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6
(I.AKK IIOAVEI.I. Editor
W. A. H E.HI’II 11.1. Bimineaa Manncer
Entered at the Atlanta postoffice as second-class
.■aatt matter November 11,1873
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Dead Again!
The bui'inl of the silver question goes
merrily on. There has hardly been a
day during the past. three years that
we'have not been told by tho esteemed
gold organs of the oast and their cuck
oos in other parts of the country that
“stiver is dead.’’ Every turn in the
affairs of the government, foreign or do
mestic, and every < vent that can be
construed as having any political bear
ing whatsoever, has been hailed as an
other evidence of the Great Pact —the
death of silver. That the issue, with
the lusty vigor of yoiit'h, persisted in
kfx'.king out of its ready-made, gold-plat
ed coffin, made no difference with the
esteemed doctors charged with editing
the Wall street newspapers. They had
said it was dead, and dead it. must be,
if they had to keep on killing it every
day.
'Especially voluminous and vigorous
have b< > demise
win never a d< mo< rat of any prominence
op- <’d his inoutih to discuss any other
question. ■
en as proof positive that lie had aban
doned silver, whe'hor the question he
di wins the t iriff, the <r<
the weather. It made no difference to
the doctors. For him to think of any
thing else than the silver question meant
that he had abandoned t le position lie
took in tho last presi'dential campaign;
for him to talk of anything else meant
that, the entire party had abandoned the
issue which gave life to that campaign
and showed to the world that t'.he party
was still the parly of the people.
When tho democrats of congress at.
tho extra session manifested differences
on certain phases <jf t'ao tariff question
and discussed them, the silver question
was pronounced deader than over. The
fact tha' all declared themselves as firm
in the r belief in silver as ever made
no difference with the critics, nor did
the more important fact tha: democratic
conventions everywhere w- indorsing
the Chicago platform. Sib er was dead
—-tho doctors said -so ami that set
tled 1:1
There have . n many ma infestations
of joy over the difference of opinion amng
democrats on the question of territorial
annexation, and this difference has been
hailed as further evidence of the “death
of silver.” Hero, for instance. is The
N-w Yr k Even ng Post, • h'.-f organ
of tho gold ginr as well as of the lor
ies and traitors w’iio have tried to injure
their country dining this war, which
says:
A wink • as good ns .1 nod to a blind
horse T'Y. act. -n in Missouri will boa -
Cepted by dvir.e. i at.- in --tiler part.-; ot the
co litre ■ ■ <b that silver i- n> lo.: ... r
the b uli Issue in politic;- ’I • ■ qir tarn
may b isked, What ..- lio leading 1 sue ?
It is '-as or to nsli tin qip uion than to
.. ■ ■ i silver
and go n for ferritori.il expansion and a
big navy, the repnpli- atis Will ac-mse tie in
of stealing tie :r tliun I'r. Consequently
tie t'o will b i sue.
The Even,ng Post is just as close as
ever, ami m> clo-T. The cause of sil
ver rest . . lead a
been the hiimii-'d and one times when
The Evening I’ost has chronicled its de
mise. and no "-I- ;tu The action of
the Missouri convent on nr-mt the aban
donment. of party position on silver
just to t R
unanimously adopted indorsing t’lie Chi
cago platform . ml spec!flea lit indorsing
the party position on the silver ques
tion.
If the actions of the democratic con
ventions of T< xas and Missouri on the
question of :■ liiorinl annexation mean
anything, I’l is- tha: tile democratic mass
es do not prop ~ e io be drawn away
from silver as the overshadowing feat
ure of the party faith.
It must be borne in mind that all of
this di.-cu.- ion among democrats was
precipitated by those w’iio thought it
the duty of the party to go on record
against territorial expansion. It was
the effort on the part of some democrats
at Washington to make opposition to
Hawaiian annexation a party issue that
precipitated the discussion of the terri
torial question, and the effort to make
the democrats of Texas assume a simi
lar position brought on the discussion
there and resul tod In the convention
taking a positon in favor of the reason
able and sensible expansion made nec
essary by rhe war.
However much they may differ on
other questions, the democrats of Texas
and Missouri, and of every other demo
cratic state of the union, are a unit in
support of the position taken by the
party on the silver question. There are
differences on details of tariff legisla
tion. and there are differences on this
question of territorial expansion; but
there are no differences among real dem
ocrats on the question of the immediate
and independent restoration of silver to
its place beside gold in a system of genu
ine bimetallism. ’l’hey believe in it, and
will continue to fight for it.
Now is the time for this man Don
Carlos to show whether he moans busi-
ness or not. If he doesn't get a hustle
on him at this crisis, the boy king need
never fear the Carli’st bogie again.
Where the Responsibility Lies.
Now that peace is a certainty, there
has come upon the people a natural dispo
sition to make inquiries concerning the
conduct of fine war. While war was
on, and especially in the early days of
the struggle. When exposure of the weak
places might be construed tis giving in
formation that might help the enemy,
the newspapers were generally silent;
but it is different now and there is ques
tioning all along the line.
