The leader., 1898-08-10
APPEAL WAS IN VAIN.
snain Wanted to Preserve Porto Rico and
the Philippines Intact.

the Philippines Intact.
LONDON, Aug. s.--The Madrid corre-
spondont of the Times, telegraphing
Sunday, says:
To-day all the authorities agree that
the government has decided to accept
the American conditions. The Ameri-
can reply to SPANS request for explana-
tons reached Madrid Friday evening.
The text has not been divulged, but it
is known that it brought little consola
ton President Mckinley turned a
deaf car To the suggestion that Porto
Rico might be left TO Spain and COM
pensation elsewhere. Regarding the
Philippines, the reply was not alto
gether satisfactory, but it was of such
nature that there was no longer any
necessity for postponing decision ON
the main question.
Meantime, Senior Sagasta's extern
sivc consultations seemed to leave no
doubt that the nation wants peace. l
do not mean to say that all declared
this in plain language. On the con-
trary, there was deal of reticence.
Some persons had more or less clearly
expressed the idea that the best men in
the country would periodically forget
for the moment all personal and party
considerations, and cordially and dis
interestedly endeavor to assist the gov.
eminent in its difficulties.
This idea, however, if it was ever
seriously entertained, was not realized.
Perhaps one or two acted in this spirit.
but in most cases the cloven foot of the
politician peeps out occasionally un.
der the flowing robes of the patriot.
Some only half concealed their sus.
picions that Senior Sagasta, in profess
ing to consult the matter seriously in
great crisis of the national history,
was in reality playing the part of an
old parliamentary hand and astutely
laying traps for his political rivals.
IF these suspicious had any real
foundation, Sagasta must be a consum.
mate actor, for in all the interviews he
spoke with apparent frankness and q
sincerity and personal disinterested-
ness that might well have disarmed all
bat the hardened politicians.
Even when it was suggested that he
ought to leave to more capable hands
the task of concluding peace, he dis
played no Impotence or resentment.
lie even showed the most perfect cour-
tesy to Senior Romero y Robledo, listen
ing with rapt attention to his absurd
proposals.
AS to the context of SPANS reply,
the oracles differ. Some say it contains
no contentious matter, accepts simply
in principal the four demands of Presi-
dent Mckinley's first communications,
and suggests an immediate suspension
of hostilitieS. On the other hand,
others affirm that it is prefaced by an
account of the origin of the war tend
ing to prove that, as Spain was in no
sense the aggressor, she ought not to
be expected TO pay a war indemnity
either in money or territory.
Though the king, according to the
constitution, has the right to declare
war and make peace, any cession of
national territory requires the sanction
OF the cortes, and any minister consent
ing to such cession without this sane
ton is liable, according to the code, to
imprisonment for life. 1t will be neces-
sary, therefore, to convoke the cortes,
some time before the treaty of peace is
ra'lhed, but the government has not
yet decided at what stage of the pro-
eecdings this necessary formality will
be observed
In some well informed quarters
doubts are expressed as to whether the
spanish note will be dispatched to
washington quite as soon is generally
eXnected "