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The Abbeville Chronicle. VOL. II. Sent by Spanish Government NEITHER ACCEDES NOR DE CLINES PROPOSITIONS. Makes Counter Argument- That Spain, Herself, Be Allowed To Make Terms. Spain’s official reply to President McKinley’s last demand in the Cuban situation was received in Washington Thursday night. An anxious party, comprising most of tho cabinet and several close friends of the admiuistra tion, waited until late in the evening in expectation of developmients. About half-past 10 o’clock the message began to arrive in cipher, and , the work , of translation was begun at once. It was officially stated, however, that no inti mation as to the nature of the reply could be divulged at the time. Among those at the white house where Senator Hanna, Secretary Al ger, Secretary Bliss, Assistant Secre tary of State Day, who dined with the president; Assistant Secretary of State Adee, to whom was confided the trans rition of the message; Senator Spooner and Senator Aldrich. There was an intensely expectant crowd of newspaper correspondents, larger than often gathered at the white house at night, waiting in the lobby outside the president’s office. But they were destined to disappoint ment, for after the telegraph instru ment in tlio adjoining offico had stead ily clattered "or half an hour Mr. For ter, the president’s secretary, ap peared with the announcement from Secretary Day that it was impossible to translate the message in time to give out any statement at that hour, All those who had been with the president were reticent on leaving the executive mansion, most of them de claring that they had not seen any of tho translation of the cipher dispatch, and that they had no idea of its pur port. A special dispatch from Washington to the New York World, timed 2 a. m. Friday, gives the following outline to the .. note presented ,, by Minister . — Mood- , ford: “simln Neither accede* to nor decline* President McKinley’s Propositions. “Shu makes counter argument that Spain should herself be allowed to propose terms as to wliat should he done regarding her own territory; that the United States should not do so.” Both committees . of congress dealing w ith foreign affairs were in session Thursday. The senate committee con tinued its examination of the report on the Maine and the house committee by a party vote refused to take any action on Cuba till Monday. The senate committee agreed to and Senator Lodge reported a bill appro priating $5,000,000 to purchase one or more of the Danish West India islands to be used for naval purposes. The senate committee had before it Captain Sigsbee, of the ill-fated Maine, and Captain Barker, Secretary Long’s naval aide. What these officers told the committee is treated confiden tially. There was a spirited debate in the house Thursday of a partisan nature, and its effect has been to solidify the parties—the republicans to await action by the president and the democrats to force the Cuban question to the front, The most important action taken by the navy department during the day was the determination to have the naval militia of the several states pre pared for immediate service should this he found necessary. The decision was the result of a conference of the naval strategic board. Letters were sent to the governors and to the adjutants general of the states where there are naval militia organizations, asking them to set in motion the machinery for drilling and equipping the state organizations promptly so they may be ready within a very few hours’ notice of a call to arms. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt has charge of all matters pertaining to the naval militia and he feeri the response to this request will be hearty and prompt. The officials express hope that there will be a unanimous senti ment on the part of employers to per mit such of their men as are members of the militia free opportunity to join their commands. SEVILLE, GA.. THURSDAY APRIL, . ISMS. SPAIN GIVEN LIMIT To Answer President's Note Demanding Cuban Independence. A Washington special says: The president assured a committee of sen ators who waited on him Wednesday afternoon that he had given Spaiu sixty liofirs to make reply to his note demanding independence. Spain cer tified her "intention of responding within the prescribed time, thus al lowing us to intercept the Spanish flo tilla should tho answer tie unfriendly. Tho Spanish government wired Wed nesday afternoon asking this govern ment if it would consider any other proposition to eoaso Hostilities save by the plan of total independence. The president has wired that this country would not. In anticipation of Spain’s reply Mc Kinley begged the republicans in con gress to wait one more day. Republi cans in tho house promised him to do so on his pledge that the matter would be brought to a focus. THREE MORE WARSHIPS I.eave Spanish Naval Station Headed In the Direction of Havana. A matter that caused a great deal of excitement among the officials at Washington Wednesday was the iu formation that had been received from United States Minister Woodford of the