Peace has substantially been agreed upon. What has happened is
this. The American Government placed their terms in a Protocol, this Protocol was considered by the Madrid Government, and on Thursday the Prime Minister telegraphed to M. Cambon authorising him to sign it on behalf of Spain. The Protocol begins by arranging an armistice, and then provides in substance that the Spanish possessions in the West Indies shall be evacuated by Spain and all ceded to the United States, with the exception of Cuba; that an island in the Ladrones group shall be ceded to the United States ; and that the Americans shall hold the city, bay, and harbour of Manilla pending the conclusion of a treaty determining the future control, disposition, and government of the Philippines. This, of course, means that the Philippine question shall be left open, and not decided till more information has been obtained and the popular will has been exhibited more clearly. As our readers know, our hope is that America will accept her responsibilities in the Philippines, and not leave the islands virtually derelict, or, still worse, allow them still to continue under Spain. We greatly regret that the terms of the Protocol seem to force the Americans to make Cuba independent. The Cubans are not fit for it (unless the South American form of government can be said to increase the prosperity and happiness of man- kind), and independence is certain to mean anarchy and civil war, under a new name. That would indeed be a lame and impotent conclusion to the American crusade against Spanish misgovernment in the West Indies.
