The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-15
A PEACE MOVE
Queen Regent of Spain Issues a
Decree
Suspending Individual Rights
Gnder the Constitution.
WANTS FULL POWER
To Suppress Rebellion and Dis
content
During Pendancy of NegOtia-
tiOns For Peace.
CARL1STS FURIOUS.
One Minister Says Overtures
Will Be Made
Before Sunday on a Basis AL
ready Determined.

Madrid, July 15.-The Official Gazette
today publishes a royal decree tenn
poParily suspending throughout the
Spanish peninsula the rights of individ-
uals as guaranteed by the constitution.
The decree adds that the government
will render an account to parliament of
the use it may make of this measure
The publication of the decree is ac-
cepted as proof that peace negotiations
are actually in progress.
The government wishes to have full
power to suppress evidences of discon-
tent or rebellion which might appear
The CarIists are furious and are sure
to attempt to create trouble
One minister expressed the conviction
that official overtures for peace will
be made before Sunday and there is
reason to believe France has offered her
services to Spain and that Spain has
drawn up conditions for peace which
offer a basis of negotiation
Premier Sagasta is quoted as saying
that Spain wants peace, but that "it
must be an honorable peace, as Spain
deserves. The army the premier is
said to have added, 'is anxious to re-
sist to the last but the government can
not consent to such a useless sacrifice.
Had we our fleet the situation would
be very different
End Thought to Be Near.
Washington, July 15.-There have
been no overtures for peace received by
any United States embassy or legation
abroad, or by the department of state
at Washington. That was the state
ment made by a member of the cabinet,
who is thoroughly familiar with the
conditions as they exist today and was
called forth by various reports that
ranged all the way from an announce
ment that the basis for a treaty of
peace already had been reached, to the
more guarded declaration that the
Spanish government had conveyed in
an unofficial manner to the United
States government an intimation of
some of the concessions it was prepared
to make to secure peace.
The prospects for the speedy inStitu-
ton Of peace negotiations have bright
ened considerably since the collapse of
the Spanish resistance at Santiago. The
moral effect of that victory for the
American arms is beginning to be felt
in the direction of peace. If the cab
met has discussed terms of peace up to
this moment, the fact has not been
divulged by any responsible source.
Now and then one of the government
agents in Europe communicates some
message summing up European gossip
and naturally in view of the earnest
desire for the restoration of peace en-
tertained by the European powers this
gossip tends to bear out the belief that
peace negotiations are at hand. The
president hopes so. He has made no
cOncealment of his earnest desire for a
SnRpdV Termination war Such
a position on his part is entirely recon
ciliable for the earnest purpose to pros
ecute the war until its original purpose
has been attained Before that time
any OvertureS for peace must come
from Spain.
The news from Madrid that Spain
had been practically placed under mar
tial law is regarded as a most hopeful
sign. 1t is construed to mean a purpose
on the part of the Spanish government
to bind up in advance the turbulent
elements in Spain that might be expect
ed to take advantage of the public dis
content caused by the heavy sacrifices
the government must make to obtain
peace, in order to cause a revolution
and overthrow the monarchy. 1t is re-
allied here by the officials that every
day will bring forth a fresh crop of
peace rumors, few with any foundation
but their very circulation and the cred
ence gained for them is regarded as an
encouraging sign of a general belief
that the Spanish cause is near it's end
Mckinley is Hopeful.
Washington, July 15.-President Nc
Kinley gave expression today for
strong hope for an early peace. Re
spending to congratulations on the sue
cess of the Santiago campaign, he said:
L hope for early peace now" In the
course of other interviews. he gave
voice to the same sentiment, not ex-
pressing his entire belief, but a strong
hope that peace would come. The dis
patch from Madrid announcing the roy
al decree suspending individual rights
in Spain was quickly communicated to
the president and was read at the cab
met meeting.
As in Madrid, it was generally taken
to mean the imminence of a move of
the Spanish government for a cessation
of hostilities. It was received with this
] Interpretation with great satisfaction.
! But in the absence of a definite official
assignment of Spanish motive, the ad-
| ministration, while strongly hoping for
| it, is not entirely confident of so salts
| factory an outcome.
One member of the cabinet expressed
/ his opinion that the Issuance of the de-
| cree at this time, indicated the end was