Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Insuls ia Coba Instructed to Cable Latest News to Washington. Wasbjog too, May 14 -Presideot . McKinley bas ander earnest ooo side ra? tion the advisability of sending a mes oage to congress next week on the Caban question, bot bas not yet come to a decision in tbe matter, thong h be is at present inclined co send to the legislative branch a communication suggesting that measures be adopted to relieve tbe distress among American residents in Cuba. The message, if it goes in, will be entirely pacific io tone, and it can be stated on good authority that it ?ill not be of a warlike or sen? sational tenor. Io order to have the facts on which to base a message, Mr. McKinley bas had cablegrams sent to every consolar officer in Coba, asking each of them to give exact information as to the state of affairs in his district and to telegraph replies at ooce It is understood to day by some members of the senate committee on foreign relations that this information, no doubt, would be communicated to the senate, bot that : whether it weald be accompanied by a f message recommending action was yet a matter of doubt. The meeting of the cabinet to-day j was devoted almost entirely to the con? sideration of tbe Coban situation. The meeting occorred an boor earlier *than usual owing to the importance of the question to be discussed, and the feet that the President and th* cabinet i*ere leaving for Philadelphia at 12 45. The cabinet discussion of the Coban situation to-day was opon tho advisa? bility ? of asking congress to provide immediate relief to the Americans who are? according to the reports received from Consol General Lee, penned op in the cities, and in actual danger of starvation. It bad no hearing npon tiie policy of the administration toward Spain or to the Coban insurgents, ex* v eept incidentally, but dwelt with tbe direct and immediate question ot re ?c Reving destil?te Americans on the isl? and, Secretary Sherman laid before tbe cabinet some, of the most important documents in the state department about the situation,- and be? fore the meeting was over Judge Day, the assistant secretary of state, personally took to the White House some additional papers for which ther secretary had sent. Every phase o! the matter was discussed, the advis ability of asking congress for an appro? priation, Spain's attitude, tbe methods ? fer distributing, relief if it should be decided to enter npon it, the necessity or advisability of having a warship ac? company food roppplies. Bot the final decision was postponed on til Consol General Lee and other American con? suls in Coba, probably Mr. Calhoun, make their reports by cable to the department. They have been request? ed to cable the latest facts as to the ex? isting situation. These reports will be here probably when the .President and the cabinet return tomorrow night It seems probable now that a message will j be sent to congress, bot hardly before Tuesday, as there would* be no time to prepare it before tbat day unless Mr. McKinlev devoted Soo day to the raak. The Spapish mioister, Dupuy de Lome, called at tbs state department shortly before noon to-day and confer? red sometime with Assistant Secretay Pay relative to the reported intention of this government to send relief to Ameaicans suffering in Cuba. The . minister gave assurance that the Span? ish government would be in entire sym? pathy with ?Dy benevolent movement and wonld lend every assistance to it. The Spanish minister does not ques? tion the existance of misery and suffer? ing in the island, but declares that it is sceb only as accompanies insurrection and war, heightened in this case by tbe diseases peculiar to low tropical coun? ties. It id stated that these conditions have existed for months and bave been weil known. As to the severity of the suffering, it is said that it consists mainly in the lack of food, medicine and cursing for the-sick and destil?te The fact that the senate was not in ses? sion to-day and that oompartively few senators were at the capital, bad a quieting effect opon the situation io regard to Coban affairs. There was still, however, much interest in the coarse that the matter may take on Monday. Senator Morgan said to-day that the message of the Presideot, if it should apply only to relief measures io the ; way of food aod clothing, would oot cauee him to deviate from his parp?se of pressing bis resolution for the re cog I nition of a state war, as Le bad gi veo notice be would do before it was assum? ed the President would send in such a message. Some of tbe pro Cubans take the position than any supplies sent to Cuba ? would merely aid the Spaoish c^use, as they would practically amount to be a contribution to Spain. He ace, there is a possibility of opposition even to the proposed charity . Senator Morgan bas no purpose of obaogiog the form of bis resolution io any respect. "I was folly aware of the sitaatioo