The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-03

suing for peace. The first step in that
direction was taken to-day, and it is
the beginning Of the end Of the war.
There mag be some fighting yet, but
tonight that does not seem likely.
While the negotiations have not pro
cccdcd far enough as yet to warrant
CESSATION Of hostilities. the indica-
,ions are that the stage will soon be
reached. All that has been officially
stated concerning the peace ovcrturcs
made through Nj. Cambon. the French
ambassador, this afternoon is included
in this brief bulletin which was given
out at the White House few minutes
before 5 o'clock: "rhc French ambas
sador, on behalf Of the Government Of
Spain, by direction Of the Spanish
minister for foreign affairs, presented
TO the President this afternoon at the
White House message from the
Spanish Government looking to the
termination of the war and the settle
mcnt of terms of peace
Though nothing official is given out
concerning this conference between
the French ambassador and the Prcsi-
dent, several other important facts are
known. Two questions were asked
the President. First, was this Gov
crnmcnt willing to entertain the sug-
gestion Of peace, and if SO would the
President indicate upon what terms
peace would be considered? TO both
Of these questions the President re-
piled in the affirmative This Govern
ment would entertain peace proposal,
and he would within few days indi-
cate upon what terms.
There was nothing more in the mes
sage delivered to the President than
IS covered by these two questions.
There were no suggestions Of terms by
SImin. Nothing of that kind could
have been expected, nor was expected.
1t is the feeling here that Spain has
taken the logical, natural means Of
securing the end she desires. She has
cried enough and asks her CO .queror
upon what terms he will quit. This
step on the part Of the enemy means
the beginning Of the end. The sug-
gestion of peace comes from the only
source from which it could be con.
sidered by this Government, and that
is from Spain herself There is no
outside interference, no mediation by
the Pope or the Powers, or anybody
else. In presenting the message of
che Spanish Government the French
ambassador is simply the medium or
channel of communication, and his
action does not in any sense mean that
his Government is suggesting the: it
Is time for us to quit. President Me-
Kinley made it clear to tho represen-
tatives of the Powers some time ago
that Spain must take the initiative in
any peace movement, and that the
rest Of Europe would be expected to
keep hands off. The altitude of this
Government from that time has been
clearly understood at the capitals of
Europe, and it has been respected.
This action on the part of Spain
was not expected, and yet it did not
create any great surprise, because Of
the peace talk emanating from Madrid.
1t came at the close Of day given
over largely to declarations from
official sources that there was no peace
in sight, and that none was expected.
This was the sentiment that prevailed
at the meeting Of the Cabinet, and the
same feeling was expressed at the
State department just few minutes
before Ambassador Cambon and his
first secretary called there on their
way to the White House. For about
half an hour the ambassador and the
Secretary Of State were with the Pres
ident. For some time after that the
President was with Judge Day alone,
and then Secretary Long and Score
tary Alger came over from the big
building, where their Offices are. 1t
was nearly S o'clock, after the situa-
tion had been discussed by the Presi-
dent and his three advisers for some
time, that the above statement of the
situation was given out.
Naturally all the talk has now turn
ed to possible terms on which peace
will be granted. The President did
not state when he would give formal
reply to Spain's message, except that
1T would be within few days.
The method Of procedure will be. Of
course, for this Government to state
its terms, and then Spain must say