departure westward of a formid able Spanish fleet of three vessels. Naturally there was a disposition to criticise the action of Spain iu this particular in view of the many peace protestations that have been made by that country, and such action was re garded as auything but u frion d!y move. The ships sailed from Carthagena, a Spanish naval station on the Mediter ranean sea, and according to the min ister’s dispatch they were headed “westward.” This, it is said, is no doubted! v the most formidable array of vessels that has departed from Spain in this direction during the present crisis, and the presumption generally field by the navy department officials ; s that they are headed ultimately for Havana, and will be first heard of at the Canaries, SPAIN IS ALL ALONE. * Vl)t Probable That Any of the Power* Will Intervene. It was stated Wednesday in a high diplomatic quarter at Washington that the Spanish government within the last ten days had addressed a note to the great powers of Europe fully set ting forth the grave aspect of the con troversy with the United States and, at least inferentially, suggesting that the time was now opportune for Euro pean influence to be exerted, It is said this note has been the cause of activity at European capitals within the last few days in connection with Spanish American affairs. Up to tho present time, however, no actual step toward mediation or intervention bas been taken by any of the great powers, although' there is little doubt that France stands ready to take the initifttive if there is tho slightest evi dence that the United States govern ment will view such a move with fa vor. SENATOR EARLE EULOGIZED. Glowing Tribute* Paid By Senator* Mc I.aurin and Chandler. The tributes to tire late Senator jr ar [ e j n {fi e senate were of an unusual character. Senator McLauren made the opening memorial address. He was followed by Senator Chand i eIi 0 f New Hampshire, whose eulogy to tbe dead South Carolinian was one of the most beautiful delivered in re eeTi ^ years. Senator Tillman closed. other senators who spoke were Spooner, of Utah, Kenney, of Dela ware> an( 3 McEnery, of Louisiana, Senator Clay, of Georgia, spoke for a b alf bom . au q fii s eulogy to Earle was f u ji 0 f pathos and a beautiful tribute to bis iif e an d character, WOULD KILL LEE FIRST. __ Threat of Wholesale Butchery of Ameii can* In Havana Reported. The Ward steamer Vigilancia ar rived at New York Wednesday from Havana. The Vigilancia brings no news of a special nature except that it was commonly reported in Havana Spain that on a declaration of war on being made by the United States a wholesale murder of Americans in Havana will take place and Consul General Lee would be the first to be assassinated, CAR LISES CONSOLIDATED. Knoxville Ha* Now Only One System For Future Operations. It is stated definitely that C. C. Howell, who has been manager of the Knoxville Street Railway Company, will remain as manager of the Knox ville Traction Company, formed by the consolidation of three street rail ways and two electric light systems of the city, The deal was consummated at Bal timore Tuesday and consideration was $881,450. The purchaser was a syn ; dicate organized by Hamilton & Sons, of Baltimore, Baltimore Trust eorn pany, and Kauntze Bros., of New York, interested. IE DECIDES TO RESCIND THE 11EC0XCENTRAD0 ORDER. WILD SCENE IN THE HOUSE •'“liny, of Texas, Attempt* to Force Re publican* to Overrule Speaker Rued ami l*a«* a Cuban Resolution. The Spanish legation at Washington received a cablegram late Wednesday night from the governor general of Cuba saying that the captain general reported the pacification of the eastern provinces so far advanced that it had been decided to rescind the reconcen trado order in these provinces and allow all subjects of this decree to re turn to their homes in the country. To aid in the re-establishing of the reconceutrados upon their farms, the cablegram states, the government will grant them the protection of the Span ish military forces aumented by local relief committees to look after their immediate needs. Ecouemic kitchens, it says, are to be established to support the recon centrados while waiting for their first crons to mature, and they are to Vie furnished farming implements and seeds by the government. To supply them with ready money, such of them as are able, will be given employment upon public works, and it is asserted that these measures will result in the speedy rehabilitation in the rural por tions in the eastern provinces. A wild and uproarious scene oc curred in the house of representatives Wednesday when Mr. Bailey, the democratic leader, attempted to force the hand of the republicans upon a proposition to overrule the spenker and pass a resolution recognizing the independence of the Cuban republic. He was cheered on by the crowd in the galleries, but the members of the majority refused to support him. They were rallied by two of the leading ad vocates of armed intervention, and the speaker himself, from the chair made an indirect appeal to his party associates to stand firm, at the same time intimating that if their