wbsn I prepared the reso? lution/' he said to-day, ' and, there? fore, find io the recent publications in regard to it co,reason for altering my plans." Tbe senator expressed strong hope of securing tbe passage of a r?solution. "Ten people oat of a dozen are invalids," says a recent medical authority. At least eif?bt of these ten, it is safe to allow are suf? fering from some form of blood-disease wbiefc a persistent ose of Ayer's Sarsaparilla j weald be tore to core. Theo, doo': be an] invalid. j 1 ??ll / CUBAN MASS MEET? ING. Washington Turns Out to Urge Recognition. Washington, May 16 -An enthu siastic audience of men and women, many of them well fcnowo in Wash ington. packed the Columbia? theatre to its doors this afternoon at a mon ster mass meeting held in behalf* of the cause of the Cuban insurgents. The theatre was appropriately decor? ated. Seated on the platform and participating in the exercises were Senators Gallinger and Allen, ex Senator Butler of South Carolin, Rev. Hugh Johnson, pastor of the Metro? politan Methodist church ; Rev How? ard Wilbur Ennis and ? number of others identified with the interests of the insurgents Gen William Henry Browne, president of the Cuban lea? gue, called the meeting to order and introduced Senator Gaillinger as the presiding officer. The letter made a brief address and read a number of letters and telegrams of regrets, among them being those from Sena tors Chandler, Prye and Burrpws and Barrows and Commander Clarkson of the G A. R Senator Chandlers letter, was as follows ; "Senor A. A. Aguirre, Washington, D. C. ?.Dear Sir: Although unable to attend the meeting to-night, I send a few words of sympathy and of hope for the relief and independence of Cuba. As I wish to see the United States declare and maintain the in dependence of the island as France did that of the American colonies and made the United States a na? tion, of course I shall, as a practical friend, vote for.every minor motion tending to the same beneficent end "I hope and blieve that congress and the President will scon formally recognize a state of war and Cuban bell ige rency" This step, followed as it will be by all the other independent nations of the Western hemisphere, cannot fail to ensure the Cuban in? dependence which ie sought for. "Moreover, without delay we ought to send a fieet to enter the harbor and an army to land upon the soil of Cuba First to protect the lives and property of American citizens, and secondly, to stop the atrocious and uncivilized methods of warfare adopt? ed by the Spanish generals. . "In advocating ail these measures, I am conscious of no passionate hos? tility to Spain. In 1861 she recog? nized the Southern Confederacy with in less than three months after its military struggle begau ; and surely if she cannot hold Cuba without mak ing it one vast desert and graveyard by driving the inhabitants into the cities to starve, and by handing, shooting and garroting Coban officers and soldiers for rebellion and incen diarism, she ought to lose the island. Between 1861 and 1865 had one Confederate general been but thus put to death, ali the powers of Europe, with one accord, would have sent their fleets and armies 3,000 miles across the ocean to end such bar barous warfare and to establish and maintain the Southern Confederacy Yet Gen. Robert E Lee and all of his geneials were as truly guilty of re hellion and incendiarism as was The? odore Menendez Gonzales, who was shot for that offense at Cabanas fort? ress in Habana, on Monday last ."We blame England for bandoning the harmless and peaceful Armenian Christians to be massacred by the Moslems, and for submitting to liber ty loving Greeks to slaughter by the Turks. England retorts that we dare not stop the methods o? uncivilized warfare applied at our very doorH in the American Crete-the fair island of Cuba-and both charge and coun? tercharge are justly made "In helping to make Cuba indepen? dent we are observing a traditional and universal American policy, the duty to promote at the first good op portunity the severauce of Cuba from Spain. lu 1?96, also, the Democrats pledged themselves to do this by their declaration of sympathy for the people of Cuba in their heroic strug gie for liberty and independence, and the Republicans by their promises that the Uoited States should endeaver to restore peace and give independence to the island "There need be little fear that these pledges will be violated. Pres? ident McKinley wi'lingly recognizes the binding force of the platform upon which he was elected, and will soon do bis part toward making Cuba free and independent. He may pro? ceed with what will seem to impa? tient spirits to be undue caution, with the cries and groans of unarmed men, women and children enduiing inhuman cruelty and dastardly mur? der ringing in his ears, but he will not fail lo be faithful to his pledges, and he will before long register the decree which went forth in his