The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-09
While President Mckinley Is Deter
mined the Liberated People Shall
Not BE Burdened with Debt.
NO CHANGE In CONDITIONS
THE ADMINISTRATION WILL STAND
BY THE TERMS FIRST OFFERED.
Trouble Probable If Spain Insists on
Immediately Withdrawing Her
Troops from the Island of Cuba.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Spain's reply to
the peace conditions of the United States
was received to-day by the French ambas-
sador, NJ. Cambon but was not deciphered
until late tonight, and at midnight indica-
tions were that it would not be presented to
President Mckinley before Office hours to-
morrow. A call at the White House shortly
before midnight revealed the fact that of
the Presidents Cabinet ministers only Sec
retary Alger was there, and that he had
been the only member of the official family
at the executive mansion during the even
ing. Secretary Day had not appeared. The
President was getting ready to retire and
the White House night force was leaving.
No official forecast of the reply is at hand,
but from high sources the information is
received that the acceptance of the Pres
ident's terms is not unconditional. The
statement is advanced, on apparently good
authority, that the Madrid government will
attach to its reply a stiff demand that the
Cuban war debt be included in the ques-
tions to go before the peace commission.
This Cuban war debt is a double-barreled
proposition. In it's entirety it is $3.50, ,OOO 900,
of which $155OOO,OOO is the unpaid balance
of the old debt of 1875 which, to the amount
of s. 100000, was saddled on the island un-
der duress. The remainder is the larger
part of the Spanish debt incurred in the at
N
was started three and a half years ago. 1t
is the $155, coo that Spain is supposed to
be insisting on being assumed by the new
cuban government. Two members of the
Cabinet are authority for the statement
that any such demand by Spain will be re-
jected point blank, and that under no cir
cumstances will President Mckinley toler-
ate the burdening of the liberated people of
Cuba with any old Spanish obligations.
Spain lost her chance of making that ar
rangement when she refused to surrender
the island without going to war. The Pres
ident is determined that the new born
numbered. The contention which Spain is
believed to be setting up may delay the fin
ish, but it can hardly defeat the pending
deal. Spain is too anxious for peace to let
that stand in the way long. Spains reply
will surely reach the White House to-mor-
row in time for Cabinet discussion. The
Cabinet will meet at IL o'clock.
The administration is anticipating trouble
in the reconstruction of Cuba, particularly
If Spain insists on promptly evacuating the
island or asks to be relieved of all response
bility for the government, except over such
small territory as may be needed for the
concentration and embarkation of her
troops. If this should be the condition, an
archy might reign if the Washington gov
ernment should fail to get garrisons prompt
ly into the cities and take hold without de-
lay. This possibility has been gravely con-
sidered by the President and his advisers
and they look on it as a serious problem
When they find they can return to their
homes without danger, the insurgents will
no doubt do so in great numbers, and then,
preserve order, there will be great danger
Of violence and disorder inspired by revenge
or malice. Garcia and other insurgent lead
ers have declared they will not recognize
any armistice which may be agreed on by
the Americans and Spaniards, and that they
will continue to kill Spaniards as long as
anv remain on tho leland