Naturally the war department comes
in for the greater part of this. That
there has been pitiable failure in some
of the important branches of this most
important department of the govern
ment has been recognized for a long
time. Before the war began there was
a disposition to criticise the bead of
the tnavy department for li.is strong
predilections toward (peace, but from
the time war became inevitable, Mr.
Secretary Long provd more ithan mere
ly equal to the emergencies confronting
him. Tn the war department, (however,
there has been so many mistakes that
there has been a natural tendency to
comparisons, and these have not been
complimentary to Mr. Secretary Alger.
From all parts of the country come
these criticisms. Here, for instance, is
The Providence .Journal, an eminently
conservative newspaper of great. Influ
ence in New England which can safely
bo taken as roßecti'ng the sentiment of
its section. The .Journal says:
Unless Secretary Alger scrupulously
avoids the newspapers, or unless 'be Is en
tirely devoid of all sensitiveness to criti
cism. ho must be in a decidedly unenviable
frame of mind these days. From every
quarter comes ridicule, sarcasm or lnv-’C
tivi directed against Ills management of
the war department. No matter what
share of the blame may be justly imputed
to this subordinates, it is recognized that,
the burden of the responsibility rests upon
his shoulders, and that to his desire to play
polities the present disgraceful condition
of affairs is mainly due. Nor can the pres
ident himself be wholly absolved from cen
sure. It was known whin Mr. Alger was
appointed that he was unfit for the place,
and it was said that Mr. McKinley had
hesitat'd a long wtiile before he made the
appointment. Probably if there had been
no war the worst effects of hls mismanage
ment would not have b , n felt. Hut the
str; in of military activity iia- revealed
al! tlie weaknesses of a bad system in bad
hands. Naturally little was said, and many
excuses were made, at tile beginning. Now
that the conflict with Spain is practically
over, the inclination to speak out plainly
is lees rigidly repressed. 1: is recognize.!
that even the conclusion of a treaty of
peace will leave tlie army much to do.
Garrison- mutt be maintained in distant
places; and without prop, .• means of trans
portation and maintenance, which so far
th., vi. department has been unable to
provide, the. troops might conceivably suf
fer as much in garrison duty as in war.
The Journal declared Uaat the feeling
against. Mr. Alger is very real through
out the icoiintt'v. ''Many live.-, wero
lost in tlie Santiago campaign wit 'ch
might have been saved, I’he Journal
declares, "but for the blundering iu
couipotcnce that characterized the cam
paign.” The Journal thinks much of
dais was due to Mr. Algor’s recommen
dation for important places in tl.ie army
of Inexperienced and unfit mon. "He
wanted t > play politics,” s tys I he Jour
mil. “and he took the chances. lite
country had to pay in money and in
lives.”’
That is a severe arrMgnment as lias
ever been made again.-:, a man in high
position, (‘.,'ining front such a paper
it would be a. suffiemiit indictment, to
call for investigation even if it s:ood
alone. But this only one of many.
Alger has scarcely a defender. Here,
for further instance, is The New York
Times, always conservative, which
speaks pointedly upon one intere.-ting
phase of Secretary Alger’s conduct of
the war department affairs. That is his
apparent revntrnwil. toward tile cfJleers
of tho regular ai my. A writer in The
Times makes this pertinent comment:
The men whom the secretary of war has
pcrsi-icutly flighted and ignored, the of
ficers of tho rogul.ir army of the I’nited
States, are his lost friends now. because
they are silent when they might r, wal
mm h tii.it would be < xtrcmely damaging
t 0 the secretary ollbd.-illy and personally.
'l’he discipline which carried the hill at
San Juan keeps them silent. A life-long
trailin'.; forbids them to bring discredit
upon any branch of the government in the
face of the enemy, no mutter what tlw pro
vocation may be.
'Lie Providence Journal believes that
the demand for Alger's removal is sure
to bring results. ‘lf Alger steps down
and out now he will save him; if n i< i
tiiuniiliation, for no one can doubt." it
says, “ihat the demand for hls removal
will grow so loud that it cannot go un
heed- d.”
——
Id. Jules Cam bon.
There naturally exists in the public,
nii’ml just nt this time some curiosity
to know more of the distinguished
French ambassador who has figured
with such conspicuous prominence in
the recent preliminary negotiations
which have taken place within the past
pew days between the two powers re
cently at war.
M. Jules ('ambon lacks much of be
ing one of the diplomatic landmarks of
Washington, D. <’., although it. may be
gravely doubted if any’ of the veterans
in the diplomatic circles of the nations
c ipital are more thoroughly equipped
than Is he for the delicate and difficult
roles in which they figure. M. Gambon
has occupied his present office barely
more than six months; but, apart, from
th-- events which have lately made him
the object of special interest in the eyes
of th-' world, it seems that he has su<’-
cccded in making his abilities clearly
manffes. to his diplomatic associates in
Washington. In personal appearance
he is des-ribed as more closely resem
bling the typical Englishman than the
typical Frenchman, while in manner
he is said to be th-' embodiment of af
fability.
