The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-29

washington, Oct. IS Spain has ac-
copied the friendly Offices Of the United
States in bringing the Cuban war to AN
end, has cited the withdrawal OF Gen.
Wcyler as an evidence of her sincerity.
has promised II complete hoIne-rule rov-
ernmeut to Cuba, and has expressed the
hope that this country may in some MAN
ner lind 1t practicable to suppress filibus-
tering.
This, in Il few brief words, is the sum
and substance of SPANS reply tc the
note submitted by Minister Woodiord
some time ago. The response is most con-
servativc in tone and absolutely contains
nothing of AN Offensive nature. The
United States il not even held responsible
TOT the hlihustering expeditions that have
made their secret departure from Amer
lean shores though this government is
requested to exercise AS stringent precau-
tions as possible to prevent their occur
,ence
The reply, which has been awaited
with intense interest, began to reach this
city at : O'Clock yesterday morning, but
III was nearly noon before 1t was MI i'm
the hands of the STATE Department. 1t
Mas not the length of the message that
occupied the wires all that time. but the
fact that it WAS all in groups of figures
and that it was probably being filed in
small patches rs it was turned into the
complicated State Department cipher in
Madrid All this work had to he undoue
ut the State Department and the message
translated from the cipher hack again
into good English. This occupied nearly
all OF the day, so that it was 800 O'clock
before the first fair copy of the message
WAS turned out. 1t was not so long-in
fact, there was a little less than /, 600
words in the message-for Mr.. Woodford
Instead of cabling whole of the Spanish
answer to his note had commended him
self with reducing the matter 10 a brief
outline. The first copy was taken TO the
President, not being entrusted to mes
senger, but being delivered by Chief Clerk
Alichaels in person Mt the White House.
The exact language of the dispatch is
secret. 1t has been read, OF course, BY the
Cabinet officers and by the State Depart
ment officials, but there Is an under
standing bv which it will not be given
out in detail at this time 1t is possible,
however, that it will be submitted with
the rest of the correspondence to Con
gress when that Sody convenes.
In the meantime, it can be stated that
the reply points ont that since Minister
W oodtord's note VAS prese nteu TO the
Duke OF Tetuar radical change has
taken place in the Spanish government,
AMI that as the result of this chance IA
new policy toward Cuba has been entered
upon. The hope is EXPIRE ssed that this
policy will meet with the approval of the
American people, especially as an inclica-
tlon OF its sincerity in the withdrawal OF
Gen. Weyler and the sending of Gen.
Blanco TO Cuba with full authority to in
augurate wholesale reforms These re-
forms are not enumerated in detail, but
10 nir .,
to be generous and complete The new
ministry insists that 1t is honest in its
endeavors to end the Cuban war and that
these reforms are sufficient evidence of
that fact.
This being the case, the friendly Offices
OF the United States are accepted gladly
and heartily, even to the extent OF re.
que'ting the cooperation of this country
in restoring peace and prosperity to the
islands. One WY Of securing this happy
result, it is automatically suggested
would he to suppress filibrstering, which
1t is claimed, has been one of the princi-
p'l causes of the prolongution of the
strife. The note, as already stated, is in
most courteous terms and contains Moth
ing balligerent either in its tone or Ian.
guaGe
The note intimates, fit does not ex-
pressiv state, that the new Spa nish minis
try Is DESTROYS, above all things. of avoid
ing any friction with the United States
There is no doubt of the sincerity OF this
ntterancc. 1t is also certain that there
will be no developments of any important
nature until Congress meets. lmme dia:e
sensational events are absolutely impos-
sible, unless something OF the most unex.
pected nature occurs. The talk of n Cab
met meeting last night was without foun.
dhtion. Several days ago Mrs. Mckinley
Invited the Cabinet officers and their
wives, with n few friends, to listen to q
boy soprano on Wednesday night, and
the company gathered, enjoyed the boys
singing and were entertained with some
refreshments, Just rs they would have
done whether Spain had sent her reply or
not.