Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-13
APPEAL WAS IN VAIN.
Spain Wanted to Preserve Porto Rico and
the Philippines Intact.

the fhlliPpines Intact.
LONDON, Aug. 5.-The Madrid CORE.
spondont of the Times, telegraphing
Sunday, says;
To-day all the authorities agree that
the government has decided to accept
the American conditions. The Ameri-
can reply to Spain's request for eXplana-
tions reached Madrid Friday evening.
The text has not been divulged, but it
is known that it brought little consola-
ton. President Mckinley turned
deaf ear to the suggestion that Porto
Rico might be left to Spain and com
pensation elsewhere. Regarding the
Philippines, the reply was not alto
gether satisfactory, but it was of such
nature that there was no longer any
necessity for postponing decision on
the main question,
Meantime, Senior Sagasta's eXten-
sive consultations seemed to leave nc
doubt that the nation wants peace. !
do not mean to say that all declared
this in plain language. On the con-
trary, there was deal of reticence.
Some persons had more or less clearly
expressed the idea that the best men in
the country would patriotically forget
for the moment al personal and party
considerations, and cordially and dis
interestedly endeavor to assist the gov
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This idea, however, if it was ever
seriously entertained, was not realized.
Perhaps one or two acted in this spirit,
but in most cases the cloven foot of the
politician peeps out occasionally un-
der the flowing robes of the patriot.
Some only half concealed their sus-
picions that Senor Sagasta, in profess
ing to consult the matter seriously in
great crisis of the national history,
was in reality playing the part of an
old parliamentary hand and astutely
laying traps for his political rivals.
"lf these suspicious had any real
foundation, Sagasta must be consum-
, mate actor, for in all the interviews he
spoke with apparent frankness and a
sincerity and personal disinterested-
ness that might well have disarmed all
bat the hardened politicians.
Even when it was suggested that he
ought to leave 10 more capable hands
the task of concluding peace he dis.
played no impatience or resentment.
He even showed the most perfect cour.
tesy to Senor Romero y Robledo, listen
ing with rapt attention to his absurd
proposals.
"As to the context of Spain's reply.
the oracles differ. Some say it contains
no contentious matter, accepts simply
in principal the four demands of Presi-
dent McKinley's first communications,
and suggests an immediate suspension
of hostilities On the other hand,
others affirm that it is prefaced by an
account of the origin of the war tend
ing to prove that, as Spain was in nc
sense the aggressor, she ought not to
be expected to pay war indemnity
either in money or territory.
Though the king, according to the
constitution, has the right to declare
war and make peace, any cession ot
national territory requires the Sanction
of the cortes, and any minister consent
ing to such cession without this sane
ton is liable, according to the code, tC
imprisonment for life. 1t will be neces
sary, therefore, to convolie the cortes
some time before the treaty of peace il
ratified, but the government has no
yet decided at what stage of the pro
ceedings this necessary formality viii
be observed.
"In some well informed Quarter
doubts are expressed as to whether thu
Spanish note will be dispatched L
Washington quite as soon is general.
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