Without the leastdisparagement of the
exceptional quilifications of M. Cam
bon, it must be observed that he owes
his connection with recent events less
to his own individual merits than to the
intimate friendship -xistng between
Spain and France, which rendered rt ap
propriate that the latter’s ambassador
to tiie United States s’hould represent
the former in tho preliminary negotia
tions looking towa.d the <•••• sati-'n of
hostilities. Hence, it, i-s that Spain has
entrust-d her interests in th-' matter to
the hands of M. Cambon, and hence it
is tiiat the name of that French embas
sador appears affixed to the protocol
Which has recently been signed. Thus
?J. (’ambon has been instrumental in
bringing about the peace which now
prevails between the two countries late
ly at war; and while it is not likely
THE WEEKLY CONSTTTl T TTON: ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1898.
that he will figure in further negotia
tions, still the ultimate treaty agree
ment must rest essentially upon the
terms contained in the protocol.
Returning to the career of M. ("ambon
prior to hrs appearance in Washington
as the accredited ambassador of t’ae
French government we learn that for
several years he was the governor gen
eral of Algeria, the most extensive
French colonial possession, ami that he
gave up the ease which attached to
that semi-imperial office for the purpose
of accepting the office which he now
occupies. At first it looked as if AL
Gambon were not. Tienefitrng himself by
the change. His immediate predeces
sor in the diplomatic line, though wor
thy men were none the less obscure on
that account, and it seemed as if he were
destined to share tho same fate. But
scarcely had he taken up his residence
in Washington before he commenced at
once to infuse hi’S own energies into
the sluggish channels of the French di
lomatlc service and to make things de
cidedly inteiesting. That M. (’ambon
comes of fine diplomatic stock Is evident
from the fact that on-' of his brothers is
now the French ambassador at Constan
tinople. This same brother, M. Paul
Cambon, was previously the French am
bassador at Madrid. Seldom is it that
such distinction comes to one family
and the fact itself is eloquent of the
strong hereditary force which belongs
to Its members.
Since taking up hls residence In
Washington, M. Camdon has accom
plished much toward smoothing out the
wrinkles in the diplomatic relations be
tween France ami the United States.
More than once of late years the two
countries have been at. daggers points
and one reason why tho l-"rench govern
ment sent M. Camdon to AVashington
was to have one of its ablest represen
tatives nt that place pending solu
tion of the vexed problems which were
scheduled to come up for consideration
in connection with the Spanish-Ameri
can affair.
The Fate of the Philippines.
Irrespective of the relations of this
country to the problem, there is much
to interest all of us in the question:
What is to become of the Philippines?
Madrid dispatches from reliable
sources state that Sagasta is considering
tlie possibility of sale to some European
power, and in the same dispatch the
suggestion is thrown out that perhaps
this country will be the purchaser.
Spain’s inability lo hold (lie islands is
dwelt upon al length. 'l’he strength
of Aguinaldo's army is pointed out, ami
the inference is plain that ;T the islands
jt.tss back under tlie control of Spain,
they will at once be put upon the mar
ket.
This comes from tho Spanish capital,
and if not. directly authorized by repre
sentatives of the government in an offi
cial way, it. is at least valuable in show
ing what is in th-' air there. Soin.' of
the difficulties presented by the problem
of th'’ disposition of the Islands are
touched upon, but not all of them, for
this particular dispatch goes no farther
than presenting th-' possible wishes of
the Spanish government. It does not
require a student of international law
to see that others besides Spain must be
consulted when th-' time for the settle
m- iit of th-' Philippine question comes,
am! that tho attitude of the European
powers Is necessarily a most important
factor in the problem.
The suggestion t'iiat Spain is consid
ering the possibility of the United States
be-’iming the purchaser of the Islands
cal's for but. little comment. Sagasta
need nurse no such thought.
Can Spain sell to anybody in case wo
demand nothing more than a coaling
station and a port? if we are to hold
only part of that island of Luzon, for
instance, ought we not to have a say as
to what form of government shall main
tain in tho other parts? But even if
we ask no part in tho determination -if
who shall bo our neighbors or how they
shall govern the natives, will not other
po\''”'s demand th-' right to be eonsult
ed? If. for instanee, Spain shou d find
a purchaser in Groat Britain, is it not
entirely reasonable that Russia and
France and Germany should rise in their
might, and enter protest? 'Would they
not. make equally loud and v’gorous pro
test. against Japan’s holding these is
lands ami adding to the uncertainties of
the eastern question?
And if Russia, through her inimitable
diplomacy the diplomacy that acts
while others talk Should be selected as
purchaser, or if she should accomplish
the same end through some one of her
anti-Brit.ish allies, think you that Eng
land would sit quietly by and permit
the occupation? Russia and England
are at the threshold of a war because
British bankers are not allowed to lend
money to and become approved preferred
creditors of a railroad in China. Every
move in that section of the world is al
most certain to lead to a clash, so valu
able are the various points of vantage
considered; and tlie possibility of one of
the rivals getting hold of such valuable
commercial Ta es as the Philippines
would, in all likelihood, precipitate the
long-looked-for clash that would involve
ail Europe.
