'hat the terms proposed by the President will to a
con- siderable extent be influenced by the trend of public opinion cannot be doubted, and public opinion just now, we are glad to see, is setting dead against the terms which the Con- tinent expects America to make, i.e.,—(1) independence, not annexation, for Cuba ; (2) the cession of Porto Rico ; (3) the retention of the Philippines by Spain, America being granted a coaling station. The American Press and people seem inclined to take the line we have endeavoured to express in another column. It would mean civil war and misrule to give Cuba independence, and something worse to allow Spain to rule once more in the Philippines. Therefore Spain must "clear out" altogether, and both Cuba and the Philippines be organised and ruled by America. But though the annexa- tion of the whole of Spain's remaining colonial possessions would be best for Spain and best for America, we greatly fear that a compromise will be made. Cuba will be allowed her independence, and in the Philippines America will try, either under a Spanish or an American protectorate, to secure for the States " the maximum of commercial and strategic advantage combined with the minimum of governmental responsibility." That is what Lord Granville tried in Egypt, and proved to be impossible. Things cannot be, and not be, at the same time,
and America will find it quite impossible at the same time to hold, and not hold, the Philippines.
