The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-03-19
BACKING DOWN.
Spain Has Shown the White Feather
in the Cuban Matter.
Now willing That the Island Should Have
independence in All but tName-Presi-
dent and Cabinet without knowl-
edge About Maine Inquiry.
CHICAGO, March IA special to the
ICri hnre from WaShin ptnn anvs.

CmCAao, March IA special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Spain has shown the white feather. The
supposed naughty Spaniards have at last be-
come impressed by the hostile preparations OF
the United States and have begun secret nego-
tiations TO withdraw their troops from Cuba
and to restore peace there. A secret agent of
the Spanish government Is now in this country
for this purpose. lie had an interview with
President Mckinley yesterday and proposed
that the insurgents should accept independence
IN everything but name. lie proposed that
Spain should withdraw her troops and permit
the inhabitants OF Cuba to form q government
to suit themselves, retaining only O shad-
owy allegiance to the mother country.
His offer was distinctly q prelimi-
nary surrender, and 1t was intimated
that its object was to let down Spain easily and
permit of actual independence after affairs had
Quieted down in Cuba. President Mckinley
declined 20 consider the offer until he knew
how the insurgents looked upon It. The presi-
dent himself referred the secret envoy to Sec
Fetary Quesada. who represents the Cuban re-
public in this city. The Spanish agent Swal-
lowed his pride and sued for peace from the
rebel representative. His offer was declined.
with the statement that the Cuban republic
would not accept loyalty TO Spain even In name
only. Spain's peace commissioner left for New
York last night to make a lnal appeal to Es-
Trnda Palma, the Cuban delegate TO this cOun-
try. the head OF the iunta.
They Are Wholly without knowledge.
CHICAGO, March II Walter Well
man telegraphs as follows to the
Times-Herald: Despite all the news
paper statements to the contrary,
President Mckinley does not know
what the report of the board of In
quiry will be. Neither does any mem
ber of the cabinet. Not word of the
testimony taken by the court has
reached the president. Nor has any
member of the court written line to
the president, or conveyed any infor-
nation whatever to him, directly or
indirectly. The president and all the
members of his cabinet are wholly
without knowledge of the cause of the
disaster. They have their opinions,
but they are not framing policies or
taking actions upon the basis of opin-
ion.
VIII he Considered Separately.
1t is now said to be the settled pur-
pose of the president to consider the
Maine disaster and the Cuban question
as two different subjects, as II was
originally reported in these dispatches
he would do. But it Is foreseeu that
in certain contingencies the two ques-
tions will inevitably run together.
Recognition of independence is an ex-
ecutive function, according to the
practices of this nation, and recogni
tion of the independence of Cuba by
the president of the United States
would without shadow of doubt
bring to a focus the whole question of
Cuba's future.
Means of Raising War Revenues.
WASHINGTON, March l5.-The presi-
dent is preparing for war taxation.
He has been in consultation with Sec
retary Gage and Chairman Dingley, of
the house ways and means committee,
on the best methods to pursue should
war become a necessity. The expend-
itures of the government are already
on a war footing, while the revenues
are based only on peace footing. 1t
will soon become necessary to make
new arrangements, and it is on these
that consultation has been held. Chair.
man Dingley said that he had the line
of policy to be pursued already mapped
out in his own mind. He stated that
it Is the intention of the administra.
tion to raise as much of these funds
by internal taxation as possible.
Plans adopted during the civil war
period will be largely followed and
the first taxes will be levied on bank
checks, legal papers, proprietary med
1clnes, etc.
Young Leo Says There Will Be War.
TAMPA, Fla, March 10. -FitzhuRh
Lee, Jr., son of Gen. Lee, has arrived
here from Havana Although reticent
about stating anything of an official
nature, he made the following state |
ment: while in Havana sscertained
. number of facts concerning the pres
ent strained situation between Spain |
and the United States. 1 am of the |
opinion that war between the two
is imminent, notwithst and. |
ing the fact that diplomscy will be
taxed to its furthest limit to prevent |
st."
Says It Was Spanish TreaOhery.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-Col. Myron |
A. Parker, one of the leading business
men of Washington, who accompanied |
Proctor on his recent visit to |
Cuba. said that the Americans on the |
island had no doubt that the disaster |
to the Maine was caused through |
Spanish agency. He said there was
no difference OF opinion |
among the Americans as to the cause |
Of the disaster having been an external |
explosion.
Germany Hostile to Spain.
BERLIN. March II. - The Berlin |
foreign office has instructed the in
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