Spain’s idea of parting wit'ii the is
lands by safe doos not, therefore,
seem liltoly ->f accomplishment. Would
be nurchaxers are not likely to be nu
merous wli-n purchase ctirri's with it
th-' certainty of war. Japan might bo
willing, to try’ it on, for Japan thinks
she is . apable of doing great things since
she mad-' John Chinaman bite the dust:
but there would be a chorus of objec
tion to stit'h extension of Japanese
power.
It looks very much, then, as if there
are but two parties whose hold of the
islands would avert, war this country
and Spain. We must either hold the
islands or give them back to Spain. If
we do th-' ia.tter. we ourselves are
likely to become involved in some highly
interesting complications, for it may
become necessary for us to turn our
guns on the men whom we ’have been
regarding as allies. -Spain says she is
incapable of putting down the revolu
tion. This country is responsible for
that, revolution, for these things were
quiet in the islands until Dewey took
Aguinaldo down from Hong Kong anil
staked him with war material. Ho did
this, not for the sake of the insurgents,
bit! because he believed It would be of
advantage to our own cause; and the
charge that wo are responsible for the
present state of affairs is certainly well
grounded. If, therefore, wo decree in
our treaty of peace thatt Spanish sover
eignty is to remain over tit-' Philippines,
is it not among the probabilities that we
will have to suppress the Aguinaldo re
bellion?
Aguinaldo is disposed to ffsk leading
questions. He wants to know what we
propose to do with the Philippines.
There seems to be doubt in Aguinaldo’s
mind what deposition he will meet at
tho hands of his new-found friends. Is
it any wonder? Do we ourselves know
how we are to get out of this thing?
All of which is written with no
thought of suggesting a solution, but
simply with the idea of s/iggesting a
few of the problems that present them
selves. Perhaps those who are so ve
hement in their declarations tiiat we
must, let go will point out how it is t<>
be done.
The Army in Time of Peace.
There seems to be some misconcep
tion on the part of many of those who
discuss the disposition of the army af
ter peace of the legislation under which
the volunteer army was brought into
being. It is argued that because enlist
ments are for a term of two years, the
status for at least tiliait length of time,
army wiil be retained in its present
No such mistake would be made if
the letter of the law were studied. On
the conlbrary, the volunteer act is ex
plicit in I'ts declaration that immediate
ly upon peace being secured the army
must resolve itself back to its old peace
basis; and, indeed, it looks as if there
must be a stretching of the plain mean
ing of the text to warrant the reten
tion of so many of the volunteers as
are manifestly necessary for giving ade
quate garrisons to our new possessions
during the time tiiat things are being
straightened out.
Tit-' fourth section of tho law enacted
by congress and approved April 22d de
clares that “the volunteer army shall
bo maintained only during the exist
ence of war, or while war is imminent."
Titer-' is certainly nothing in that dec
laration whi< h leaves it optional with
the president or anybody else. “Only
during the existence of war or while
war is imminent”—the latter clause, of
course, designed to cover the period pre
ceding the actual dclaration of hostili
ties, if there should be any such p- r’.od.
There is added a proviso under which
it is argued, th- re i given authority for
tho retention of such of the volunteer
forces as the presid- n.t and war depart
ment authorities may desire. This is:
“Provided tha.t. all enlistments for ti-e
volunteer army shall be. for the term ol
two years ttnle.-s soon- " te:minat-d, and
that all office?s and men composing said
army shall be dlscha. god from t’hc ser
vice of the United States when the pur
poses for which they were called into
service shall have been accomplished,
or on the conclurton of hostiliti-s.”
While fills proviso is not altogether
-■lea-, th-- intent of (the law-maker:
seems to bav-- been to provide in as dis
tinct (• rms as iossibl< against the re
tention of any of tae volunteers <tlie>
tlie termination of hostilities, and there
is no provision, therefore, for holding
the.-'' troops to garrison the newly ac
quired territory or to -lo pol.ee dulv ’.'it
Cuba. If the letter of 1 law is obeyed,
tlie army immediately upon the declara
tion of peace will resolve i -elf back to
its peace basi-s of twenty-five thousand
men.
It is understood to be the policy of
the president to reduce th- size of the
army just as soon as ‘lie can convenient
ly do so and WH.iou.t waiting for th-'
formal signing of the t> : t.y of peace;
but. he will reti'i-: a fo.-ae of perhaps
on.' hundred thousand for t’hc present.
and congress will be asked to authorize
the temporary increase of the standing
army to that extent. Republicans have
b-'-'n as insistent as democrats hi their
declarations against the permanent in
crease of the standing army, but the ad
ministration will argue lit-' need of one
hundred thousand troops, and there Is
little doubt that congress will enact the
legislation asked. How long such an
army will lie maintained is a problem
for tho future to dole mine.
The Heroes of the War.
Almost, witnotil a parallel in tfie
world’s history has been the record of
tiie past four monies in its production
of heroes on tiie American side of the
war, and utterly iter-ft of the instinct
of patriotism must be tiiat American
who e;ra surv-'.v tlie record thus made
without exultation.
