The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-28
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THE vEsUyIus.

which is having her guns adjusted and
repaired. The vessel has been at the
yard about a week. and great crowds
have been there to see her. Assistant
Secretary Day spent portion OF the
Sabbath at the state department, and
there received call from the Spanish
minister. rather unusual procedure,
indicating important matters for con-
sideration. The conference lasted some
time. but its nature gould not be learned.
The developments OF the day In the
Cuban situation showed steady progress
in the negotiations between the govern
ment OF this country and that OK Spain
loking to the maintenance of peace, for
the present at /, ST There is good au-
thority for saying that SPANS present
wish is to secure cessation of hostil-
tiles in Cuba rather than to engage in
war with the United States. and that 1t
is more than probable that the negotia-
tions between the government OF this
United States and the, Sagaata ministry
will take that turn In the Immediate
future. The present ministry has pro-
fessed pacific disposition from the be-
ginning, and the indications are strong
now that II will avail itself of the good
est extent that public opinion in Spain
will allow in bringing to an end the hos
tilities In Cuba.
To what extent the United States may
go in assisting Spain in her present de-
sign of securing an armistice is not yet
determined, but conservative elements
in the administration consider the man
fof NJ
Spain for even a temporary peace di-
rect result of President McKinley's di-
plomacy. and they are naturally dis
posed to contend that the president
should be left free, for the present at
least. to pursue policy which promises
much in the way of preventing a war
between this country and Spain, and
also OF bringing to close the hostili-
ties in Cuba. Hence there will be an
effort on the part of the peacefully in
clined In congress to continue to hold
that body In check and to prevent in
fammatory utterances there until this
promising diplomatic lead may be ex-
plotted. 1t is said that the develop
ment of the situation will not require
great length Of time and that there Will
not be extended delay. The policy de-
bring the Cuban war to close. This
will be accomplished by pointed inter-
vention II necessary. but II is considered
far preferable that the end should come
as the result Of peaceful negotiations
than II should be accompanied by hos
tffe demonstrations on the part of the
United States. Therefore the dispo-
sition of the president is to give Spain
. fair opportunity TO secure an armistice
with the Cubans. and to allow her
reasonable time in which to come to an
understanding with the hostiles
1t can he stated upon high authority
that there has been no abatement Of tne
presidents intention to see that the
war Is terminated when II is closed upon
terms that viii render the Cubans prac-
tically free people. 1t is not believed
that they would accept anything less,
nor that the Americans would be salts
fCd IL we should encourage a settlement
that would not be acceptable to the
Cubans. III there should now be an
armistice. II would be with the concas-
sion made by Spain at the instance OF
this country, that negotiations should
be opened immediately with the insur-
gents looking to the establishment of
a permanent peace upon these terms. IL
has long been the hope OF the admins
tration TO bring Spain to the point of
making propositions Of this character
as the basis Of a settlement most salts
factory to all parties. and Il Is hoped
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