The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, March 23, 1898, Image 1
*
r?K SU?TS? WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established june. 12*6
Consolidated Aag. 2,1881
?iblis3ied Every "STe&ies&ay,
JNT. Gt-. O^teeil?
SUMTER, S. C.
: TRKM5 :
50 per ano u ai-io advance.
IDTSCTISIM?HT:
On*? .Square first insertion..............$1 00
Sverv subsequent insertion . 50
Con tracts for three months, or longer wil
be m^de nt reduced raies.
AU communications which subserve private
interests will be charged foras ad vertiemeots.
Obituaries and tributes bf respects will be
. eharged for.
PREPARATION
FOR WAR.
Cfcmtiriues With Unabated
T^or^Hastening Work on
Torpedo Boats.
p. \ ? _
Washington, March 15 -Tbi? was
another busy day in the War and
^ Navy Department, Secretary Alger
was enabled to make an allotment of
; fonds From the appropriation cf $50,
000,000, which will greatly facilitate
the work of the bureaus. These
bureaus bad oct beau abie to conclude
any contracts for the procurement of
war supplies, because no allotment
bad been made, but this afternoon
the ordnance bureau was given two aod
a half million dollars, aod business
went forward with a rush. It is true
that (bis sum is already mortgaged
under provisional arrangements made
dariog the past week, -but with the
assurance of more foods to come the
work of the -bureau is oow moving
rapidly.
Secretary LD?1 g was exceedingly bosy
to-day, having oot only to give s good
deal of time to the Cabinet, ta winch
he wes obliged to return twice,
bat also being obliged to see a great
many persons with whom the depart?
meat has or expects to have coo trac:
relations. Among the latter was Mri
Herrcshcff, the torpedo boat builder,
from Bristol, R I. He turned two of
these boats over to the department a
few days ego, and the secretary's par,
pose ia consulting him was to learn
how much he ould bastea tba work
oa 02e of tho ferais remaining on his
hands, which in ordinary times WQOM
r.q?ire about two months to complete.
'roe secretory alia spent a good ded
of time at intervals duricg the day ta
consulting over the long distance tele
; noone with naval oficars io Now
York, and it ia believed ccao'a of this
COB saltation concerned the procore
mest of suitable vessels from among
the auxiliary oavy for war durposes.
Tbc War Department is greatly dis?
appointed aod aoooyed at the dilston
aees shown by the contractors who
have undertaken, to construct the new
fortifications along the coast, lt is
sajd that only one among the wboie
number bas finished his coo tract on
time. The department bas beeo great?
ly embarrassed thereby to placing its
gaos, sod bas beeo obliged to extend
the time allowed these contractors
The department has determined not
to submit to further obstruction io pro
secnting the work oodertakeo, bot
will do the work itself and refrain from
entering into eon tracts.
THE CABINET MEETING.
Nothing special importance twas de?
veloped at to-cay's cabinet meenog. A
large par? of the time was consumed io
tbe general discussion of the measures
being taken to place tbe oavy on a
proper footing for dec?ase in case of
tbe parchase of war vessls, where they
coold be had and at what price was
talked over, but without coming to aay
aew propositions. Informatioo io pos?
session of the governmeDt is to the ef?
fect that up to this time Spaio has not
? consummated the purse ase of the Chiliap
warship O'Higgins. The indications,
it is stated, seem to be tbat this ship
will be added ultimately to the United
. States navy. "Tbc general expecta?
tion of the cabinet/' said one of them
afror the meeting to-day, "is that eomc
report will be received daring tbe pre?
sent week from the court of inquiry
examining toto the canse of tbe Maine
explosion- Yet," be added, "it wodlo
oot be surprising to cs if the report
should be delayed for a longer time.
We have nothing on which to base this
hope tbat I know of, only the feeling
seems general that what I bave said
will be tbe case There is oothiog at
baod as yet to indicate what will be thc
oatore of the findings of the court
'.Today oar time was occapied in a
general discusi?n of the measures un?
der way for the national defense, not?
ably io regard to tbe acqu?9tion of new
vessels cf war We are keeping an
eye 00 the two sbips ander construction
for Ohili sod the Argentine Republic,
bat it is not probable we can get them.
