The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-03-31
THE PEACE PLANS.
Communications Passing Between
Woodfurd and State Department..

IA EhSE
Communications Passing Between
Woodfurd and State Department.
The Cuban question and the report
of the Maine court of inquiry were the
topics discussed at Washington last
Sunday, but so far as could be ascer-
tanned nothing conclusive was deter
mined, one Of the members of the cab
met saying subsequently that there
was nothing new or startling IN the
situation. line presence of Judge Day
would imply that there were advicss
from Minister Woodford, but further
than an acknowledgement that COM
munication is III progress between the
State Department and the minister,
nothing could be ascertained.
At the State, War and Navy Depart
ments during the earlier part Of the day
there was little semblsnce Of the Sab
bath. Chiefs of bureaus, clerks, mes
sengers and telegraph operators were
at work. Probably never since the
days of the late war have so many OFF,
cials gathered at the War and Navy
Departments on Sunday. Dispatches
that came over night regarding the
movements of ships, and other matters
were received and as many of them re-
quired prompt answers in the present
emergency, replies were forwarded. Sec
retary Long, however, did not appear 1t
the Navy Department during the day,
as most of the matters requiring stten-
ton were those that could as we'll be
attended to by bureau officers and their
assistants.
The developments in the Cuban situs-
ton indicate steady progress in the
negotiations between the government
of this country and that of Spain look
ing to the maintenance of peace for the
present at least. There is good au
thority for saying that SPANS present
wish IS to secure o cession of hostili-
ties in Cuba, rather than to engage in
q war with the United States, aud that
it is more than probable that the ne
gotiations between the government OF
the United States and the Sagasta
ministry will take that turn in the i'm
mediate future. The present Spanish
ministry has professed pacific dispo-
sition from the beginning, and the in
dications are strong now that it will
srail itself of the good Offices of the
United States to the fullest extent that
public opinion in Spain will allow, in
bringing to an end the hostilities in
Cuba.
To what extent the United States may
go In assisting Spain in her present de.
sign of securing an armis tica is not yet
determined, but the conservative ele-
ment IN the administration consider the
manifestation of this desire ep the part
of Spain for even o temporary peace, q
direct result of President Mckinley's
diplomacy, and they are naturally dis.
posed 10 contend that the Presiden.
should be left free for the present al
least to pursue policy which promises
much in the way Of preventing war be.
tween this country and Spain, and also
of bringing to close the hostilities in
Cuba. Hence there will be an effort Oh
the part of the peacefully inclined in
Congress to continue to hold that body
in check and to prevent inhammatory
utterances there until this promising
diplomatic lead may be exploited.
On the part of the administration, it is
stated that the development of the stu
alton will not require great length OF
time and hence that there will be no
extended delay. A policy has been full
ly determined upon by the President.
1t is to bring the Cuban war to close.
This will be accomplished by pointed
Intervention, if necessary, but it is con-
sidered far preferable that the end
should come Us the result Of peaceful
negotiations, than that it should be ac-
companied by hostile demonstrations
on the part of the United States. Hence
the disposition OF the President is to
give Spain fair opportunity to secure
an armistice with the Cubans, and to
allow her reasonable time in which
to come to an understanding with the
hostiles.
It can be stated upon high authority
that there has been no abatement of
the Presidents intention to see that
the war is terminated. when it is closed,
upon terms that will render the Cubans
practically free people. It is not be-
lieved that they would accept anything
less, or that the Americans would be
satisfied if we should encourage a SET
tlement that would not be acceptable to
the Cubans. If there should now be an
srmistice, it would bs with the conces-
sion made by Spain ct the instance Of
this country, that negotiations should
be opened Immediately with the
insurgents looking to the estab-
lishment OF permanent peace
upon these terms. 1t has long been the
hope of the administration to bring
Spain to the point of making prepare
tions of this character, as the basis of Q
settlement most satisfactory to all par-
ties, and it is hoped from Spain's atti-
tude that this time has arrived.
The friends Of the administration feel
that the situation is very delicate one,
and that much will depend upon the