tri? umphant election that Cuba should be taken from the control of Spain j and made peaceful and independent. ! In this faith in a great party and its ! Prident let us rest patiently and most hopeful. "Very respectfully, "WILLIAM E. CHANDLER " Mr Karl Decker of Washington, who, as correspondent of the New York Journal, spent some time in Cobs, much of it with a branch of the Cuban army In Santa Clara prov ince, made a description of the con? dition of affairs existing and of the pitiable plight of many of the people suffering for the necessities of life. He ridiculed the claims set up by Gen Weyler that the island had been pacified and said that if the Cubans were granted belligerent rights by the Uuited States they would certain? ly win. Mr. Decker has just return? ed from Cuba In the conree ^f some interesting remarks, Senator Allen of Nebraska humorously declared there was no i division in the Populist ranks on the question of Cuban liberty, in this whole matter he thought there had been too much sacrfice to a spirit of commercialism, and it was time this governmet had a little more human? ity and a little more Americanism. He declared that the United States could not allow a decaying monarchy to have a foothold on this continent and he would be delighted to see Spain and the Ottoman empire wiped from the map of Europe. If the President were to send a fleet to Habana, war in the island would cease in 30 days and it would not be necessary to fire a gun If the United States should 6ay lo Spain, "You shall not war npon hospitals, upon women and upon children," Weyler's occupation would be gone Mrs. Clara Belle Brown of the Woman's National Cuban league said the league had but one platform, one aim and one end. and that was th? establishment of the republic of Cuba Remarks were also made by Rev. Dr. Kent, Mrs Lincoln, vice director of the Woman's league, and Rev Howard W Ennis Washigton, May 16 -A private letter received iii this eily yesterday morning from an American resident in Sancti Spiritus wts read which gives the following details of the death of Carlos Aguirre, a Cuban officer, resident of New York, for 20 years, whose family is well known in this city. It is dated at Sancti Spiretust, May 7, and the portion referred to reads as follows : "I send a letter to you with the request that you will be so kind as to send it to Colonel Aguirre's wife and children in New York He ^vas killed last week by the Spaniards ; while half alive he wa3 dragged by the guerrillas with a rope around his neck into the. town and to General Obregon Aguirre had a silver watch with his picture in it and about $300 in gold, which the sol? diers took from him." Colonel Aguirre was a brother to Major General Aguirr^, ihe Cuban leader who died in the field last win ter a few days after Maceo's death. Ex Senator Butler of South Carol i na read a series of ^resolutions which had been prepared, and they were unanirnous-y adopted. They earn estly protested against the "barbar? ous and inhuman methods" of Spain in conducting the war in Cuba ; de? clared that this government should recognize the insurgents as belliger? ents, and that Cuba had demonstrated that it was her manifest destiny, like Mexico, that she shouid be free and independent without tbe payment to Spain of any indemnity. Georgetown's Probate Judge Will Go to the Peniten tary. Georgetown. May 14.-The cow narrerions Z D. Green, ex-probate judge, has finally c.<me to know some? thing definite regarding a parr, of his bis futured life Indicted for two of- j fenses, viz : Failure to * make annual} report as public guardian and unlawful investment of funds in his charge as judge of probate and public guardian, he has been sentenced in each to pay a fine of ?500 and . six months at hard j labor io the county jail or the peniten- ! tiary. Though Green has given bond: and appealed to the supreme court, tbe gen? eral opinion is that the higher court will suttaio the above verdict. His plea \H ignorance of the requirements of the law, but this seems to be not generally accepted, and such being the law can but follow its direot applica? tion. BEET SUGAR SEED. Distribution Practically Over -Ten Thousand Pounds Sent Out. Washington, May 16.