If we cannot obtain the ships, it is a
Booree of satisfaction to know that
Spain will not be able to purchase them
either.'*
COURT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTS FROM HAVANA J
FOR KEY WEST.
No Intimation ns to When or
Where the Findmgs of the Court
Will b9 Promulgated.
Havana, March 15.-The Man?
grove, with the Con rt of Inquiry on
board, sailed to nicht for Key West.
Captain Sampson, president of the
board, assured the Associated Press
correspondent that the decision to
leave Hanana was not reached until
this afternoon, after a consultation of
the members It was decided that,
while further testimony might be ob?
tained here, this was not sufficiently
likely'to justify a longer stay The
court can return if the divers or
wreckers make discoveries that add
to the stock of knowledge now gath?
ered. The plans of the submerged
wreck, in the preparation of which
Ensign Fowel8on bas had a large
share, are very elaborate, and Cap
tain Sampson says the testimony and
records-of ?the divers are very full
Captain Sampson hopes the court
will be allowed to resume its sittings
on the battleship Iowa, now near Key
We6t, with the flagship New York.
The greater part of tbe investigation
that remains will consist, unless the
court returns here, of a careful study
of the plans It is not thought that
it will bo necessary to again sum?
mon the survivors of the Maine,
officers .or men.
The court has no prophecy to make
as to the farther duration of its sit
ting or as to when and where the
findings will be promulgated. Cap?
tain Sigsbee will probably remain
here, with Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, to superintend the
wrecking on behalf of the govern?
ment. Chaplain Chadwick is expect?
ed to remain to care for any bodies
that may be recovered. At least no or?
ders had been received to the con?
trary when this dispatch was sent.
The court called upon Consul Gen
eral Lee this afternoon, to bid him
farewell, and consequently Captain
Sigsbee said adieu to the court.
SENATOR FROCTOR SAYS
THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT SPANIARDS
BLEW UP THE
MAINE.
\
Washington, March 15.-Senator
Proctor, who is regarded as having
gone to Cuba as McKinley's envoy,
made a public statement to-day that
there was no doubt but that the Span
iarde bad blown op the Maine.
Hrs observations while in Coba
are thus summarized :
First-Tbe Maine was undoubtedly
blown up by an outside explosion.
It is not believed, that the destruction !
of the vessel and the sacrifie of her
crew^was due to any act over which
the Spanish government bad control
Second-The so called plan of au?
tonomy inaugurated under Capt Gen
Blanco has proved a failure.
Third-The reports of the intense
suffering among the reconcentradoes
and the great mortality among them
have not been exaggerated, though
there is less now than formerly, the
conditions having somewhat improved
under Bianco
Fourth-There is no impending
crisis in Cuba. The existing condi
tions, growing gradually worse, may
continue indefinitely. The early set?
tlement of the Coban question rests
with Washington and Madrid.
Fifth-The authority exercised by
the Spanish in the island is purely
military control The iosurgents are
still intrenched in the provinces of
Puerto Principe and Santiago, aud
roam generally over the island.
Sixth-Should Cuba ever pass un?
der the control of the Uuited States,
there is no doubt of its availity as a
residence for American citizens
A Change of Feeling m
Madrid.
Madrid. March 10 -It is asserted io
wei! informed circles thar the negotia?
tions in Now York HR to ?b? coromtiroial
treaty are raving {he way for an undor
standing between the Cuban Govern?
ment and the insurgents on grounds to
b* submitted for approval to rho home
Government The aspro? of affair* bas
undergone a complete change and there
is a strong feeling io favor of peace be?
tween the United States and Spain.
Raleigh, N. C, March 16- Gov?
ernor Russeii to day received a mes?
sage from President McKinley asking
bow many troops the State could
furnish in case of hostilities. The
reply of the Governor gave 245,000
as the number.
"If Combinations Occur
We'll Stand Together."
Substance of English and
American Declarations at
a Military Banquet m
London.
London, March 15*-The Honorable
Artillery company, of London, gave a
banquet last night to Messrs. Hedges,
Ferris and Lewis, of the Boston Honor?
able Artillery company, the Earl of
Denbigh presiding. Among the guests
were Consul General Osborne, Vice
aod Deputy Consul General Wesacott
and Lieutenant Colwell, oaval attache
of the United States embassy.
