The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-08-08
NOT OFFICIAL
Washington Government Has No
Definite News of Spanish
Acceptance.
The Madrid Dispatches, However,
Leave Little Room For
Doubt.
Conclusion Of Peace Likely to
Bring About a Change in the
Spanish Cabinet,
SO That All Parties Will Jointly
Take the Responsibility Be.
fore the People.

WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-The answer
OF Spain to the American terms on
which peace may DO restored was ex.
pected at almost any moment in off. :.
clal circles, and the brief press dis
patches from Madrid stating that tho
answer was an acceptance, increased
the tension over what was looked upon
as the elimination Of the negotia ons.
During the early hours Of the day the
state department had not received any
direct information as to Spain's answer
or as to when it would come. Nor was
there any at the French embassy. The
ambassador had made no arrange.
men.s for call at the White
House or at the state department.
and none Of the officers Of the EN-.
bassy had conferred with the officials
here since the discussion Of last
Wednesday night. Everything was in
condition Of waiting and expectancy.
The report from Madrid that cabinet
council would go over the reply, indi.
Gated that it nigh, not be dispatched
to Washington until late in the day.
A report was current during the day
that the embassy received a communi.
cation at an early hour, the inference
being thati was Spanish reply, but
this, it can be stated positively, is not
correct, for up to midday Spain had
given no official intimatiou Of her an.
swer to any quarter III Washington.
| The fact that the Spanish cabinet
will go over the reply raises the posi-.
bi!ity OF cabinet dis cussion and pro-
longation Of the time before the an.
swer Is submitted.
Giving Sagasta Plenty Of Time.
All the Madrid reports show that
Premier Sagasta Is endeavoring to
reconcile the various political elements
and leaders as far as possible. and there
Is disposition among officials here to
give him time for this difficult, and del.
icate moulding Of public and political
sentiment up to the point Of an accept.
ance Of the American demands. This
view is strengthened among officials
here by the fact that all our war prep.
arations are going steadily forward.
the campaign in Porto Rico is progress.
ing with uninterrupted success; the
hands Of Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt are being strengthened at
Manila. and the conditions at Santiago,
so serious when the American generals
united in their statement, is being
promptly and energetically overcome.
For this reason it is felt that every day
Of delay is the loss Of Spain. and that
Sagasta. in the interest OF his country,
will make the answer as speedily as
internal conditions will permit.
stli Chance for Delay.
II the Madrid dispatches are fully
realized by acceptance Of the American
terms. then the authorities feel that
nothing remains but the routine Of con.
Guiding the formalities Of peace. In
some quarters. apprehension is ex.
pressed as to the word acceptance.
1t is pointed ont that II the acceptance
is simply an affirmative one OF oil the
American peace terms, every chance
for delay and negotiation is at an end.
But if the acceptance is qualified in
any way by a condition that certain
privileges be granted or rights con.
coded. then there is still the possibility
Of further discussion. The Madrid ad.
vices are SO unqualified in stating that
the American terms are accepted that
there seems to be little chance Spain
will attach any conditions to her &C.
ceptance. and yet only tho answer it.
self, final, unconditional and conclu.
sive. can make it clear that the last
chance Of controversy is removed.
There will be little surprise here II
the elimination of the peace arrange.
ment brings about change in the
Spanish cabinet, not 50 much BY q
crisis, 40 by . concerted movement
among the leaders to institute cabinet
representing all elements, including the
army, capable Of taking the responsi.
bility before the country OF the accept.
ance OF the American terms.
Rushing Work ON fr" J~cs'ies.
READING, Pa, Aug. S-Notwith.
standing peace negotiations the Car.
nenter steel works are working on
shells and projectiles under the
heaviest pressure from the government
since the war started. The inferen ce
IA.