The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-09
Scenes That Would Have Disgraced
a Bull-ring.
MUZZLING THE PRESS
GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPRESS
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.
Spain Will Attempt to Retain Part
of the Philippines-Text of the
Peace Decree-Ministry Admits
That An End Must Be Put to the
War.

Madrid. Sept. S.-The disorderly scenes
witnessed in the chamber yesterday even
ing would have shamed a buli-ring. Fists
and sticks were shaken in the air and in
vecti' IS were to be heard on all sides.
As a result, several duels are expected
to take place.
1t is understood here that Spain in
tends to bargain at the Paris peace con-
ference to retain part OF the Philippine
islands. but the impression somehow pre-
walls that republic will be established
there under the protectorate or the
United States, Great Britain and Ger
many.
General Polavieja, the former captain
general of Cuba and of the Philippines.
who has just issued a manifesto, init
mating that he is ready to place himself
at the head of a neutral political party,
is understood TO be recruiting strong
party of disconnected Liberals and others,
with the object, it is claimed, of destroy
ing the military preponderence of the
government
The Spanish cabinet, at it's meeting this
morning. decided to take the most Str1n-
gent measures to prevent the publica-
ton of the proceedings of the cortes and
to provide for the censorship of tele-
graphic dispatches.
The minister for foreign affairs, Duke
Almodovar de Rio, informed his col
leagues that as a result of the negotia-
tions at Washington relative to the Span
ldTQS IN the 9nlllpDlneS, udQ
been sent to the Spanish consul at Hong
Kong in accordance with the agreement
reached.
The society for commercial union is
sending a petition to the cortes, demand
ing the closing of all the military schools,
the curtailment of retiring pensions, that
all officers returning from Cuba be
placed in the reserve and that in addition
a budget of 100000 pesetaS annually be
provided for the care of the sick and
wounded Spanish soldiers returning from
the colonies.
The newspapers assert that the gov
eminent is greatly surprised and "a
grined at the attitude of the Conserva-
tives in the chamber, which indicates
that the government is isolated on QueS-
tons of such magnitude as the conclu-
sion of the peace treaty.
Continuing, the Spanish papers express
the opinion that this foreshadows the
downfall of the ministry. The cabinet
will probably meet this evening in order
to discuss the situation, but the chamber
does not meet today, as this is the fete
day of the Virgin.
1t appears that many of the govern
ment supporters abstained from voting
last night. This fact is greatly comment
ed upon.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
London. Sept. 9.-According to the Mad
rid correspondent, the following is the
text of the negotiations of the government
decree to conclude peace:
1.-THE reverseS suffered by our arms in
the unequal struggle to which we were
driven in order to defend the honor of the
nation and maintain its rights deprived
us at an early stage of the elements re-
quired for continuing the war.
The bravery of our soldiers and sailors
proved insufficient, as did the calm atti-
tude of the nation, ever ready to shed it's
blood and sacrifice its resources for the
honor of the Spanish flag
Separated by wide seas from the ter
ritories it was our object to protect, and
these territories being closely blockaded,
so that our few remaining ships could not
reach them, her majestyS government
has been compelled to admit the bitter
THE sense of responsibility entailed by
the preliminary peace negotionat1onS had
weighed heavily on the government.
Notwithstanding it fully appreciated its
duty towards the country, the government
has had to consent to these preliminary
negotiations and to bow to the cruel sac
rifices imposed by sheer necessity.
For this reason, and because peace
must be purchased at the cost of accession
of territory and the abandonment of SOW
ereign rights. the government has thought
II eXpedient to sound the corteS before
concluding the treaty, the ratification of
which will be duly notified to both
chambers, in accordance with constitu-
tional law"
The government, whose moderate Ian
the representatives of the nations, limits
itself to submitting to the cortes the fol-
lowing bill, whose first and only article is:
1.-The government is authorized to re-
nounce rights of sovereignty and to cede
territory in the Spanish colonies in ac-
agreed upon with the government of the
United States of America"
The Times correspondent says the bill
is signed by all the ministers.