The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-06

peace may be restored was expected al
most any moment in official circles to-
day and the brief press dispatches from
Madrid stating that the answer was an
acceptance increased the tension over
what was looked upon as the culmina-
tiOn of the negotiations. During the
early hours of the day the state depart
ment had not received any direct in
formation as to Spain's answer nor was
there any intimatiOn when it will come.
The same was true as to the French
embassy. The ambassador had made
no arrangement for a call at the White
House or the state department and
none of the officers of the embassy had
conferred with the officials here since
the discussion of last Wednesday night.
Everything was in a condition Of wait
ing and expectancy.
The report from Madrid that a cab
met council would go over the reply
this afternoon indicated that it might
not be dispatched to Washington until
late in the day. Secretary Day had
expected to go to Atlantic City this
evening to join Mrs. Day and he may
even yet carry out this plan unless
some official assurance reaches MIN
from the French embassy that the re-
Div will be forthcoming tonight A
reDOrt was current during the DAY JnaI
the embassy received a communication
at an early hour this morning, the IN
ference being that it was Spain $ re
ply, but this, it can be stated posl9Ve!y
is not correct for up to midday SPAN
had given no official intimatiOn OF her
answer to any quarter in washington
The fact that the Spanish cabinet viii
go over the reply this afternoon raises
a possibility of a ca binet discussion and
a prolOngatiOn of the time before the
answer is submitted. All the Madrld
reports show that Premier Sagasta IS
endeavOring to reconcile the various po-
1iticaI elements and leaders as far as
possible and there is disposition
among officials here to give him time
for this difficulty and deHcate mou1u-
ing of public and political sentiment up
to the point of an acceptance OF the
American demands
This view is strengthened among Off
cfaIs here by the fact that all our war
Dreparations are going steadily for-
ward. the campaign in Porto Rico IS
progressing with uninterrupted success
rT,a hands of Admiral Dewey and Gen
eraI Merritt are being strengthened at
Manila. and the conditions at Santiago
eo serious when the American generals
17nitad in their statement is being
rrOnDtIy and energeticalIy overcome
For this reason it is felt that delay is
+be loss of Spain, and that Sagasta IN
+ba interest of his own country VIII
make the answer as speedily as inter
nal conditions will permit
May Be Discussion.
If the Madrid dispatches are fully re
allied by acceptance of the American
terms then the authorities feel nothing
remains but the routine of concluding
the formalities of peace. In some
quarters apprehension is expressed as
to the word acceptance" It is point
ed out that if the acceptance is simply
an affirmative on all the American
Deace terms every chance for delay is
at end. But If the acceptance is qual-
fled in any way by a condition that
certain privileges be granted or rights
conceded then there is still a possIbil-
ity of further discussion. The Madrid