Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-20
HAD GREAT PLENTY.
Continued from page ~

debt, because the United States will not
talk over the sovereignty.
Because the Uniteo States will NOT
take over the sovereignty, has wild
ened Spanish perceptions and has u,,-
questionably fastened their convic-
tons. Wherefore it may in a sense be
true that FOR the first time they have
feeling that American pledge and
American performance are co-eouai
terms the Spaniards now are practi-
cally on the threshold of properly
lighter negotiations. When Spain ap-
preached these negotiations she was
confronted by a wall of fast agree
ment which she, however, regarded as
possible of break or puncture at the
point of Castillan diplomacy. Thus
she poised and launched against the
protocol structure of seeming solidity
the keen lances of her finesse. But
they have fallen broken at her feet
and now SPANS commissioners ask
time to assure themselves of their pre-
vious misjudgment and also to form
their lines or arrange new ones.
The assigned reason for today's re-
quest for delay is believed to have
been to allow the interchange of com
munications with Madrid and to form
ulate a final attitude on the Cuban
matter.
This attitude of the Spaniards to
be developed on Friday, will be watch
ed with no little interest Their alter
natives are free. They may accede to
the American attitude, themselves as
sumo the Cuban debt, and go forward
to consider the next protocol point. of
Porto Rico. and the choice by the
United States of an island in the La
drones group or they may at this juno
as an extremity, which is not likely
may retire from further negotiation.
The tone during the last four or five
days Of the Spanish and French press
is significant of widening condolences
by the Spanish as to the attitude they
have assumed in the negotiations here
and the recurring assurances of
Spain's desire for arbitration may have
had meaning. The Spaniards may
not have sought to promote sympathy
but had they desired to lay down ba-
sis upon which to set up plea to
Europe to prevent what it is sought to
present as her ravishment the surface
indications could not have been more
favorably disposed for that purpose
The American commissioners, after
dispatching their acquiescence in the
delay held a brief meeting, probably
TO make formal record of the deferring
of the point session fixed for, today.
The Americans. yesterday, held d
brief session. having no reference TO
the negotiations and the brevity Of
these meetings and other indications
warrant the continuation that the
American attitude is well formed and
hat the commission is thoroughly adj
vised on all the points and features
which it is possible to foresee in SUBJ
sequent conferences.
The holders of Spanish securities
have not been inactive, and it is not
unlikely that the American commission
has been called upon to CONSIDER "a
Written presentment of figures, facts
and pleadings in behalf of those inter
eStS. Were it not that the spirit and
attitude of the American commission
are so dignified. it might be said tat
they are now holding the fort and in
wife attack. Their personality and pro-
ceedure, however, here is such as to
make it fair to say that while not
counting attack, they do not fear one.