The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-11-17
SPAIN rs WEAKENING.
aAD NEWS FROM cAPTAIN-GENERAL
OF THE PHILIPPINES.

the Rebels Seem to be Getting the Upper
Hand of Gen. Rios in the Island OF
visayas. spaiu's Ministry Are Now Desir-
Gus that the Negotiations Should End
Madrid. Nov. 16. via Biarritz, France.
General Rios, governor of the Visay-
as islands and acting captain general
II the Philippines, has telegraphed to
the government that the insurrection
q rapidly spreading in the Visayas, its
increase being so great that he consid-
.rs it prudent to maintain a purely de-
eensive attitude instead of shedding
more Spanish blood.
General Rios gives a still graver as
pect to the situation, the circumstan-
:es of which are not made public by
he government.
The opinion of the ministers is di-
Stded, although majority of the men,
aers of the cabinet are really anxious
hat the affairs with which the Paris
asaee commissioners are conserned
khall END quickly.
In the meantime the government has
ing him to endeavor by all possible
means to quell the rebellion.
The queen regent is dIsmayed at
seeing the turn events have taken, and
public opinion is manifestly in favor
II q speedy termination of the Paris
negotiations.
Mod,,il Nov
yesterday granted an audience to Gen.
.ral Augustin, formerly captain gener-
n of the Philippines, and Admiral
kontoio, who commanded the Spanish
squadron destroyed by Admiral Dew
sy's ships in Manila bay.
The French ambassador also had a
conference with Duke Almodovar del
Rio.
Absolutely no news has been receiv.
nd from the Spanish commission at
Paris.
Berlin, Nov. 16.-A dispatch to the
Cologne Gazette from Madrid says that
according to trustworthy information
received there from London, Lord SAL
tsbury is disposed to act in concert
with the United States, and that the
endorsements which are being sent to
Gibraltar make the British policy seem
suspicious.
1t is quite generally the opinion that
tor this reason the government ought
to make peace with the Americans
Forthwith, before England has an op-
1ortunity to put her finger in the pie.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 16.-It Is
earned that an informal discussion of
the Philippines question took place
before the adjournment of the cabinet
meeting yesterday. The administra-
ton has reason to believe that some
thing definite will be learned to-day.
rs to the intentions of the Spanish
commissioners with regard to the Am
srican demands. The United States
will not wait much longer and Spain
must therefore act at once or the AM
erican commission will promptly pre-
sent an ultimatum.
Official information has reached the
department of state and the president
that a committee representing the
French creditors Of Spain is largely re-
sponsible for the delay of the Spanish
commission in making reply to the
United States through its efforts to
have provision made for the assump-
tion of the Philippine bonded debt. We
are able to state on official authority
that the United States government has
1atly refused to assume any portion
If any debt, and that this determina-
tion will be adhered to. The payment
sf cash price for the islands may be
arranged, but no debt will be assumed
~ the United States. That decision is
final
ninnle.. Sa..s LNa Rexisio4.