The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-08-12
WAITING AN ANSWER
Spain Taking Her Time on Accept
ing the Peace Terms.
THE GREAT TASK BEFORE SACASTA.
The Spanish Premier Has to Prepare His
Countrymen and do Missionary Work
Among the Political LEADER Belief
That spain VIII Accept Terms.

Washington, Aug. 6-When the
president closed his official work yes
terday he had not received the reply
OF spain, nor any intimation as TO how
soon the reply might be expected. The
French ambassador had not been heard
from throughout the day and he, as
well as our government officials, was
waiting for Spain to give the final re-
Spouse. Two days have now passed
without word officially from Spain,
either in the way of inquiry or re-
Spouse From this it is clear that the
Spanish cabinet fully realizes the time
for argument, counter-proposals or
modification has gone by, and that
there is only one simple issue to be
net, namely, whether the American
terms will be accepted as a whole or
rejected. There is, indeed, reason TO
believe that the Spanish government
has been directly advised that the stage
of negotiations is past and that only
the matter of an answer, favorable or
unfavorable, remains.
That the answer has come quickly
is no matter of surprise TO the officials
here, for they realize the tremendous
responsibility which Premier Sagasta
must assume in making these peace
terms sufficiently palata BILE TO the Span
ish populace and the political leaders to
permit their acceptance without an
internal convulsion. In his confer
ences with the president and Secre-
tary Day the French ambassador has
brought out clearly the great task be-
fore Sagasta. 1t seems to be the gen.
eral view that, If the premier and his
ministry were untrammeled, an &C
ceptance would come at once and that
the preliminary peace arrangement
would be now closed. But in prepar-
ing the Spanish public and in guard
ing against political agitations here
after by public men of other parties
the Madrid officials are taking time
for missionary work not only among
themselves, but among all the pop.
ulace and secret elements.
The best informed persons here fix
next Monday as the time when the
United States government is likely TO
receive SPANS final answer, but this
is simply coniectnral, for there is not
the slightest means of knowing the
tendencies at Madrid. 1t might come
to-day. but, in the event of its coming
late in the day or on Sunday, the re-
Spouse would not be communicated to
the government until Monday. There
is the same confident belief among
officials that there has been from
the first that SPANS answer will
be reluctant, but not the less
conclusive, acceptance. AT the
same time, it was suggested
in some quarters that there was pos
sibility the disclosures made by the
American generals at Santiago con.
corning the serious condition of our
troops might be straw at which the
Spanish cabinet would grasp. This is
quite doubtful, however, as there is a
question whether the statement of the
American generals ever got outside
the borders of the United States, ow-
ing TO the strict censorship imposed.
Moreover, all evidence reaching the
officials here indicate that Spain is
weary with the conflict and is con-
vinced beyond the slightest question
of the hopelessness of further opposi-
ton.