Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1898 — WANT TO ARBITRATE. [ARTICLE]

WANT TO ARBITRATE.

SPANIARDS REHEARSE THEIR OLD ARGUMENTS. Position on the Philippine Islands Is Reaffirmed—Reply to the American Demands Is Presented to the Peac'e Commissioners in Paris. Wednesday’s meeting of the joint peace commission in Paris lasted forty-five minutes and was of high importance. The Spanish commissioners presented their rejoinder to the American reply on the Philippine question, in which the contention was reiterated that Philippine sovereignty does not come in for discussion under the terms of the protocol and various reasons were given why the United States proposal concerning the debt could not be accepted by Spain. But the surprise of the meeting was the request that the dispute should be referred to arbitration as to the scope of the protocol and as to the legality of the demand of the United States to consider the sovereignty question under it. This proposal was submitted with the protestation that it was made simply because of the great desire of Spain to bring the negotiations to an amicable issue. It was also pointed out that the United States has always been the foremost champion of arbitration. The American commissioners asked for an adjournment until Saturday. Of course the United States cannot enter into a long-drawn-out arbitration over phraseology. The fact that the United States reserved to itself in the protocol possession of Manila and the fact that “the control, disposition and government” of the Philippines were mentioned as the , subject for future determination shows that the entire matter is within the jurisdiction of the Paris peace commission. Spain resorts again to its old hair-splitting tactics. If anything were to be arbitrated it would be the main proposition as to whether the United States should hold the Philippines, and not the quibble as to whether the terms of the protocol warranted the consideration of that question at all. Spain’s object is to irritate the United States as much as possible and to place itself before the world as the muchabused victim of overwhelming power. As a conqueror in war the United States has the right to dictate the terms of peace. If the United States chooses to demand the Philippines it is within the bounds of right, according to- the usages of war, in so doing. As to whether or not the United States should take the Philippines is a matter to be settled by itself, on considerations wholly apart from any rights of Spain in the premises.