First on the I’st comes Admiral De-wey,
who gave to the American Hag its ear
liest, as well as its latest victory in th-'
war with Spain, and who is clearly en
titled by reason of his pre-eminent
ac hievements to head the list of r-’cen.’
heroes. If Admiral Dewey merited tho
grateful homage of the American p-'-tpb'
when lhe sent to Washington last May
the modest announcement which stafe-l
that with the help of tin; bravo men
under his command ho had succeeded in
complefeiy annihila’ing t.ie Spanish
fleet m Ma nila harbor, ho merits tiiat
tribifte even more at the present time
when, in addition to the prowess which
he displayed in that engagement he
has since exhibited in d. allng with the
problems which have e-mie up before
him the attributes of shrewd diplomacy
ami of wise statesmanship. There were
few who thought it possible that Admir
al Dewey could outgrow tlie distinction
which tho battle of Manila conferrc-l
unon him, and yet from that hour down
to this he has st-adily developed
strength. So ably lhas he dire-ted mat
ters in the orient that th-' administra
tion has been content to leave him
alone whil<* tlie public, mind has been
wont, to look upon him as the incarna
tion of infallibility itself. Moreover, lie
has been at ail times tlie embodiment
of such line and tender sensibilities that
he lias more than ever dcserve-1 the
praise which ho has kindled upon the
lips of both hemisplieres. I hat tae
fortunes of war, aft/'- belting the entire
globe, should have returned in the path
of th-' circle to crown (him for the sec
ond time tii.' hero of Mani!:) in conjunc
tion with General Merritt scents to If
strictly in accordance with the eternal
fitness of things.
Next to .Admiral Dewey undoubtedly
ranks Admiral ISchl-'v. (We do not
ntean to deprive Admiral S mpson ol
one single leaf of the laurels which be
long to him in connection with the San
tiago engagemeirt, but candor compels
us to say that tiie success of t’lnt en
gagement is. due chiefly to the effective
work of Admiral, then Commodore
Schley, ami such we believe to bo the
consensus oi Intelligent opinion north,
south, east and west. Credit must also
be given to Captain Cha E. ("ark,
of the Oregon, who was in tho hottest
part of tlho fighit: to Captain John H ■
Philip, of the Texas, who participated
actively in the encotinfe’ - . but who.
when it was over, exclaimed: “Don t
cheer, boys; the poor devils are dying!’
to Lieutenant Commander Wainwright,
of the Gloucester, •who destroyed the two
Span alh torpedo boats, the Pluton and
the Furor, and who subsequently re
ceived the surrender of Admiral Cer-
vera; to Captain Robley D. Evans, of
the lowa, who distinguished himself gal
lantly in the fight, and to other brave
officers who acquitted themselves nobly,
but who cannot be mentioned in detail.
With respect to .lhe heroes who lig
ured with conspicuous prominence in
the land engagement at (Santiago it is
difficult to say which of the number is
entitled to precedence. General Shafter
has already received the official credit,
but in close fellowship with Ihim rank
General Joseph Wheeler, of Alabama:
General Lawton, -f .Michigan; Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt, of New York, and
others. General Joseph Wheeler, de
spite h?s physical condition, acquitted
himself with such consummate skill and
gallantry upon the field of battle, that,
with the fall of Santiago his name will
always be as indissolubly a .seriated rn
the public mind and on the page of the
impartial historian as the name of Gen
eral Shafter.
Apart from the heroes who have been
identified with the great victories of the
war there arc the heroes who have been
Idontiticd with individual exploits. la
tliis category of achievements come Lieu
tenant Hobson, whose individual exploit
in tiie sinking of the Merrimac under
the guns of M'orro castle is wiflhout
precedent kn (the annals of war; Ensign
Bagley, of the Winslow, who bequeathed
to the American side of the war its first
libation of blood; Lleuienant Victor Blue,
Ensign Joseph W. Poweli, and others.
Each of these heroes in addition to
others who might be named, will be
gratefully remembered by ih"!r fellow
countrymen for i'lieir individual exploits
as Jong as time lasts, or the American
republic endures.
But there are other heroes of the war,
such as General Fitzhugh Lee, Captain
Charles D. Sigsbee, of th-' Maine, an<i
others, who will also be gratefully re
membered, although the fortunes of war
have not permitted th-m to figure with
commanding prominence in the excit
ing drama of events wbi-h has followed
tho opening of hostilities. Whatever
of distinction may be reserved for Gen
eral Loe In the future, it is certain that
posterity will not forget the magnificent
service which !;<■ r- ndered th-? country
as consul gene:;:! to Cuba; nor is tlie
name of Captain I• lik-dy to be
came estranged f.’om lii'.git of tiie ill
starred Maine.
We have thus reviewed in brief the
acliievoments of some of the princijial
heroes of the but w-' cannot dis
miss the subject without observing that
much, if no’, indeed, most of the glory
which lias come to our Hag during the
pa:-'.' four months has been wrought by
: ■/ ‘. -liscure private in both
the army and be navy, ami mention
with honor '-he part which they have
played in the bloody tragedy of war,
although we cannot call the roll whicih
contains the names of them all. T he; 7
have deserved well of the country, and
the country will hO -l them in affection
ate remembrance throughout all time to
come. Well have they proven that the
fires of chivalry have not perished in the
hearts of Americans.
What Stubbornness Has Cost Spain.