-The beet sugar seed which the agricultural de partment bas beeo distributing is prac- j tically exhausted, about 10.000 pounds having been sent to farmers in about four-fifths of the States. The seed has been distributed in packages of from one ounce to half a pound purely for experimental purposes. The beets grown from the peed will be analyzed | and the saccharine matter determined 1 to ascertain where beef* can bc profita bl y grown for the production of sugar, j Fhe*e experiments, it SH believed, will be of immensee Vilue, as thc beet uu- ; duubtedly can be produced with profit io many of the States. Wherever it , 1 will give the farmer a new crop. All I the surplus vegetable seed in the pos j sesi?n of the agricultural! department! ! is being distributed through congress? men to the people in the flooded districts along the Mississippi for plaotiog as soon as the water sub? sides. Arraignment of Dispensary Law. Mr. Bryan Attacks the State's Great Monopoly. The Uoited States court r?om held to day one of the largest crowds ihat has yee assembled io it. Every class of Charleston's citizenship was pres? ent and the attention of all was rivited on Mr. J. P K. Bryan, who ie now making the effort to his life, to break up the dispensary law. Liwyers were present to bear the ?aw expounded oo the subject, constables were there to hear bow far they bad abridged the rights of individuals in the enforce? ment of the law, aod several alleged "blind tigers'7 through mercenary mo? tives, were on hand to hear Mr. Bry? an's effort and indulge io the expecta? tion of the laws overthrow. Theo there were many in the court room, who were there oat of idle curiosity or for the want of somethiog to do. Among the spectators were Ex-Com missioner F. M. Mixsoo, Ex-Constable Swann and other well-koown dispen? sary officials and those who formerly assisted in the operation of the sys? tem. The court convened promptly at 10 o'clock, and at 2 o'clock Jadge Simon ton, after a conference with the attor? neys in the case, postponed the hear? ing until to-morrow morning, when Mr. Bryan will resume his argument, beginning with thc inspection clause of the act Attorney General Barber, Assistant Attorney General Townseod and Mr. W. Gibbes Whaley, who is as? sociated io the case with Messrs. Bar? ber aud Townseod, will be heard. Gan. Townsend stated to-day that the State will noi. -consume much time with its side. MR. BRYAN'S ARGUMENT. Mr. Bryans spoke to-day for four hours, during which time he held the close aod united attention of the court and all thc spectators in the room. Ris argument, that portion of it delivered to-day, was masterful, eloquent and most comprehensive io all its details Ic was all law, supported with authori? ties, constantly read from books which were piled upoo ail about bim. The inter-state commerce act, with the monopolistic features of the dispen? sary system, formed the basis of his ar* gumeot. He analyzed the law and the manner of its operation aod enforce ment He showed where, as be thought, the law is conflict with the coostitutioo of the Uoited States aod common law. He showed that :he act's providions were saulty in them selves and in consequence of its too elaborate am .dmeots or two few of them, *.* -'1 -?rt of what it should be, to be law .ti. Io doing this, he re? ferred to the sale of broken and un? broken packages, the disposition of the profits, its manner of enforcement, etc. Mr. Brjao asserted that sale i* the general recognized object of impurta tion, wbiie the state claimed personal consummation was. He followed this throughout to its logical conclusion. He said that the dispensary sold the product of this state or favored states, which militated against the products of the unfavored states. He asked what wouid the Uoited States government have to say if Fraoce or aoy foreign power made the point of the restriction of commerce io this state. Toe dis? pensary system interferes with the com? merce between 'states The makers of the constitution wisely foresaw this probable trouble and ordained that the matter of commerce should be placed in the hands of the centra! government. Mr. Bryan characterized the law as "absurd, utterly untenable and hopeless ly incongruous/' He said that the rights of import in? cludes the right of sale. No state lines could be recognized io the operation of the interstate commerce law. TUE VITAL F0INT Mr. Bryan finally reached the point on which the decision of the court will rest. He said that to be valid, a law mus: be equal in its effects He showed that the state board of control had the power under the law to pur? chase liquors from houses that it saw f?t or desired. The effect of this was to militate against houses io other States The coro liquor of North Carolioa, South Carolina and Kentucky, wa* handled, but the manufacturers aod distillers io other States were by the mooopolistic provisions of the dispen? sary act, forbidden from doing business here This was a clear violation of the rights given all the people, Mr Bryan said, under the constitution of the Uni? ted States, which guaranteed equal privilages, regardless of State lines California was allowed to purchase of the South Carolina dispensarid but the people of South Carolioa wtre forced to buy certaia gooda, manufac? tured by certaia parties in certain States. Mr. Bryan said it was impos? sible to purchase at a dispensary a bot tie of Schlitz beer. This was au in? stance in question, where the manufac? turers in me State of Wisconsin were discriminated against Mr. Bryan ooo tended tout where the manufactu? rers were able to put on the market of South Carolina, goods ot a quality eiu?l or superior