The surrender of Santiago is a great relief to the
American Government, which was greatly alarmed by the outbreak of yellow fever owing to insanitary conditions. The President, moreover, though he has displayed most creditable firmness, was well aware that the besieging army was ill provided, that its artillery was insufficient, and that the troops, unaccustomed to privation in the tropics, were suffering greatly from ex- posure to the rains. The Americans, moreover, have displayed unexpected want of resource in road-making, probably from want of labour; and both guns and stores have been left in quantities at Baiquiri merely from deficiency of transport. These evils will be corrected before Havana is attacked, as it has been decided to await the cooler and healthier weather of October. This is, of course, on the supposition that Spain will not make peace. Washington hopes she will, but obviously over- rates the reasonableness of her adversary, and perhaps under- rates the danger of revolution in the Peninsula created by demands which Spanish soldiers consider derogatory to their country. People who have access to Mr. McKinley testify that he is slowly rising to the height of his great position, and exhibits many of Mr. Lincoln's qualities,—in particular, remarkable decision and nerve.