With the elo. o of has-iliti- s it be
c<-m-'s of Interest to review the los. es
whi.h Spain has suffered in consequence
of her refusal to voluntarily withdraw
from Cuba, several months ago.
First, in possessions, she has lost
every foot of soil over which her flag
streamed in the. western hemisphere, in
< id g both Cuba and Porto Rico; while
in the eastern hemisphere she has lost
one of the Ladrone island;;, in addition
to being confronted with the prospect
of losing th-' Philippines.
Next, in soldiers and saiiors, she has
nu t with tragi-’ Jos. - s. In tiie aggre
gui-' these will c'osely approximate 5,000
men, or nearly fen times the number
l-’.-.t on tho American side, will) tho
victim.; of the Maine included in the
calculation. With the th -ts sunk at
Manila and nt Santiago, there wore not
less that fir-' hundred lives destroyed,
according to the offi-lai flgur-s; while
in the various land engagements whiMi
have occurred in both hemiiO'i’.er-since
the opening of T.ostilitt':'.-: tin’ losses will
not. aggregate less than 4.500 killed.
Next, in warships, she has suffered
almost Complete anni! ilation. In ca
pacity ho- warships destroyed in t ;e
course of tho war aggregated ;rt,B3a tons
and in value $25,000.000. Os rfhese, fifteen
were erui '-rs. v'z. Infanta Afaria Teresa,
7.-)00 t’ m;: Vizcaya, 7,000 tons; Almirante
Oquendo. 7.0 to tons: Cristobal Colon,
C.S.'.O tons; Isl-a-le Mindanao, 3.675 tons;
!’• itia Ch 3.520 tons: Castilla, 3.260
tons; Reina Mercedes. ” 01)0 tons; Don
Anionia de Ulloa. 1.160 tons: Don Juan
<1 . Austria. 1 150 tons; Velasco, 1,150
tons: Iskt -lo Cuba, 1.045 tons; Jsla do
Luzon, 1.045 Ions; Nucvi E.-pana, 925
tons, and J >r.ge Juan, 935 tons. Only
two of the destroyed warrl'ilps were of
the torpedo veriety, viz. Furor, 3SO ions,
and Pluton, sf;o tons; while thirty wore
gunbouts ranging in capacity from thir
ty-five ions to 1.030 tons.
N”.xt. in treasure, she has lost mil
lions of dollars. Under this head is
bieluded only the current exneiv’s nec
es-ary to carry on operations.
In addition to the losses thus hasti
ly enumerated must be included tho loss
es <"'ns-’d by financial d’pression
throughout the kingdom and by Tie sac
rifice of national prestige under such
ie.nominions c'-e'.imMrinces: and "hen
eve’yfhjn'j is con.si'dered. it !s evident
that Pn-rn has paid grievously for her
stiibliornnc 's in refusing to voluntarily
withdraw from Cuba, when she know or
at least ought, to have known that, she
was wholb’ powerless to resist the right
eous -lemni’d.s of the Jfeited States.
Relative Positions of Naval Officers.
W'ith ;■ close of the . ■ there r it
urally anises some curiosi’.y in tlie public
mind to know the relative positions of
th.-' various rear admirals, commodores
and captains in tlie United States navy.
We are just in receipt of semi-official
data which enables us to gratify this de
sire.
First, w'tli respect to tlie rear ad’nir
c.'s, the ord-r in which t hey come i.i as
follows: Joseph N. Miller. Montgom
ery Sic;';-!, E. <>. Matthews, Francis M.
Bunce, George Dewey, Frederick V. Mc-
Nair, John A. Howell, William T. Samp
son, Winfield S. Schley.
Next come the commodores in the fol
lowing order: Henry W. Huwison,
Alfred Kautz. George C. Remey. N. 11.
Farquhar, John ('. Watson, John \\.
Philip, Henry W. Robeson, Silas Casey,
Bartleit J. Cromwell, F. J. Higginson.
Next come tlie captains in tlie fol
lowing order: Henry F. Picking, Fred
erick Rodgers, Louis KempfT, George
W. Sumner. Benjamin F. Day, Alex. H.
McCormick, Allert S. Barker, Charles
S. Cotton, Robley D. Evans, Silas AV.
Terry, Merrill Miller, John J. Read,
Henry C. Taylor, M. L. Johnson, Edwin
M. Shepard, Frank Wildes, Henry Glass,
Philip H. Cooper, George H. Wadleigh,
A. S. Crowninshield, James H. Sands,
Yates Stirling, Francis A. Cook, William
C. Wise, Charles E,. Clark, Joseph B.
Cogblan, P. F. Harrington, Nicoll Lud
low, Nehcmiah-M. Dyer, Colby M. Ches
ter, Charles J. .Barclay. Charles D. Sigs
bee. F. E. Chadwick, Benjamin P. Lam
berton, Richard P. Txiary, William IL
Whiting, Charles O’Neil, Caspar b.
Goodrich, B. IL M-oCalia, Theodore K
Jewell, William M. b’olger, John Schoul
er. Francis W. Diekins, George F. J’.
Wil-1-', Charles il. Davis.
