The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-08-12
SPAIN'S REPLY is HERE.
WIN Be Sem to the President as
Soon as Translated.
Length OF the Document Creates Sus-
picion--Probable Condition That Her
Acceptance BE Referred to
the Cortse.

WAsHINGTON, Aug. s.-SPain's reply
70 the peace proposals of the United
states was received at the French en-
hasSy this afternoon, and President Nc
hAinley expects it to be presented to HIM
by Ambassador CambOn tomorrow.
President Mckinley and Secretary
Day believe this reply is an acceptance
ot the terms proposed by the American
government as the basis of peace nego-
tiations, and that the war is accordingly
practically at an end.
Though believing that peace is as
sured, the administration is fully pre-
pared to carry on the war.
Should Spain's reply be rejection of
the terms proposed, or should It insist
upon substantial notifications in those
terms, the president viii break off ne
gotiations, the Eastern squadron will
be dispatched to Spanish waters under
command of Admiral Sampson, the war
will be prosecuted with the greatest
vigor in Porto Rico and the Philippines
and the organization of the great army
of invasion for the Havana campaign
will be pushed forward.
SO thoroughly convinced is the presi-
dent, however, that the Spanish reply
will be an acceptance of the terms pro-
posed in all their essential details, that
he is giving great deal of attention to
the composition of the commission
which will represent the United States
in tie final negotiations for peace.
To Be Five Commissioners.
) The president has already decided
that there shall be five representatives
of each country on the joint commits
sion. He realizes that Spain will put
forward her ablest men to negotiate
with the American representatives and
endeavOr to save some remnants of the
wreck of the Spanish colonies, and he
Is anxious to have the United States
represented by the best men he can
select. The men most seriously dis
cussed have practically all been men
7iOned. The two men as to whose Sc
lection there seems to be little doubt
are Secretary Day and Senator Allison.
There will, it is now understood, be
at least one member of the Supreme
Court on the commission, and Justices
Harlan and Brown are being considered.
Another name that is being discussed
in administration circles today is that
of Senator German of Maryland. Sena-
tor German, although Democrat, has
earnestly supported the president in
every movement looking to the prose
cutiOn of the war. sinking partisanship
below patriotism, and in some eases
placing himself in opposition to other
leaders of his party.
Very Firm, But May Yield.
While the president is firm in hls de-
termination that Spain must accept the
American terms without any change
whatever in their character, it is pos
sible that he may yield to Spain in
some minor and unimpOrtant detail
The time when Spain must evacuate
Cuba and Porto Rico is matter that
viii have to be arranged in some way.
The president expects this to be done
in the preliminary protocol to be drawn
up by Secretary Day and Ambassador
Cambon, but if Spain should make a
point of having it done by the commits
sion which will consider the Philippine
question, he might consent TO this ar
rangement.
One of the reports in circulation to-
night as to the Spanish answer is that.
while a general acceptance of the terms
proposed by this government, Spain de-
sires TO have the question of the time
and manner of evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico left to the commission. and
also desires to have an agreement that
4 H.a[ l., a 4
TO carry home with them their arms
and military supplies, and that the !
Spanish Notifications in the surround |
ing territory be dismantled, all the |
heavy guns being transported back to |
Spain. Although the president is dis |
posed to be lenient as to details, it is |
not certain that he would 60 SO far as
TO permit Spain to dismantle the forts
in Cuba and Porto Rico
Last of 1t Arrives.
The concluding portion of the Span
ish reply was received during the even.
ing, but it was not until late hour that
it was deciphered as a whole and gone
over by the ambassador. No effort was /
made to communicate it to the United /
States government tonight, beyond a
note to Secretary Day advising him that
the document had been received, but
not disclosing its contents.
1t is probable that the reply will be
delivered to the president before the
cabinet meeting tomorrow. There is
complete reticence in all quarters as to
the text Of the reply, but there is rea-
son to believe it is an unqualified ac-
ceptance of the American terms. but is
framed on the theory of accepting the
essentials and trusting to hoped-for
conciliatOry spirit on the part of this
government to moderate to some ex-
tent features which the Spanish gov
ernment seems to regard as unessential.