The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-30

Is hve hours earnest discussion by the
President and his constitutional advls-
ers of the nature OF the response to be
made bv the government to the Spanish
overtures for peace, brought no conclus.
ion, and the subject necessarily was
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting of the cabinet, to be
held at half-past 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning. Such was the formal state
ment of the situation made at the con-
cluslon of the days work by each mem
Der OF the cabinet who was questioned
upon the subject.
A final conclusion. however, Is much
nearer than thls statement would seem
70 indicate, and indeed there Is little
reason to doubt that an agreement has
been reached upon all the substantial
points at issue, and that what remains
to be done tomorrow Is rather 70
smooth away inequalities and adjust
some very minor points OF difference
before making the answer expected by
a. Cambon.
Ihe Phulppihe PronleHts
The point under discussion during the
greater part OF the meeting was what
disposition should be made of the Phil
ippInes. on the other issues unanimity
developed. There was to be Independ-
ence demanded for Cuba, Porto Rico
was to be ceded to the United States.
coaiing stations were to be acquired at
Guem In the Ladrone Islands and one
in the Caroline Islands. These PROPOSE
lions we're disposed Of quickly but when
Il came to the Philippines, some diver
city OF opinlon was revealed
As near as can be gathered this did
not relate mainly to the retention OF tine
Islands: on that proposition q majority
Of the cabinet was speedily recorded In
the negative. But accepting the broad
prnpoIition that Spain Nas=to be al
lowed 10 keep ,t1Ase posseAllons, other
questions OF importance developed and
Il was felt that these must be answered
definitely before the subject could De
disposed Of.
CoallHg Stations Settled.
There was no question as tb the pro-
prletv OF demanding the coaling station
in the Philippines, and while there
reasonably might be difference Of
opinion as to the location aud extent OF
this station, little difficulty was expect
ed to be encountered In solving the
problem, because the matter could be
referred TO the naval board who are
competent 10 deal with the subject.
The perplexlng problem was what
form OF government should be institu-
ted In the Philippines. and what should
be the nature Of the guarantee required
Of Spain that the new government
should be liberal and autonomous IN
character. TheseStwo questions hinged
on the primary decision TO Interfere al
all in prescribing a change In the con-
dltion In the Philippines. Some mem
bers OF the cabinet felt that the lnsur-
gents under Agulnaldo,ha acted IN
dependentiy OF the United States from
the very beginning Of the insurrectloh-
arV movement, and having lately SHOWN
q disposition 20 make trouble for us,hRd
no moral claim upon the United States
IN the settlement OF the terms Of peace.
on the other hand II was urged that
our government should lose no opportu-
nifty to extend its principal throughout
the world, and that this would De done
best In the present case by rcqulrins
Spain 10 extend genuine autonomy 10
the Philippines. II was Just upon such
points as this that the discussion pro-
ceeded oil day,
A point which WaR quickly establish
ed was that there should be no refer-
enee OF any phase of the question OF the
disposition OF the Islands to any con-
cert or Individual action by outside
powers.
VIII be no ATmIatiee.
Another point that was settled, though
there was no formal action on 1t, was
that no protest against the continuance
OF military or naval operations pending
the peace negotiations would avail in
the slightest, that there would be no ar
mIstlce, no suspension OF operations nor
any modification whatever OF present
plans until the Spanish government had
agreed to the terms proposed. Incident
70 the ccssion OF Porto Rico and the
recognition OF Cuban Independence by
Spain, was the decision that every ves-
tiEe OF Spanish government and author
iiF In the Caribbean 1nd West indian
waters must be removed erectlng n ma
terial acquisition OF numerous islands
over which IL the Isle OF Pines. Fur
thcrmorc, this sweeping change Of nu-
thorty from Spain 10 the United States
IN our nearby waters, In 70 be effective
also as quit claim OF all Indebtedness
assumed by the Spanish government ana
changed by her 20 those ialanda, 70 far
as the United States Is concerned, and
all commercial treaties now existing
between the Spanish government and
her possessions there and outside pow
ers are extingulshed.
sPatn's Sovereignty TO Cease.
Tho cabinet also decided that Spanish
sovereignty in the entire Caribbean and
West Indian waters must be utterly rc-
moved. This means that not only mus
Porto Rico and Cuba bo rslInQuishod
but that tho Spanish fiaa must be "a
ken down on every ono Of the numes
Gus small Islands In this hemlsphcre.
IhIs Is In accordance with n sentiment
that hnB been growing Tor some weeks.
Two other propositions nlEo were dis
posed o. The indebtedness assumed BY
spain and charged against both the ls-
landA oi Cuba and Porto Rico VIII got
be assumed bV this government and
moreover commercial treaties now uX-
isting between these Islands and othes
portlonH of Spanish domain Will DO IN
BAlldnted bY the tfnnEeor oi authority