There are some changes yet to be
made in the line of promotions for <" s
tinguished services in the recent wa..
lint up to the present time the forego-ng
list is substantially correct.
*-
Omnipresent and Irrepressible.
To head the peace commission -Wil
liam R. Day, of OHIO.
Fo- secretary of state-—John Hay, of
OHIO.
For ambassador to Great Britain
Whitelaw ReM, an OHIO man. ,
To head tlho Culian commission -Gen
eral Wade, an OHIO man.
And there are others.
Our National Mission.
More than - ver before our flag is sa
luted witli reverence throughout th-'
four quarters of the globe, anil if its
stripes have been steeped in deepe-"
crimson since the present war com
menced tlhere is compensation in the
fact tiiat the stars have acquired bright
er luster. We have no reason to be
ashamed of tlie chapter which wo have
just written in American annals nor to
doubt that, the war through which we
'have just pass' d with so much credi to
ourselves and with so much eomiort
to humanity has been waged in me
rightful furtherance of our m'ssion to
th<> downtrodden nations of the earth.
We have not been favored with the
fruits of liberty solely that we might
lock thorn up within our own borders
and squander tj'iem ey.cl isively upon
ourselves. On the contrary, we have
been given these priceless blessings
that in due season we might confer
them upon othor lands. Thus it has
come to pass that while we have not
sought this war with S'pnin, yet provi
dence has a '.d-' i't instrumental in
bringing within li'ie sphere of our fe
fl:ion°o nd nn-I'’r the protection of our
fl’ig remote islands which would other
wise have remained beyond our reach.
(>' course, we do not contend that our
national mission is to extend (he bounds
or freedom so'cly through the enlarge
ment of our own. That wo are destined
to considcmhly increase the area over
ml':a‘li our flag now waves seems evi
dent from the results of the present
war. but that our influence is to be re
stricted to such limits does not apnear.
Since tho beginning of our national ex
is-once we have boon quietly, though in
directly, transforming tho political li'fe
o'' the globe, and we are apt to continue
so to do regardless of the occasional
in quisition of territory which wo may
see fit to make.
Witfi th,-> prestige whi'l'i wo have
gained in the present war there can be
no doubt of the fact that wo have added
greatly to the scope and power of our
tnfiuenco and that apart from tho frag
ments of territory which have fallen
into our hands we are better enabled
than ever before through the moral ef
fect of our triumph to advance tho in
terests of liberty throughout tho glob o .
An Indication of Greatness.
'l'tio wises: of all ni -u is li- who knows
when lie has enough. By the same to
ken, he who knows when to lot. go a
goo-1 thing is cf the class of Solomon.
And one of these is William R. Day.
Secretary Day has had an exceedingly
brief career a- a public man, bur from
all indica’loi:.; he stands an excellent
chance of going down into history as one
of the most ■’.iceessful men w'ho ever
hold high office. Within less than two
years ho will have gone from hl’s law
office in an Ohio town to the state de
partment as first assis ant, a position he
held until promotion came whi 'lt placed
him at the head of tho president's cab
inet; his career as secretary lias been
in a time when tho duth’s of tho ofliee
have been most important, and history
will state that he performed them well;
from the state department he goes to
Paris at tho head of a peace commission
whose work must, in its very nature,
mark one of the Important eras of this
country’s history, and that is itself a
higii honor; with that ills career as a
public man will, by 'his own volition,
end.
A brilliant record, indeed. Tho criti
cisms that wore hurled at tho state de
partment in the -lays when we were be
ing played with by the diplomats of
Spain will be forgotten. The record
for the future will stand about as above.
Judge Day and those who bear his
name will have every reason to be proud
of it. Everything has played into hi.s
hands, and tho credit of grasping tiie op
portunities belongs to him. Few non
who Jiave ‘hail a taste of such exali -1
positions have known when to quit or.
knowing it, have had the nerve to vol
untarily cut short, their own careers.
There is every reason to say that Judge
Day has proven a competent and ade
quate official, and his action in stepping
out when t'he glory of it i ll hangs about,
him, shows him a man of wisdom. Many
nifeht have done as well as he; few
would have been wise enough to round
out his career ns the jt-Yre has decreed
that his is to be rounded.
A Long Way Round.
('o’mplex, devious and not uninterest
ing are the methods of diplomacy.
It takes, for instance, three languages
and two ciphers to get a message from
tlie Madrid foreign office to the white
house. Sagasta’s reply to the terms of
this government was prepared rn Span
ish at the Madrid foreign office and then
converted into the official Spanish ci
pher. In cipher it was telegraphed to
the Spanish ambassador at Paris, whose
assistants converted it. back into Span
ish and then translated it. into French,
In that shape it was delivered by the
ambassador to tlie French foreign office,
where it was at once convened into the
French foreign ofliee cipher, and then
telegraphed to tlhe French ambassador
at Washington. From th-' cipher It
was converted back into French and
then translated into English.
By the time it had gone through all
these transformations the message was
ready for delivery. This necessarily
called for the greatest care, and delay
was a necessary incident. In view of
which tli-re seems no occasion for
charging ppala with -dallying. For
once in his life the don has got a hustle
on him.
