Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1898 — PLEADS FOR PEACE. [ARTICLE]

PLEADS FOR PEACE.

OVERTURES MADE BY AMBASSADOR GAMBON. Eagasta Realizes that War Is Hope* lea* for His Country—Terms Not Sug-gested-Host: lit lea Are to Be Con* tinned Until Spain Gives Up. Spain on Her Knees. Washington special: x Poor old Spain is on her knees at last, bogging for peace. She has had enough of war and cries quits. She has laid aside her Castilian pride and approached the White House as a suppliant. She has lost her hau. htincM and assumed a proper spirit of humility. She has not had the presumption to suggest terms. She has humbly asked whether the President will deign to discuss terms of peace and end a war disastrous to Spain and full of glory fol the United States. The Madrid authorities have finally realized that it is useless to keep the Spanish people longer in ignorance of the actual results of the war. The fulminations of bombastic Blanco have come to be regarded at their true worth in the capital of the peninsula. They have ceased -o delude even a small portion of the Spanish people. Premier Sagasta, appreciating the utter hopelessness of the situation from his standpoint, comes now holding out in one hand the olive branch, while with the other he presents.a petition for clemency to President McKinley. There was an important conference at the White House Tuesday afternoon. The participants in that meeting, tvhich is likely to become famous in history, were President McKinley, Secretary Day, M. Cambon, the French ambassador, and M. Thiebault, the first secretary of the French legation. The conference lasted for more than an hour, and when it adjourned the American Secretary of State made the following official announcement: “The French ambassador, on behalf of the Government of Spain and by direction of the Spanish minißter*‘of foreign affairs, presented to the President this afternoon at the White House a message from the Spanish Government looking to the terBsinatioa of the war and settlement of terms of peace.” When it became known throughout the eity that Spain bad formally sued for peace there was more excitement in diplomatic and administration circles in Washington than there has been at any time since the news came that Santiago had surrendered to the American forces. The indication* from Madrid are that Spain will try to negotiate peace, on the basis of the independence of Cuba. That proposition will be met with the demand that Spain shall withdraw from the Western hemisphere, where her government of colonies has been so ruinous and cruel as to engender strife and anarchy. She must withdraw from both Cuba and Porto Rico. As to the Philippines, the administration is ngt qeady to declare its policy or formwlatero demand. That will depend largely upon the situation at Manila after the surrender, and on public opinion in this country. . ° There will be no armistice pending any negotiations that may be entered upon. The campaign in Porto Hie© will be pushed with the same vigor. Gen. Miles is in Porto Rico, and the American flag has be<»n"unfurled there. That campaign will continue. The war there will be waged until Spain surrenders the island and withdraws her army. Porto Rico must be under the dominion of the Stars and Stripes and remain there. No peace negotiations jjjl be considered that do not concede that island to the United States in part payment of the indemnity which Spain must pay for this war. It is suspected that Spain made this sudden move to check the Porto Rico campaign. If so it will be a flat failure.

KAISER 18 FRIENDLY. Send* Message to the President A taunt the Philippines. President McKinley received a message from Emperor William of Germany which is understood to be of a highly gratifying character, in view of the disquieting rumors of German action at Manila. The message was communicated to the President by the German ambassador. It was read to the cabinet, and was considered to be of such importance that its tenor has been guarded with unusual care. All that is known of it is that it was satisfactory, and leaves the impression that the situation at Manila, as far as the Germans are concerned, may be left to Admiral Von Diedrichs and Admiral Dewey, without the necessity of the German or the United States Governments taking up the case in mutual representations. COURT-MARTIAL FOR SOLDIERS. Riot in Camp at Jacksonville to Be Rigidly Investigated. At Jacksonville, Fla., several members of the First North Carolina and First Wisconsin regiments are in the guard honse, under arrest, and will probably be court martialed for participating in a riot which nearly caused bloodshed in the eamp. The trouble began when a North Carolina soldier broke through the Wisconsin ranks and started a fight. Comrade# of the Southern soldier came up with rifles and were met with loaded arms by the Wisconsin men. The free fight, in which heads were cracked and many blows struck, was brought to an end by the Second Virginia regiment interfering. WILL REORGANIZE THE FLEET., Auxilary Vessels to Be Kept Available for Service. When the naval auxiliary fleet goes out of commission it will be in such shape that if at any time in the future it should be needed again it can be placed in ser- s vice at forty-eight hours’ notice. Captain J. R. Bartlett, its chief, is anxious to thoroughly reorganize the service, and this is about the only reason the fleet is being kept up. SPANISH DESERTERS GIVE UP, Say a General Feeling of Despair Prevails Among the Enemy. The United States gunboat Castine brought to Key West three deserters from the Spanish gunboat Aguila. These men are Spaniards and their desertion and voluntary surrender to the American forces is perhaps the best indication of the existing state of affairs in Cuba. Bad treatment, poor food and the general de■pair prevailing in the Spanish naval force caused tfieir desertion. 1 1 re I .» y* .