to the South Carolioa articles, even tl ic does not hav? the certificate of iospectiou, testifying to its purity, its .sale should not be pre? vented and further that the State could uot discriminate between liquors and refuse to inspect certain liquors and tons attempt to abridge the sale of such liquor to the detrimeot of its distillers. This is the most dangerous Hoe of argument, ic is generally conceded that could possibly bave been made against the law. Ic attacks it in the most vital place Tbe attorney general to day said that he would contend that the law does not discriminate io this manner and in fact that the State would base its argument eutirely on this point of the inspection clause, as it conceded that all else Mr. Bryao had said was good law. NEW TRIALS REFCrED. At the conclusion of Mr. Bryan's speech. Judge Simonton stated that he would bear arguments on the motions for new trials io the Beckrogc and Berkowitz casea Assistant Attorney General Townsand aod Mr. J. N Nathans were heard and Judge Simon ton decided to refuse the motions. The verdict for the $800 damages? tu che Beckroge and $300 in the flerkowitz cases consequently stand against the constables and their bondsmen - Charleston Post. I Philadelphia's Monument to Washiffton. TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST PRESIDENT. Society of Cincinnati Present Monument to to Philadel? phia. Philadelphia, May 15.- Here io the city which place first placed on bis brows the laurel crown of achievement, the memory of George Washington was honored to-day io monumental bronze. All possible pomp marked the ceremo? nies. The cord which released the swaddling flags from the figure of the first ruler of the republic was drawn by its latest ruler. Surrounding him were men in whose veins ruosthe blood of those first patriots who battled with Washington and with him made possi? ble the scene enacted today. The union which they formed has grown to a mighty organization under the name of the Society of the Cincinnati Major William Wayne, presideot of the Cincinnati, who formally Dresented the monument to the city, traces bis lineage straight to Mad Aotbony ; and William W. Porter, /he orator of the day, is a grandson of David Ritten house Porter, twice governor of Penn? sylvania, and a great-graodsoo of Geo. Andrew Porter, who was on Washing? ton's staff in the revolution. The unveiling ceremony was impres ?ively simple. Bishop Whitaker open? ed with prayer and Msjor Wayne fol? lowed with an appropriate address Then came the unveiling by President McKiolev and the salute of 12 guns by the artillery and byjtbe foreign and American war vessels io the Delaware.' This coocloded,. President McKinley spoke briefly. The oration was then delivered by Mr Porter The formal presentation of the memorial by the society to the city was made by Major Wayne to Mayor Warwick, with short addresses by both, and then the mayor transferred ir. to the Fairmount Park commission, which body exercises juris dictioD over the great pleasure ground President McKinley aud his distin? guished companions reviewed the mili tarv parade. The night was devoted to various phases of celebration, apart from the dinner. The wheelmen's parade, with nearly 20.000 io line, was the principal feature. Illuminations from the monu? ment, the city hall, the Union League and other poiots added to the brilliancy of the jubilee and closed the day in a blaze of glory. The entire city aloDg the line of the parade was elaborately decorated. The procession wa* commanded by Msjor General Soowden, and the first city troops escorted the Presidential^party, which consisted of President McKin? ley. Vice President Hobart, the mem? bers of the cabinet and several con gressman. Governor Hastings and bis staff, a squadron of the six cavalry, Doited States army, the Marine band, a bri? gade from tbe United States navy, French satlo-s from the frigate Fulton and Pennsylvania and New Jersey militia, the latter commanded by Gov? ernor Tunnel; of Delaware, at the head of the troops of that State, were in the procession . President McKinley's address was the feature of the ceremonies. The President said io part : ( "To participate io such a monument is a rare and precious privilege Every monument to Washington is a tribute to patriotism Every fhaft and statue to his memory help9 to inculcate love of country, encourages loyalty and establish a better citizenship. God bless every undertaking which revives patriotism and rebukes the indifferent and lawless. "As commander-in-chief ot the col? onial armies from the beginning of the war to the proclamation of peace, as president of the convention which fram? ed thc Consituatlon of the Uni'/ed States, and as the first. President, of the United States under that Constitution, Washington had a distinction differing from that of all other illustrious Amer? icans No other name bi;ars or can : bear such a relation to thc government. Not