Lord Denbigh, io toastiog ' The
President of the United States, eqoally
honore io England aod American,"
said : "We all deeply sympathize with
America io the sad national disaster
that befell the Maioe. President Mc?
Kinley, cool and level headed, is not
likely to roo the country into any un?
necessary danger, while as an honorable
ruler be njust be jealoas of the hooor
of his country.
United States COD sui General Os?
borne, who received ao ovation oo ris?
ing to reply to the toast, referred to .the
talk of ao Anglo-American al?
liance, and testified to the frieod
ship existing between the two
ooootrics. He said be did oot believe
tbat either needed protection, unless
against a combination of powers, bot
shcuid that combination ever oocor he
was confident that the protection woold
be generously given.'7
Mr. Osborne expre?83d the opinion
that the strained relations betweco the
United States aod Spain would soon be
removed.
The Daily News, commenting this
morning co the speech of United States
Coasol Geoeral Osborne, says :
"What we have dona io this country
ia to give public notice that the combi?
nations of European powers wherewith
the United States are daily threateoed
on the continent, do oot include. and
never will include our kindred selves.
Blood shows itself thicker than water io
little neighborly reminders of that sort
and the occasion really does Dot demand
more*.
"Bat il" it did demand more, more
would be said and we firmly believe all
that the American happened to consider
needful would aiso be done.7'
Gov. Ellwbe Will
Command Oar Troops.
HS BELIEVES WAR WITH
SPAIN IS ALMOST A CER?
TAINTY.
The State March 16.
At last the governor cf South Caro?
lina comes oot unequivocally, soys he
believes war is inevitable, announces
bis intention to order out the State
troops the moment they are needed,
and declares that he will himself lead
the State's soldiers to the front. This
is tbe first time the governor has
spoken, and it is thought that he. bas
bad some" advices.
Inst night be gave the press the fol?
lowing interview :
"Governor, what do you think of tbe
prospect of war with Spain ?"
'.War is a very serious matter and
should not at any time be undertaken
except for special and sufficient rea?
sons. Ii, however, the coori of inquiry
decides that the Spanish government is
responsible for the blowing up of the
Maine it seems to me that war is in?
evitable The dastardly aot of taking
the lives of 25G unsuspecting American
seampu whiie quietly asleep in a
friendly port should not be treated
lightly by any nation of courage. The
I conservative policy which bas been
pursued by the administration is to be
much commended.
"If war be declared and you are
callfd upon what do you propose to
do?*'
"I wculd order ont the State troops
immediately."
"How many men could you put out
on short notice ?"
"I have about 5,000 armed and
equipped, who woald respond to a roan
and fight a circular saw to proteot the
honor of tho American flag '7
"Who would you put in command ?"
"If the troop* of my State arc put?
in the field I will take commaod my?
self. I have ordered Adjutant General
Watta to fully equip avery company and
direct the captaius to recuit their com?
panies to the number? required.'7
Tho Two Nsw Cruisers.
London, March 16 -The final con
tract providing for the sale of the
warships Amazonas and Almirante
Abrouall to the United States has
been signed The price is something
over ?00,000 pounds ($2,500,000)
for both ships. An American crew
is expected here from Lisbon to night
to take possession of the Amazonas
on Friday.
France Prepares for War.
?'ieet to Support Russia in tue
Par East.
I Paris, March 16 -The Aurore to?
day affirms that the French fleet is
being prepared for mobilization, adding
that feverish anxiety prevails at all the
arsenals and shipyards, which are work?
ing until 10 o'clock at oigbt.
Continuing, the Aurore says the
French northern rqadroo at Cberboug
is ready for immediate departure.
Finally, it is asserted that in order to ;
complete the necessary Dumber of offi?
cers, eecood year students are to be ap?
pointed midshipmen, and all tbe ad?
mirals have beeo instructed to arrange
i
to reach Paris within twenty-four hours
after being summoned *
Tbe Aurore explsins tbat tbe mobil?
ization is to support Rusia by a Dava! de?
monstration in tbe far east.
The Attitude of Europe.
