Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-30
WHAT A'k|NLEY TOLD SPAIN.
lie has Made a Peremptory Demand
for Cessation Of Hostilities

Tor a Cessation Of HostilitieS
In Cupa and for the Release of the
hecOncentradOS-A Final Reply
IS Expected Within a Few Days
and if 1t is Not Favorable, Friends
Of the President Say He Will Send
the Whole Business to Congress
for Action As a Preliminary
| Step, 1t Has Been Proposed That
| Spain Accept Indemnity Spain
Has Proposed an Armistice, but
That is Not Acceptable.
| Washington, March 29-Congress
and the cabinet divided attention to-
day on the Spanish situation. In Con-
gress the feeling which began to take
form after the Presidents conservative
and pacific message on the Maine re-
port was submitted yesterday, found
| open expression to-day in resolutions
proposing a declaration Of war, rec
ognition of the independence of Cuba.
| armed intervention, and other decisive
and War-ilke steps against Spain, and
| a conference Of Republicans having
for its object the overruling OF the
Speaker, if necessary, to get prompt
action.
On the floor, in the cloak rooms,
| in the Hobbies and in the corridors,
there was little else discussed than the
4 Es,,l. cit - Nat is
aster.
/ Every Senator and member was
| furnished with a copy of the testi-
| mony sent to Congress yesterday, and
| every person who could procure a
copy read the printed pages
Every group of Senators in the cloak
room talked of Cuba. Constant and
continued conferences were held, and
all recognized the seriousness OF the
situation.
On the House side, it was apparent
that the Republican majority could
no longer be controlled by what is
known as the conservative element,
LED BY THE SPEAKER.
| Groups of members in state of eX-
| element were to be seen on every
| hand. In each cloak room there were
| members listening eagerly while por-
| tions of the Maine testimony was
| read.
| Members of the committee on for
eign affairs grouped together and dis
| cussed plans and possible future pro-
| ceedings. 1t was generally acknowl-
| edged that a serious condition haa
| arisen; that crisis was near at
hand 1t was the opinion of some Oh
the conservative members that in a
/ day or two the feeling would snbside
and members would not be much agi-
| tated.
Much depends on the next few days.
| That Congress will not remain inactive
! if some decided action is not taken by
the administration is certain.
| 1t is also true that the talk of an
| armistice caused great deal of i'll
| feeling The House to-day proceeded
| to do business without break or dra-
| matte incidents, bU'C no such quiet can
| be promised tomorrow when the ma
val bin is being considered.
| he day closed with a prospect that
T, the committees to which were referred
| the Maine correspondence will act
soon. possibly before the end CT the
| week.
| THE CABINET MEETING
| to-day developed nothing new. The
| President remains steadfast in his con-
| victions as to what is his duty and
| adverse criticism which, it is asserted,
| is mainly due to misinformation as
| to the situation or ignorance of the
l No
| mitted to swerye him in the least de-
| gree from the course he has planned.
AS already stated in the Associated
| Press dispatches, the President some
! days ago made a peremptory demand
upon Spain to put an end Immediately
| to hostilities in Cuba, to release con-
| centrodos and to permit them to re-
| turn to their homes and resume their
several occupations unmolested. This
statement is made by unquestionable
| authority, and since that demand was
communicated to Spain, the President
| has not taken a step backward or al
| lowed himself to be persuaded into
modifying it in the least particular,
SPANS final reply to this demand, it
| is known, is now receiving the earnest
| consideration of the Spanish authori-
ties at Madrid, and their final reply
may be reasonably expected within
| the next few days. Should these de-
mands be rejected there is the highest
| authority for stating that the President
would not hesitate a moment as to
| his future course, but would immedi-
ately lay the whole record before Con-
] gress and be guided by its instruc-
| tons.
| AS a preliminary step toward peace,
ii has been proposed to Spain, though
this last proposition has not taken the
| shape of a demand as yet. at least,
that the Spanish government withdraw
! its troops from the island and that the
| Cubans be given their independence
ON A BASIS OF INDEMNITY
that would be regarded as just in
amount by the United States and other
nations of the world and fair to both
| contendng parties.
The question of an armistice has
not been agreed to by either this coun-
| trv or Spain though there is no doubt
| that Spain suggested an armistice.
| What terms Of peace will be accept
able to the President cannot be stated,
brt it is asserted that no proposition
| will be considered that does not in
| volve the practical if not the actual