"Dow give up the ship" were the Inst words of Captain Laurence of the Chesapeake, wounded to death in the fight with the Skannonoff Boston Lights, "Don't give up the Philippines" should be the injunction of the American people to President McKinley. We can only write from what we read and know and see, and Admiral Dewey, who has been on the spot since the Ist of May and certainly studying the ques-! tiao for some time before that, may have written to the President facts and arguments of which we at present know nothing. But as faras the telegraphic news we have received goes, it seems that th President is very averse to the retention of the Philippines, and only asks for coaling stations in the islands and in the Ladrones, and it is evident that even if the Philippines are given up, the States should have a coaling station nearer China then Guam is.
On the 7th of July Renter telegraph—Jed that "the Spanish Cabinet has decided to continue the war at all costs as long as Spanish soldiers remain in Cubs." This looked as if the fighting {spirit was beginning to fail, and the next day we had a telegram: "It is expected that Marshal Martines Campos will form a Cubinet and propose peace."
On the 9th of July another telegram, referring to the operations at Santiago, said: " Both armies have been informed that peace negotiations ate proceeding in Washington and Madrid." On the 11th we were told that the rumours of peace were denied at Madrid, but the next day we learnt that 'a notable peace movement is becoming apparent in Spain." On the 16th Reuter gave us the first indications of what the terms offered by the United States would be, on the authority of the Mew York Harold: " President McKinley does not desire to retain possession of the Philippines, but he will be satisfied with the possession of the island ofGuamand (?.8) a coaling station, and provided Puerto Rice be ceded, and Cuba declared independent, be will not demand a money indemnity." On the 18th another telegram said that it was" understood in, Washington that President McKiuley is in favour of imposing moderate conditions of peace." Al-reddy the English were getting anxious about the Philippines, for " telegram of the 19th of July said: "The Times otates that Great Britain will feel no jealousy whatever if the United States take possession of the Philippines." Obviously this statement was not a mere cursory remark, but was intended strengthen the hands of the American Excutive. A telegram of the 22nd quoted.a statement of the Madrid correspondent of the Morning Post " that the Ministers have unanimously arrived at a decision in favour of pence," and already we learnt that the Aimericans and Spaniards, like foes that had proved each other's gallantry, were fraternising at Santiago. he next day came a telegram quoting again the probable conditions of peace: "It is stated on good authority in Washington that the retention by the United States of Puerto Rice is an essential condition of pace, also possibly the retention of the Ladrones (Guam) as 3 coaling station. Nothing has. been decided. with regard to the Philippines." On the same day. came a telegram conveying a statement which, if it is correct, should have effectually stiffened the President's back: "'I'he Daily News' correspondent at Berlin states that all the Powers except Great
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.