Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-07
W00DFORD HOPEFUL.
The United States Minister Believes
In a Peaceful Settlement.
lU10yONIS1 APPEAL TO INSURGENTS
An Armistice Asked for to Arrange Terms
OF Pesce-spaniards Indifferent to War
Mediation Of the Pope-Fiying
Squadron Ready to Move

MADRID, April Am answer TO q re.
quest from the Associated press Gen.
Woodford. the United States minister,
has made the following statement:
The obligations Of my diplomatic position
absolutely forbid my granting an interview or
giving the slightest intimation as to the pres
ent condition Of the diplomatic negotiations
intrusted TO my care came to Spain under
instructions from President Mckinley to Sc
cure peace In Cuba with permanent peace
between the United States and Spain peace
that should be built upon bedrock conditions
conditions OF justice TO Cuba, with assured
protection TO the great American interests
In that island have labored steadily to OBJ
tain this result l have never lost my faith
and, doubtful as conditions may seem to-day,
still believe these great and good purposes OF
my president may yet be secured ! shall not
desist from my labors for q just and honorable
peace until the guns actually open fire. and my
faith Is still strong that war, with all Its h0r-
rors. can be avoided. Enough blood has been
shed in Cuba already, and cannot believe the
closing hours Of the nineteenth century will be
Redeemed by conflict between Spain and the
lnlLcu StuteS
AUTONOMIsT APPEAL TO INSURGENTS.
WASHINGTON. April 4.-The Spanish
minister has received dispatch from
Havana stating that the autonomist
cabinet there has addressed an appeal
to the insurgents, asking to arrange an
n-mistice for the purpose OF arriving at
terms of peace. The. full text Of the
message could not be secured last
night, as its translation was not made
at the legation. The insurgents are
appealed to on the ground that they
are all Cubans and should unite for
peace and liberty, which all want The
appeal also states that Spain is willing
to enlarge the present scope Of autono-
my, and will suggest such plan to
the cortes which is soon to meet
spANIARDs INDIFFERENT TO WAR
MADRID, April a. -Despite the efforts
OF the press to work up patriotic en-
thusiasm, the public seems Indifferent
to the situation. Excepting among OF.
ticials and officers, it is rarely dis
cussed. Apparently the people are
chiefly interested in the result of a big
lottery just announced and the prepa-
rations for an extraordinary bull fight
on Easter Sunday, at which celebra-
ton toreadors from all parts OF Spain
will perform. The people do not wish
war; rather they are indifferent, as
they always have one in progress
somewhere and do not regard war
with the United States as different
from the others. The feeling that ex-
lists here exists also throughout the
provinces.
MEDIATION OF THE POPE
WASHINGTON, March A dispatch
from Madrid said that Senior Capde-
pom, minister of the interior, states
officially that the pope has accepted
the task of mediating between Spain
and the United States, at the sugges-
ton of the latter, both nations accept
ing his mediation. Assistant Secre-
tary of State Day, however, has au-
thorized an official denial of the state
ment that the pope is to mediate be-
tween this country and Spain and at
the white house the dispatch was
promptly and emphatically denied.
FLYING SQUADRON READY TO MOVE.
FORT MONROE, Va, April 4.-Com-
modore W. S. Schley will to-day notify
the authorities at Washington that,
with the arrival of the Texas, he will
be ready to move at an hours notice.
The most formidable squadron of fast
fighters ever gotten together is COM
plete with the exception of the Texas.