Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-14
NO PEACE MOVES.
SPANISH GOVERNMENT not TAKING
PART IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS.
SPANISH VICTORY Avail
Either This, to Lower American
Pride, or Another Disaster to
spain-Our Propositions Inadmis-
sibie-Cnbfnet Crisis Hanging Fire.

! MADRID. July B.-Noon.-The govern
ment continues its assurances TO the Of
feet that the ministers are not takin,
part in any peace negotiations which ma,
be proceeding
The Correspondence Qndependent anC
semi-ofiiciaD says: There Is an enormou,
difference between the concessions which
Spain is willing to make and the demand,
Of the Americans.
Peace is impossible until Spanish vic
tory has lowered the pride of the Ameri
cans or another disaster forces Spain tc
make the most ample concessions.
| STILL HANGING FIRE.
| LONDON, July 13.-The Madrid CORE.
spondent Of the Times says: THE crisis
hangs fire. The ministers still meet in
council, and the difficulties of retirement
seem even greater than the difficulties OF
remaining in office.
| The Conservatives are not prepared to
| accept office, and it is hard to imagine a
Liberal Cabinet without an undisputed Lii
| beral leader.
The logical conclusion Is that Senior
Sagasta must accept the responsibility OF
deciding whether or not to open peace ne
gotiations
What is required is that he should
make up his mind on that essential point.
II he resolutely adopts a peace policy,
nearly all HIS colleagues will support him.
and for those who do not substitutes can
be found. If. on the contrary, he decides
10 continue the struggle he must largely
remodel the Cabinet. For the moment he
appears 10 hesitate between the two
courses, perceiving sclearly. no doubt. by
the light of his long experience Of politi-
cal life, the dangers Of both.
IN FAVOR OF PEACE.
ION the one hand, general public opinion
seems now decidedly in favor Of peace.
Nearly all the influential papers recog-
nize that the supplies in Cuba are not
nearly so great as was supposed; that
Porto Rico could not long resist a formid-
able attack; that, since America has
now obtained undisputed command of the
sea, Spain cannot longer assist her Colo
MES in their efforts against a powerful
invader. and that she will obtain better
conditions now than when her powers OF
existing are completely exhausted
"On the other hand, military circles
still favor holding out, and are beginning
20 use very violent war language The
three chief military organs all publish
articles urging resistance 70 the uttersost
and employing against the partisans of
peace terms of invectiye, which 1 refrain
from reproducing
II they represent faithfully the general
state of feeling in the army. L can un-
derstand at Seast one of the reasons why
Senior Sagasta hesitates 10 adopt a reso-
lutte peace policy.
In the course of his long political life,
Sagasta has lived under all Kinds Of gov
ernments-from represslve absolutism to
anarchial republicanism; and he has taken
an active part in more than one revolu-
ton No man is more capable Of gaug-
ing accurately the real Importance OF
any current Of public opinion and of
weighing accurately internal against e,.-
ternal dangers. His hesitation. however,
cannot continue much longer, for a ma
iority of his colleagues insist upon some
decision being taken without further de-
lay.
POLANIEJAS CUBAN WORK.
THE newspapers to-day quote long ex-
tracts from an important work on cuba
published b. General Polaviaja, who spent
twenty years there rising from the rank
Of sub-lieutenant to be captain-general, |
besides filling with distinction several i'm |
portant civil posts, including the governor |
1t Is rather surprising to find |
from his correspondence that his political |
views differed radically from those Of Off
cial circles in Madrid.
AT a comparatively early period Gene
raj Polavleja arrived at the conclusion
hat Cuba could not remain permanently
4 Spanish Colony, and when this convic-
ton ripened he wrote endless letters 10
private and official friends urging the ne
cessity Of making timely preparations
or an amicable separation.
''1n 1879 when Governor OF Puerto Prin-
ipe. he wrote General Blanco, explaining
hat the Cubans would never abandon
heir efforts for independence, and the
United States would never relax its
schemes for annexation. He argued,
therefore,. that Spain ought TO prepare to
rant independence in order to avoid be-
ng elected violently with loss to the ma
ionh interests and stain to the national
lonor.
when he became Governor General.
'olavieja, perceiving the ever-growing
LANCER Of an American attack, urged the
government to build six cruisers and
wenty floating batteries for the protec-
ion of the Cuban coast. His policy, IN
hort. was to grant friendly independence
$ soon as possible but so long as Spain
etaned the island. to be strong enough
0 suppress instruction and TO resist
oreign INVASION"
BLANCO STILL PROTESTS.
LONDON. July 13.-A special dispatch
rom Madrid, published this afternoon. |
lys Captain-General Blanco has replied
} the Spanish Governments reiterated
presentations In regard 10 peace by en-
rgetically protesting against the idea OF
eace
The Captain-G says the report
nat the government has resolved to ne
Dtiate with the United States has had
eplorable effect. especially among the
oops. He adds that a deputation OF Off
RS chosen by the army had begged him
convey TO the government their pro-
SITS against any propositions for peace,
aiming that nothing can Justify a ces-
Ition OF hostilities at present. Contlnu- .
z, General Blanco says:
1.-THE army has only just come into ac- I
on. and thus far cannot be said 10 have
ffered reverse, although opposed nu- I
erically to far stronger force The
'putation declares that so long as II is =
II conclusvely proved that the troops !.
e incapable Of successfully defending :
Iba. Spain cannot treat for peace with Z,
It dshonoring her army TO the eyes OF =
g world. The Cuban volunteers are even
ore violent opponents Of peace. They a
clare they Will not recognize any agree a
emit concluded under the present condi- \
ms, and that even deserted by Spain, n
ey will continue the war themselves"
THE WAR INDEMNITY. =,
LONDON. July 13.-The Star claims 10 '
in a position to state authoritatively :
at an active exchange of views occur !,
4 on Monday and Tuesday between the IL