impatience was curbed a little longer they would have the opportunity they coveted. The scene throughout was most dra matic and the members and the spec tators in the galleries were wrought up to a high pitch of excitement. Mr. Bailey offered the following resolution as a privileged question: Resolved, by the senate and house of rep resentatives, That the heroic struggle of the Cuban people against the force of arms and the horrors of famine has shown them worthy to he free, and Second, The United States hereby recog nizes the republic of Cuba as a free and in dependent state. Mr. Boutelle immediately made (lie point of order that the resolution was not privileged, and upon that Mr. Bai ley demanded to be heard. He de manded that the subject with which the resolution dealt was too serious and the occasion too important to be hastily disposed of. He insisted he had a Tight to present the resolution under the rules and rulings, and the responsibility must rest with tho ma jority if it was ruled ojit of order and the ruling sustained. He called at tention to the fact that in the fifty tli : rd congress, when Mr. Crisp was speaker, Mr. Boutelle, who now made the point of order that this resolution was not privileged, presented a resolu tion of a similar character relating to Hawaii, which the speaker held was privileged, but must go to a. commit tee. Against that latter ruling an appeal wus taken and tho whole republ ican side had voted against the bill on the appeal. AVhen he said that at the head of [the list of distinguished re publicans who voted on that ocacsion was the honorable speaker of this house, the democrats went into raptu ous applause. After the announcement of the vote Mr. Bailey asked what became of the resolution, and the speaker replied t' at it would not go the committee on foreign affairs, hut if introduced in the regular way, through the box, it would be referred. Mr. Bailey appealed from the deci sion, but the speaker said it was a par liamentary inquiry that Mr. Bailey had made and that no appeal could be taken. A DEAL WITH DENMARK. Report That Our Government Has Bought Islands and War Ships. A special frqm Washington says that there is some reason to beffhve that the government has made a most im portant deal with a foreign nation which will have a most important bear ing upon our relations with Spain. It is said that negotiations have been concluded for the cession to this coun try of the three Danish islands in the West Indies—St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. It is also understood that Denmark sells to this country two cruisers and three torpedo boat destroyers. MADRID I’HE.SS IS HKLLICOSE. Ndw.ipftporn «ro Convinced That Conflict Will Como. Tho Madrid new s aptrs regal’d Avar as inevitable. They think General Stewart L. Woodford has communi cated a linal answer ti the govern ment. The Liberal says: “It is clear that no concession will independence satisfy the United Slates except the of Cuba, and we hud better immediately end the uncer tainty.” The whole article of The Liberal on tho subject is bellicose in tone. The Pais asserts that great uneasi ness prevails as Washington concern ing the attitude of the southern states in case of war with Spain, and also because the Spaniards are organizing in Mexico to invade the states “vilely wrestled from the Mexican republic.” Much excitement was caused during the day by the receipt of a dispatch saying that it is expected that the pass ports of the Spanish minister at Wash ington will he handed to him shortly. The queen regent is taking a very active part in the negotiations and has thoroughly identified herself with the war section of the cabinet. Her atti tude is much approved by the officials in file army, and has undoubtedly strengthened the dynasty for the time being. Her majesty is reported to have told Senor Sngastn: “I received from my husband a her itage for our son, and will never agree to have that heritage curtailed.” At the same time it was reported that the queen regent is doing much to avoid a rupture. Spanish cabinet has decided that the torpedo flotilla is to remain at the Cape de Verde islands until further orders. They will then be joined by a squad ron composed of the armored cruiser Emperor Charles V, the cruiser Alfon so XIII, the armored Infanta Maria Teresa and the armored cruiser Cris tobal Colon, which will accompany the torepdo flotilla to Cuba. It has also been decided by the gov ernment to send the cruisers Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo, both of 7,000 tons, back to Havana. They will re ceive orders to this effect as soon as they sight Porto Rico. EDITOR BRANN KILLED. Fouglit Duel to tlio Death With Captain Davis in the Streets of Waco. At, Waco, Texas, Friday, W. C. Bvann, editor of The Iconoclast, and Captain M. T. Dayis, met and fought a revolver duel to the death. The combatants met just at 6 o’clock in front of the Cotton Belt ticket office, and after exchanging a few words, both began emptying their re volvers into each other’s bodies. When the battle was over Braun was found to he perforated in the left lung, the left leg and