only by his military genius, h's sagacity, his courage sod his skill, was our national independence woo, but helped in largest measure to draft the chart by which the nation was guided ; and be was the first chosen of the peo? ple to pat io action the new govern? ment. "His was not the boldness of mar ttai display or the charm of captivating oratory, but bis calm aod steady judg meot woo men's support aod command? ed their coofidence by appealiog to their best and noblest aspirations. "Mas.erful as were his military cam? paigns, bis civil administration com? mands equal admiration His fore? sight was marvelous; his conception of the philospby of government, his in? sistence upon tbe necessity of educa? tion, morality and enlightened citizen? ship to progress and permanence of the republic cannot be cv>nfecpiated even it this period without filling us witn as? tonishment at the breath o: his com? prehension at,d the swnep of bi* visio,). "Great deeds do not stop in their growth, a^d those of Washington will expand in influence ia al! the centuries to follow. The bequest Washington his made to civilizition is rich beyond com? putation. The obligations uoder which he bas placed mankind are fibered and commanding. The responsibility that be bas left for the American peo? ple to preserve and perfect tbt he ac? complished, is exacting and solemn. Let us rejoice in every new evidence that the people realize what they enjoy and cherish wirh affection heroes of re? volutionary story whose valor and sac rifices made a nation." The presidential party returned to Washington tc-ntght B?L??DAND SEA. Greeks Attack Nicopolis Sim? ultaneously. t Arta, May 14, 6 p m.-Desperate fighting has been in progress all day .near Gribero, on the the road to Filippiada. Two brigades of Greeks with.many guns, two companies of sappers and a squadron of cavalry, attacked the Turks who were almost without artillery The Greeks forced the first Turkish line of defense, but wet with a stubborn res?stence at the second In several places the bayo? nets were so close to the cannon that they (the bayonets) could not be used. Already 500 of the Greeks are hors de combat The battle still continues as this dispatch is being sent. I Dokomos. May 14, 7 p. m-The Turks have retired in the direction of Phar8alas. Arta, May 14, 9 p. m -The fight? ing at Gribero has ceased and the Greeks have occupied various heights in the neighborhood Twenty-five officers aod 400 men are hors de combat. The battle will be resumed to morrow. Since 4 o'clock p m , the gunboat flotilla has been attacking Nicopolis from inside the gulf of Ambracsia, with a simultaneous attack proceed? ing from the landside. The Turks' 1 batteries replied vigorously and firm? ly resisted the attack. The coming on of d irtiness stopped the engage? ment - All the Greek efforts are new con? centrated upon capturing Niccpolis and Prevesa before advancing to Fen tepigha. A TALK WU H BALLI London, May 14 -The correspond* dent of the Times at Athens says : The iesumption of offensive opera? tions in Epirus greatly complicates the situation and tends to hamper the the negotiations for peace The evi? dent intention of the Greek com? manders is to capture the Turkieh po? sitions there in order to show that they have not been defeated. In an interview today M Kalli, the premier, repeated his 6tatemeot that humanitarian moves are respon? sible for the advance in Epirus, bet he did not deny the advantages which might be hoped for from the capture of Prevesa and the occupa? tion of the adjoining Turkish terri? tory. "We are still at war," be 6aid, "and until an armis'ice is con? cluded Greece retains her liberty of \ action, we cannot allow our activity to be confined to Thessaly where the Turks are preponderant The pow? ers have hindered us from acting in Crete ; but Greece cannot le barred everywhere nor compelled to restict her operations to a limited area "We have done our best to obtain an armistice : and until it has been ac? corded we must act where and when we can If we have not already prosecuted at various points and among the islands of the Aegean, it is only because we have taken into consideration the sufferings to which the Greek population might be sub? jected." The government apparently thinks that a renewal of the war will hasten instead of retard the armistice. This calculation may prove correct ; but is more likely that Turkey will seize upoun it as an excuse for delaying the armistice and will deal a crush? ing blow in Thessaly. Com Causes fully half the sickness in the world. It r *..;-:s the digested food too Ions in the bowels :.!.<i produces biliousness, torpid liver, indi? gestion, bad taste, coated HHS tongue, sick headache, in- BLgp ?ll 4% somnia, etc. Hood's Pills fill fS cure constipation and all its T ? ? ? results, easily and thoroughly. 25c. All druggists. Prepared by C. I. Hood & Co., Lowell, Mass._ Tile only Pills to take with Hood's Saraparilla, ~