There is an assertion of European
interest in the present effort to pre?
vent war with Spain by demonstra?
ting in advance its inevitable outcome
tbat deserves some attention. -
It is stated that Francis Joseph,
Emperor of a wrangling family of
discordant races, bas extended bis
anxiety from the troubles of his own
realm to include the safety of all
Europe, which, he considers eodan^
gered by the pos3ibity of a declar?
ation of war upon Spain by the
United States To this attitude of
Austria-Hungary, Emperor William
is said to add his protest, and the
position of Russia is assumed to be j
indicated by the prediction of the
Novoe Vremya, ajournai whose poli
cal declarations are usually well in?
formed, if not inspired, that all the
European powers will file categorical
protest against a declaration of war
upon SpaiD by the United States
AH this would be interesting and
of possible importance if it were
based upon a probability The chief
value of these reports Hes in their
indication of the awakening of tbe
European powers to the actual
seriousness of the crisis that has
grown so grave as to agitate all the
chancelleries with the dread that
another monarchy is in peril For
that is the real secret of whatever
European sympathy with Spain may
exist Frace has the feeling of the
purse, for many dollars of her finan?
ciers are invested in Spanish bonds
which have been knocked downward
on the Bourse by the mere threat of
hostilities. But elsewhere in Europe
there may be expected a protest
? against a war that could only result
I in the crushing defeat of Spam and
i the probable overthrow of the Bour
[ bon dynasty through domestic revo
lution. Even the historic ally of the
United States, Russia would probably
join in such a protest ; but, as the
St. Petersburg'journal intimates, its
protest would be merely one of words,
oot of acts. England aloue, moved
by a natural desire which may be
I reciprocal for our co-operation in
keepiog opeo the door of the Oriental
? markets, would exteod to the United
States its moral support - in the pro
cess of expelliog Spain from its last
possession in the American continent.
But all this discussion proceeds
upon the false assumption that it is
the United States that is going to de
clare war against Spain. If there is
to be any war, it will originate, not
in Washington, but in Madrid It
will arise, not necessarily out of the
demand for reparation that now
seems quite certain to follow the re
port of our Naval Board of Inquiry
upon the destruction of the Maine
That demand will not be a casus belli.
On the contrary, the probability is
that Spain, shrinking from the ac?
knowledgment of atrocious treachery
which would receive the rebuke of all
the world and alienate the sympathy
of all civilization, would be swift to
make atonement for a deed that it
would simultaneously disavow But
that atonement will not end the Cu?
ban question It will involve the en?
forcement ofthat end which the Mc?
Kinley administration has held stead
iiy in view-the restoration of peace,
the cessation of the wholesale mur?
der of a race, the revival of indus !
try and commerce in the province al- ?
ready lost to the Spanish throne.
How ie that end to be attained ? |
There may be. first, an oiler of friend
ly intervention, including a reason
able adjustment of finances, to be
guaranteed and administered by the j
United States. If Spain in blind \
foliy and stupid passion rejects that
offer, there may follow not only a
recognition of the belligerency but
a recognition of the independence of
the Republic of Cuba. But even
those steps would not be a cause of
war by this country. The responsi?
bility for war would still rest with
Spain. The declaration of hostili?
ties must originate m Madrid, and it
can be compelled there only by the
fear that the peaceful surrender of
Cuba will provoke domestic revol
tion.
But war, demonstrated in advan
to result in overwhelming defea
would be a hopeless resort to snsta
a monarchy threatened by intern
revolt It is the daily augraentir
proof of the hopelessness, the ott?
futility of such a struggle, whi(
make our preparations for war an e
fort for peace, if not its augury -
Mail and Express.
Written Before Maine Ws
Sent to Habana.
New York, March 17.-The Ne
York Joumai this afternoon prints
statement written by Honore F. Lain
the newspaper correspondent recent]
arrested and rearcbed by Spanish o
facials in Cabanas prison. Habana, as
later expelled from the island. Tb
is the opening of Laioe's statement :
' On Jao. 24, at 10 o'clock at nigi
I met in tbe Cafe Ingleterra, the beat
quarters of the reporters ia Habao:
Francisco Diaz, a reporter of tbe rabi
Spanish paper La Union Constitt
cional, with whom I frequently ej
changed news
"On asking him ii be had anythin
to give me, be took from bis pocket
letter and banded it to me, saying
.Weyler wrote this letter to Sante
Guzman, who sent it to Nove (the ed;
tor of La Ucioa Constitucional) fe
him to' read and write au article o
the acceptance by Weyler of the can
didacy of deputy to the cortes for Ha
hana. I took this copy, which yo
I can keep.7 "
! The following is the alleged lette
! referred to above :
"His Excellency, Don Francisco de lo
! Santos Guzman, Habana :
''My Distinguished Personal and Pc
; litical Friend : Since the latest eveDt
I have changed roy views about tb
attitude which our political party ii
Cuba ongbt to assume.