“Songs of the Soil”
By FRANK L. STANTON.
A Love Song.
The red rose playeth its crimson part
Bent down with the wind and -lew:
There are so many songs In the world,
sweet heart,
And only one song for you!
Only one .song for you,
Away from the rose and the dew:
Only one song ’neath the lheaven above
The, beautiful —beautiful song of my love.
Till,-re is never a rose for your way, my
love —
Never a. rose for your way!
The keen thorns hunger to slay, my love,
The rose that was imide for the May!
Only one rose for you,
Aw.-ty from tlie -lawn and the dew—
Only one rose ’m ath the heaven above—
The beautiful—beautiful rose of my love!
There Is only one life for you, my love-
Only’ one dear, sweet life!
And a hear: that drifts to you, true, my
love.
Like a wreck in the storm and strife!
Only one life for you.
Away from lhe bright and tlho blue—
Only oi ream ’neath the heav< n above-
The beautiful—beautiful dr- am of my love!
„ae * •
Wondering ’Bout It.
"It’s peace at last for you an’ me”—
The poets sing in rhymes.
(Brethren. I wonder if we 11 see
Those better times?”)
It’s peace on land, and peace on sea.
Ami peace in all the climes.
(Brethren, 1 wonder if we’U see
Those, better times?)
The Boys That Do the Fightin.’
Tho boys that do the. fightin’, they’re keep
in’
An’ tho storm is lookin’ brighter with the
rainbow’s peaceful sign;
It - S -’l-’orwnrd mar-a!” to glory, an all
the crimson ways
Will shin- with Honor’s story In the test
victorious days!
The b.sys that do the flghtln’-they answer
to the call
That echoes from their country-the best of
patriots all!
From far and near that -’all they hear, and
tread the crimson ways
That’ll shine with Honor's story In the last
victorious days!
The Good Luck Rabbit.
Es I ketch dat rabbit, in de graveya d grass
When -lo Moon done hide his beam,
Den o'n, my honey.
I'll fin’ dat money—
Dat money what I see In my dreamt
Oh, Mister Rabbit,
In do gravey t'd grass;
You mighty purty.
But you run too fas’!
Es I ketch dat r-ibbit In de graveya -1 grass
When de Coon done swim de stream,
Den It’s praise God, honey.
For I’ll fm’ dat money—
Dat money what I see In my dream!
Oh, Mister Rabbit
In de graveya’d graM,
You mighty purty.
But you run too fas’!
When the Troops March By.
I’d like to bo in Washington, beneath the
i splendid sky,
When with victorious banners, the troops
come mai'fiilng by!
I’d like to bo In Washington and see Old
Gl<’ry fly
O'er the great and glittering legions when
the troops march by!
I’d like to be in Washington that day! 1 -1
like to see
The fellows that have worn the wounds In
red for you and ma!
To see the old Hag rippling like a rainbow
round the sky,
O’er the men of Santiago, when the troops
niarui Iy!
I’d like to be In Washington when every
legion comes!
I know my heart would answer to the beat
ing of the drums!
To see the men who faced tho fray—who
did not fear to die —
Oh, I’d like to join the chorus when the
troops inarch by!
I’d like to be in Washington—l’d like to neo
the blades
That were reddened for their country flash
from the old brigades!
Though war may make us weary—though
the green graves make us sigh—
I’d like to shout, "God bless ’em!” when
the troops march by!
Oittin’ Close.
We’re purty elost together
North, east, an’ south an’ west,
It took the stormy weather
To bring us to our best,
Ono flag is ripplin’ over
The ranks on land an' sea;
The man who marUi-'d with Sherman
Stands with the man of Lee.
We’re purty dost together—
Thar ain't no kind o’ doubt;
It took the stormy weather
To I't the rainbows out!
Ono flag is ripplin’ over
This bright kind of tho free;
The man who marched with Sherman
Stands with tiii- m tn of Lee!
Yes. purty elost together;
An'. <•;' it’s storm oi' strife.
We’ll thank God for tlie weather
That finds us one for life!
For -me flag ripplin' over
That ilirows her ribbons free
When the men who mai-hed with Sher
man
M i li will) tl:-’ men of I.
A Billville Opinion.
Talkin’ 'bout M ster Hobson, that went
down under the ,<ea.
He may be a-kissin' of all the gals, but
he ain’t a-kissin’ of me!
I don't kiss none but my feller—he's jest
as sweet as kin be —
An' talkin’ 'bout .'-lister Hobson—he ain’t
a-kissin’ of me!
Talkin' ’bout Mister Hobson- I reckon he’s
good an’ grand;
But he ain't as good on the ocean as iny
feller is on the land:
I don't kiss none but my f Iler—no matter
what 11 "bson may b-;
Ho may kiss all the gals in the country, but
ho ain’t a-kissin' of me!
Talkin’ 'bout Mister Hobson—l reckon that
he’s all right.
But lie can’t get mo fer a pardnor when
my feller’s to -lance that night.
Let him kiss all the gals in th,' country—
They're kissin’ him mighty free
But I'd jest like to toll Mister Hobson that
lie ain’t a-kissin' of me!