the right foot, and died after being taken to his home. Davis was shot through the right lung and through both arms. He is likely to die. The difficulty between the two men grew out of the Brann-Baylor fend of last year. Captain Davis’s daughters are pupils of Baylor university, and the reference made in The Iconoclast to Baylor, which were generally con strued to mean reflections on the moral character of tho pupils and faculty, brought forth from Captain Davis a denunciation of Bran.,, delivered in ,„ w «... lorcib, MRS. NOBLES’ LIFE SAVED. Georgia Prison Commission Acts Favor ably In Her Case. The Georgia prison commission lias recommended the Governor to com mute the sentence of Mrs. Elizabeth Nobles to life imprisonment. The commission has not yet made a recommendation in the case of (Jus Families, the associate of Mrs. Nobles in the murder of her husband. Tlrere is no room for doubt, how ever, that the sentence of the negro will also be commuted to life imprison meut. He lias at all times been ad judged the less guilty of the two, and in as much as clemency has been ex tended Mrs. Nobles there is every reason to believe that Families will not be hanged. It is understood that the people of Twiggs county are unan imous on this point. They are un willing to have the negro hanged unless the woman shares a like fate. REQUEST TO GOVERNORS. Aftkeri to at Once Organize, Drill and Equip Naval Militia. Supplementing the action taken by the navy department Thursday in re questing governors of states to drill and equip the naval militia so as to be ready for any emergency, Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Friday sent letters to tho governors of those seacoast states not having such organizations, to take steps looking to the formation of naval militia so far as possible under the state laws. It is hoped by the naval officials that each of these states will lie ena bled to promptly acquiesce in the de partment’s request, and be prepared to assist in the naval auxiliary work. .... I AWaitlng , ... j a the Climax. WILL DEPEND ON PRESIDENT M’KINLEY'S MESSAGE. Many Diplomats Declare That a Conflict Cannot Now Be Avoided. A Washington special of Sunday says: The opinion almost universally held in Washington by lending public men and diplomats is that tho crisis will reach its climax within a day or two, and that the question of war or peace will he fully determined. Senators and representatives met and conferred all day about the grav ity of the situation, and at the white house the president consulted with several members of his cabinet and other confidential advisers regarding the message which he is preparing to send to congress. No absolute day has been yet an nounced when the message is to be sent to congress. In addition to the physical work of preparing the comprehensive docu ment upon which the president ex pects to rest America’s case with the world, there are other reasons why those in charge of the war preparations will welcome every hour’s delay. War material which we lim e ordered abroad is not yet shipped, and tlio factories in this country whicli ure at work day and night making powder and pro jectiles are anxious for delay. Some of the factories in Connecti cut with contracts have telegraphed Representative Hill urging nil the de lay possible. They say every day now is precious. opin There is still a divergence of ion aH to what the president will rec ommend in his message; indeed, there seems to be still a question as to whether the president will make any specific recommendations. Some of his most intimate friends, however, assert emphatically that his recommendations will be specific and vigorous, ami such that his party and the country could willingly follow when he points the way. One of these "W* “•« P"“‘J ent »> bis strong desire f ”>' l>eaee and Ins earnest hope that war might possibly be avouled was yielding somewhat to the sentiment of the lead of hiS party ami country He has not 8‘ven up hope yet that hostilities may be inerted, There are those who believe the president has not yet made up his »••««! *«> »« he will pursue, and there seems to be a ques tion as to whether the consular reports «>*< the diplomatic correspondence is to be translated with the message, The suspense caused by the neces "ary delay in the preparation of the ally discussed question in Washington right now is whether congress can be restrained until the message is truns mitted. All realize the difficult and arduous task of preparing our case for the world's inspection, and the care which must be exercised, and there seems to be no disposition to “unduly” hasten the president. The party leaders are extremely anxious to avoid a breach with the executive such as would oe our if congress were to take the initi ative. ASK FOR RESTORATION. Shoe Worker* In Massachusetts Want Their oh! Wage* Reinstated. The boot and shoe workers of Marl borough, Mass., have notified the shoe manufacturers of that city of the desire of the shoe workers that the reduction of 5 per cent in wages which has been in operation for nearly a year shall be restored on the first of May. AVAILABLE