The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-29
And Demand the Relinquishment by
Spain of Cuba, Porto Rico, the Phil
iDDines, Ladrones and CaroIines.
CABINET MEETING TODAY
AT WHICH ACTION ON THE SPANISH
OVERTURE WILL BE TAKEN.
Sagasta's Imputation of Bad Faith ON
the Part of the United States Intend.
ed Merely for Home Consumption.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


WASHINGTON, July 2S.-The President
and his advisers are accepting suggestions
up to the last minute, but they are not pub
fishing the administrations answer to the
makes no concealment of his wish that this
country might get rid OF responsibility for
the Philippines by taking a coaling station,
but he is equally frank in confessing that he
does not see any such easy way of escaping
the responsibilities placed on the Nations
shoulders by the Dewey victory and the
chain of resulting circumstances. Announce
ment is made that the President will take
bold stand and that his reply will leave
Spain face to face with the alternative Of
continuing the war or of accepting terms
which will seem exceedingly hard and hui
initiating. This announcement would seem
to dispose of the report that he will say in
effect to Spain, Eyes, we want peace; now
please indicate the terms on which you
would like to negotiate, for there is nothing
strikingly bold in that stand. Whatever the
plan may be which is running in the Presi-
dents mind. it will be submitted to the Cab
met tomorrow morning at it's regular meet
ing and thoroughly discussed.
There is well-defned rumor current to-
night that the President will meet the issue
with simple bluntness that will set this
country free from all danger of foreign en-
tanglements and at the same time bring
Spain to sharp realization of the exact
conditions which confront her. AS fore
shadowed by an official of high authority.
President McKinleys position will be for
Spain to at once relinquish all claims not
only to Cuba and Porto Rico. but also the
Philippines and other islands in the far
East. That, it is argued will be simply
asking Spain to recognize the inevitable, to
admit what everybody sees she will have to
come to. Extinguishment of Spanish SOW
ereignty to these several colonies being
named as condition precedent to discus
sion of peace, the President can proceed
upon the theory that Spain, having no claim
on the Philippines, has no right to ask this
government as to its policy for the future
disposition of the islands any more than the
seller of a house after letting go can pre-
sumo to dictate to the purchaser how he
shall manage the property. He can cover
the case by simply refraining from saying
word about the American purpose or plans
relating to the islands. leaving that matter
TO be taken UP later and in our own time
and fashion. The powers which are fret
ting with impatience for chance to med
die in the Philippines question would find no
opening there. The President would be
treating solely with Spain on a proposition
strictly between the two governments, and
which could admit of no interference. If
Spain should refuse to accept the terms.
that would be her affair. She will have to
come to them some time. for she can never
recover control over the Philippines, even
though the United States should step aside
tomorrow. The great native population
would never again respect her authority.