spain’s only remaining wars! ~s. which arc at Cadi* under Admiru’. Camara, are unsafe and the fighting gear and turrets on all of the ships Wt practically unmanageable. , .

M. CAMBON.