VESSELS. Over Sixty Merchant Marine Ship* Can Re Made ('riiiHcrH. A Washington dispatch says: There are sixty-one steamships plying be tween New York and various ports to day which only need an order from the secretary of the navy to be turned into United States cruisers. They are the ships that form our auxiliary navy. American Line Among these are the steamships St. Paul, St. Louis, New York and Paris. Each is about 535 feet long, each could easily carry a thousand men, and if necessary half as many more, and there is not a cruiser in our navy as speedy NO. 12. BltYAN FAVORS INTERVENTION. Ni'bvawknn (llvoa HIr Views on llequeit of AgRoclated Fretta. A special from Lincoln, Neb., says: Hon. W. J. Bryan made tho following statement for the Associated Press Thursday night, in answer judgment to tho qncs ti° n whether in his the time had arrived for tho United States to intervene in behalf of Cuba and bring the war to an end: “Yes, tho time for intervention lias arrived. Humanity demands that wo shall act. Cuba lies almost within sight of our shores and the sufferings of her people cannot he ignored unless wo as a nation have become so en grossed in money making as to bo in different to distress. “Intervention may be accompanied by danger and expense, but existence cannot be separated from responsibil ity, and responsibility sometimes leads a nation, as well as au individual, into danger. A neighbor must sometimes incur danger for a neighbor, and a friend for a friend. “War is a terrible thing, and cannot bo defended except as n moans to au end, and yet it is sometimes the only means by which u necessary end cau lie secured. The state punishes its own citizens by imprisonment persuasion or even death when counsel and fail. War is the linal arbiter between nations when reason and diplomacy are of no avail. “Spain might not resist interven tion. It is to be hoped sho would recognize the right of tho United States to act, and immediately with draw from Cuba, but whether she re sents intervention or not, the United States must perform a plain duty. “Spaiu lias only herself to blame for the condition of affairB in Cuba. If she denies to her former subjects the light of war and calls the Cuban army a mob, let her remember the words of Victor Hugo: ‘The mob is the human raco in misery.’ No nation can afford to make its peo ple miserable. “Tf the Cubans prefer death to Spanish rule, it must be because Span ish rule has robbed life of joy and hope. If u nation sows the wind it must reap the whirlwind.” GOV. BLACK IS PATRIOTIC. Kuconunoml. Appropriation For War Fund l>y New York legislature. Governor Black of New York has sent to the legislature of that state au emergency message advising an imme diate appropriation of 81,000,000 as a contingent war fund. Governor Brick’s message, in part, says: “Events are now transpiring of so grave and general import that the attention of every people is fixed upon our own. The crisis which our na tional government now meets involves those considerations whioh affect the future of the race. To aid the gov ernment by approval and support I recommend that before you adjourn you take such action as your wisdom shall decide upon, to provide against such urgent needs as the future may disclose. ” GERMANY IIAN GRIEVANCE. Demands Satisfaction From Spanish Gov ernment In Canuainuba Case, Advices from Berlin state that Ger many has commenced diplomatic rep resentations to Spain relative to the Caunamaba case, and the German cruiser Geler, on her way to Bahia, has been ordered to got ready to pro ceed to Cuba if satisfaction is not quickly forthcoming. The German version of the Canna maba case is that some Cuban insur gents, during the night of March 18th, attacked u German refinery at Canna malia (also written Caunamabev) be longing to the firm of Fischer <fe Schmidt, of Trinidad, province of Santa Clara. The insurgents are said to have rifled the safes, burned the buildings, killed four persons and wounded ten occupants of the refinery. DEAL IN FOAL LANDS. KaMtcrn Money Flown Into tho Birming ham, Ala., Dl&trtct. Another big deal has been made in coal lands in the Birmingham, Ala.; district by the Ivy Leaf Coal and Coke Company. Walter Moore and a Car rollton, Ga., syndicate arc the pur chasers. The price paid is $125,000. The property consists of 11,800 acres of coal land in the vicinity of the town of Cordova, in Walker countv. a part of which is now mined under lease by the Ivy Leaf company. The Ivy Leaf company has been merged into the new organization. VESSELS OF WAR READY. Stripped of Tlielr Woodwork and UihiflC essary Obstacles Removed. Every preparation for action was taken by the warships at Key West Thursday. AU woodwork was stripped off exposed spots and sent ashore, The wood pilot houses on the cruisers were taken down. To a certain extent in terior woodwork was also removed and sent ashore. Even the sailors’ wooden boxes were removed from tho ships. These precautions have been adopted to prevent so far as possible the danger of flying splinters in ease of action. The officers sent tlieir personal valua bles and belongings to be stored on shore.