Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-04-16
WAR NEWS or THE WEEK.
Summarized for the Benefit of Busy
People.

Summarized for the Benefit of Busy
People.
SUNDAY.
The Spanish Government yesterday
decided to offer an armistice to the in
surgents with view to settling. the
Cuban question. General Blauco has
been ordered to make the necessary
overtures to the insurgents. This &C
ton on the part Of the Sagasta Cahi-
net was taken under pressure by the
concert of powers, which guaranteed
that the present dynasty should not
be overthrown if the people of Spain
started an uprising on account of the
concession. But if this armistice does
not include the withdrawal of the
Spanish troops from the Island of
Cuba, together with the promise that
Spain will permit the people of Cuba
to decide on their own government. it
will not be recognized by the United
States, and President McKinley's
plans for a naval demonstration
against Havana this week will not
be changed. This proposed armistice
must be agreed to by General Gomez
to be effective, even should the United
! States keep hands off, but Delegate
Quesada announces that the insur-
gents will, under no circumstance, ac-
cept an armistice, and letter from
General Gomez indorses this position.
The President is firm for Cuban indie
pendence.
MONDAY.
Easter Sunday brought promise of
peace with Spain, through possible
agreement between Spain and the in
surgents upon an unconditional ar
mistice leading to permanent settle
ment, but in view of the fact that he
did not know what the insurgents
would do about it, President McKin-
| ley, after two three-hour cabinet
meetings, announced that the message
which he had prepared, recommend
ing armed intervention, would go to
Congress today noon, with an addi-
ton setting forth the substance of the
Spanish note delivered by Senior Polo
with the statement that the action of
the insurgents will determine whether
it affords means of peaceful settle
ment.
Unless the insurgents promptly ac-
cept the ariuistice and enter under it
upon negotiations leading to perma-
nent settlement with Spain, the Presi-
dent desires Congress to go right
ahead and give him authority for
armed intervention without recogn IL
ing the independence of the Cuban
Republic, as he now expects Congress
to do, and unless by the time he is
ready to act tie Cubans are on the
way to an agreement with the Span
ish Government, he will proceed to
carry out his policy.
The Spanish Government, through
its Minister at Washington, Senior
Polo de Bernabe, last night delivered
an important official document to the
State Department, stating that an
armistice which the Queen Regent of
Spain had commanded General Blan-
co to proclaim today was without con-
ditions (the vital point; that her
Majesty's Government had granted
liberal institutions 70 the island Of
Cuba which the coming Cuban Parli-
ament would develop. recalling the
coincidence and sympathy expressed
by the Queen Regent and her Govern
ment on the disaster of the Maine and
the horror this disaster had occasioned
in Spanish hearts, and appealing to
the courtesy and sense of justice of
the United States Government to en-
Tighten public opinion upon the atti-
tude of Spain.
The note also repeats the offer OF
the Spanish Government to submit
the Maine question to experts desig-
mated by the maritime powers of the
world.
TUESDAY.
A SOLDERING effect was produced up
on some of the radicals in Congress
by the Presidents Cuban message;
and it was still further and more sig
nifcantly effective in dividing those
who have been most Justify shouting
| for an immediate war with Spain re-