The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-09
In Passing on the Peace
Terms Proposed.
The POLICY IN HIS DELAY
He Wants Full Explanations on al
POints-Having Regard Il the Ma
uonai Politics and Home Situation.
The Spanish People to be Pacifed by
Apparent Efforts to Secure Better
Terms-Leaders ofthe Opposition Con-
suited as to the Terms.

London. August 5.-The Madrid cor
respondent of The Times says:"Though
peace is regarded as assured, 1t may not
be attained so quickly as is generally
expected. Senor Sagasta objects to be-
ing hustled and insists upon every
thing being lone in a quiet, orderly
and dignifed manner. He considers it
necessary to nave full and satisfactory
explanations as to all doubtful points,
in order to enable him to best protect
the national interests against the
aggressive tendencies of the Washing
ton cabinet. He has also to examine
very minutely the exigencies of the in
ternal situation and home politics so
as to avoid popular dissatisfaction and
political unrest. The Spanish people,
though sincerely DESTROYS Of peace, are
disposed TO admire this hesitancy and
tenacious holding out till the last, al
though aware that it implies greater
sacrifices.
LAS an Illustration of this feeling,
while General TOral is blamed for ca
pitulating at Santiago, Captain Gen
eraI August by continuing a hopeless
resistance at Manila, bids air to be a
popular hero. 1t would be premature
to suppose hat the political c%Onsulta-
tiOns now proceeding fOreshadOw the
resignation of the liberal cabinet when
peace is concluded. The conservatives
have so constantly and 50 Loyalty sup
ported Sagasta throughout the war
that no fictitious faction need be fear
ed from them"
Madrid. August 4.-SenOr Sagasta
conferred today with the presidents
of both chambers of the cOrtes and is
now comforting with Marshal Martinez
Campos and the Duke of Tetuan, min
lister of foreign affairs in the last cab
met of the late Senior Canovas. Until
the official account Of the peace nego-
tiatiOns is published the utmost secre-
Cy will be observed.
1t is announced from HaVan that
the town of Gibara, on the north coast
of Santiago de Cuba province, has been
evacuated by the Spanish troops and
that the rebels on entering killed eigh-
teen volunteers. General ArOlas, mill
tary governor of Havana, has asked
the local newspapers to take up the
question of the best way to distribute
the available food supplies in the city.
General BIanco has decreed a suspen-
sion of the sittings of the chamber.
O y. III lie CONSULTATIONS DtIW cen
the premier, the presidents of the
and other prominent persons
are described as being really of a ma
tiOnal character with a view Of aScer-
tanning the opinions of all parties. The
government has not yet entered upon
any agreement regarding terms for
concluding the war with the United
States. The cabinet will follow the ad-
vice of the party leaders and will
leave to the crown the liberty of choos-
ing new advisers.
All the leaders consulted thus far
have observed the strictest reserve,
with the exception of Senior Romero y
RobledO, the leader of the Weylerite
party, who declares himself in favor of
continuing the war. The Queen-regent
has summoned several generals for
consultation.
La Correspondence De Espana says
the government has no present inten-
ton of ~cOnvOking the cortes. FL Cor
REQ, the ministerial organ, says that
in addition to the mOnarchist chiefs,
the queen-regent will consu Professor
SalmerOn. the republican leader, and
an influential carlist chief.
An official dispatch from San Juan
de Porto Rico says: Most of the VOL
unteers are in a d~isorganized condition
and are abandoning their arms"
London. August 5.-The Madrid cor
respondent of The Daily Mail says:
THE government has not yet answered
the American note nor received Presi-
dent McKinley's reply to the explana-
tions asked for by Senior Sagasta. The
premier said today that the govern
ment would reply to the American de-
mands early next week.
I'm consulting the party leaders Sa-
gasta is following the precedent of
Castelar,. when the Nirginius affair
threatened war with the United States.
1t is not probable that he will resign
as a result of the conference.
The premier is inclined to rush the
treaty through without convoking the
c%Ortes, trusting to get a bill of indem-
nifty next month. but the party leaders
are not likely to consent to this course.