The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-06
OFFICIALS CONFIDENT
That Spain Will Not Reject Our
Governments Demands.
The DELAY CAUSES NO SURPRISE

Cuba Before the Officers Protested
| Washington, Aug. 6.-When the presi.
dent closed his official work yesterday
he had not received the reply of Spain.
nor any intimation as to how soon the
reply might be expected The French
ambassador was not heard from
throughout the day, and he, as well
as our government officials. was wait
ing for Spain to give the final response.
Two days had passed without a word
| officially from Spain, either in the way
of inquiry or response. From this 1t is
clear that the Spanish cabinet fully
realizes the time for argument, coun-
ter proposals or modification has gone
by. and that there is only one simple
Issue to be met, namely. whether the
American terms will be accepted as q
whole or rejected. There Is. indeed.
reason to believe that the Spanish gov
ernment has been directly advised that
the stage of the negotiations is past.
and that only the matter of an answer.
favorable or unfavorable, remains.
That the answer has not come quick
ly is no matter of surprise to the Of
ficials here, for they realize the tre-
mendous responsibility which Premier
Sagasta must assume in making these
peace terms sufficiently palatable to
the Spanish people and the political
leaders to permit it's acceptance with
out an internal convulsion. In his con-
ferences with the president and Sec
retary Day the French ambassador
has brought out clearly the great task
before Sagasta. 1t seems to be the gen.
eral view here that II the premier and
his ministry were untrammeled an ac-
ceptance would come at once, and that
the preliminary peace arrangement
would be now closed. But In preparing
the Spanish public, and In guarding
against political agitations hereafter by
public men of other parties, the Mad
rid officials are taking time for mis-
sionary work not only among them
selves. but among all political and So
cial elements. The best informed per-
sons here fix next Monday as the time
when the United States government
is likely to receive Spain's final answer,
but this Is simply conjectural, for there
is not the slightest means of konwing
the tendencies at Madrid.
There is the same confident belief
among the officials that there has been
from the first that Spain's answer will
be reluctant but not the less con-
elusive acceptance. At the same time
1t was suggested in some quarters that
there was a possibility that the dis
closures made by the American general
at Santiago concerning the serious con-
dition 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 general
ever got outside the borders of the
United States, owing to the strict CEN
sorship imposed. Moreover, all the evil
dence reaching the officials here indi-
Gates that Spain Is weary with the con-
flict and is convinced beyond the slight
est question of the hopeessness of fur
ther opposition.
The day would not have been re-
markably dull at the war department,
conside-.is the existence of state of
war; had 1t not been for the publica-
tion in the newspapers of the round
robin signed by the military command
ers at Santiago, and the short but
sharp correspondence between Colonel
Roosevelt and Secretary Alger. These
afforded food for much discussion
among all classes of officials, and the
belief was general that there are to be
further interesting chapters in the cor
respondence, provided 1t ia deemed
harmless to the best interests of the
army to allow further publication.
In proof Of the allegation that the
war department had bestirred itself
to succor the unfortunate army In San
tiago before the united protest was
made. the following statement is given
out by the secretary Of war regarding
the shipment Of troops north from San
tiago:
Until quite recently it was supposed |
that there was yellow fever epidemic
in Santiago, and 1t was not believed
that 1t would be safe to send north
shiploads Of men largely infected with
yellow fever. The disease. 1t was be-
lieved. would spread rapidly on ship
board and result in the death and
burial of many at sea.
"On the 2Sth ult. the secretary Of war
telegraphed to General Shafter that as
soon as the fever subsided the men of
his command would be moved north
to a camp that has been selected for
them on Montauk Point. On the 30th
General Shafter telegraphed: 'Mada
known secretary of wars telegram that
troops would be moved north as soon
as fever subsidies and 1t had very
good effect on the men,
"When, however, the true condition
was nada known order iS- |
sued to General Shafter to move his
command north as rapidly as pos
,ible, and all ships in the quartermas-
.er's service possible to get to San
iago were sent there, and the great
liners, ST. Paul and st. Louis. were
also ordered there All this was done
before the communication signed by
feneral Shafter and his generals was
'eceived. and before Colonel Roone-
yelt's letter was published
"Over 1850 surgeons are at Santiago,
md It's immune nurses have been sent
here, besides the usual hospital corps
hat always attends such an army.
There have been less deaths in Sam
iago by yellow fever than by typhoid
ever in any camp Of the same size in
he United States"
Only illegally Married Wives,o
Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 6.-The steam
r San Juan, which went to Manzanillo
nder flag Of truce to bring here the
antilles of the Spanish officers who re-
1forced General Linares in Santiago
efore the capitulation, returned yes
arday. bringing So persons, the wives
nd children Of the officers who came
18th General Escarios. Originally 1t
'as said that there were rs persons to
e brought, but General Toral sent two
fficers to see that only the legally
larried wives ccme, which reduced
lie number to So.
Dyspepsia Cured. ShilOh's Vitalizcr i'm
ediateIy relieves Sour Stomach. Cor ing
, Of Food Distress, and Is the great kid |
" and liver remsdy. Sold by N B. Dan. /
Second and Market streets. c