"If have thought before that it wa
more dignified for cs to abstain froo
the electoral contest, I believe now tba
it is a patriot's duty for us to go to th
polls. Our success cannot be doubted
neither can cur majority of voters, no
that with a programme of defense o
; ihe national honor we will have sid
by side with us ail those lukewarn
politicians, who, though Spaniards a
heart, are deceived by the inside com
I bination of Moree and Sagasta, ant
tabe as scientific solutions of our colo
nial problems what are really dishes
orable humiliations of our country be
fore the United States.
"Write on your flag, the flag o
Spain, 'Defense of National Honor,
aod I offer you my name as your can
. didate.
"After havisp commanded during
two years 200,000 Spanish heroes if
Cuba the title I shall ne more prone
of is that of deputy from Habana ai
the cortes of Spain.
"By tho way, I bave read these day?
that the Americans are pondering
about sending one of their warships tc
that city. During my command ic
Cuba they did not even dare to-?fr-srx
j about it. They knew the terrible
j punishment that awaited them. I bac
Habaoa harbor well prepared for sucb
an eoergeooy. I rapidly finished the
work that Martinez Campos carelessly
abandoned.
"If the insult is made I hope thai
there will be a Spaoisb band to punish
I it as terribly as it deserves.
"Romero is in better health than hie
friends could have expected, and not?
withstanding how morally sick I feel
breathing this humiliating atmosphere,
is well ; also your affectionate friend
and servant. Valeriano Weyler.
"Madrid, January 8, 1898."
LaiDe says that he read the letter
and pigeon-holed it. When the Maine
arrived he called at the office of the
Union Cocstitutional to tee Diaz, in an
effort to secure tho original of the letter
Some days after the Maine explosion
Laicc met Diaz, who asked him if he
remembered the letter and what its con
tents were about an American warship.
The American correspondent replied
that he did and that he believed some
ooe bad followed Weyler's adviee.
Laine says that he has since found out
that Diaz informed the chief of police
that be (Laine) bad a copy of a letter
written by V\ cyler which mighi bring
trouble to the Spanish government,
especially as he was an American news?
paper correspondent who was associat?
ing with Captaio Sigsbee, hence his
arrest cn March 4
Continuing big narrative, Laioe says :
? "1 had noiiced for several nights mys?
terious work which was being dene in
the fortress. On inquiring from a sol?
dier whom I knew, what it was, he in?
formed me that they were carrying
from the magazine of the fortress large
quantities of dynamite, which were be
iog laid io tho harbor.
"My investigations during my period
of imprisonment were carried as far as
a political prisoner could do io a Span?
ish fortress, but it was sufficient for me
to ascertain with certainty that the
quanity of dynamite placed in the har?
bor io different places was two tone and
that the wires of tbe mines were con?
nected with the Cabanas fortress and
the Capitan?a de Puerto, or marine
headquarters."
Moving Toward the Verdict.
impatience for the reciept and pub?
lication of ?he formal report of the
Naval Board of Inquiry into the
cause of the destrrction of the Maine
is but Datural. It only grows with
the lapse of days. ;md there is am?
ple indication that the neccessary
delay has not cooled the public pulse,
but has onsy made its beat steadier
a?d firmer, indicating a firm determi?
nation to deal with the facts, when
they are ascertained, exactly as they
deserve. There is no reason to credit
the silly assertion that that tbe re?
port of the naval board is purposely
delayed. Its inquiry is of neces?
sity difficult and nothing can be
clearer than that ii must be exhaust?
ive. No possible source of informa?
tion can be neglected, sod the evi?
dence pre8eoted must be 6o conclu?
sive as to justify its verdict, which
will doubtless flatly coDtradict Span?
ish assertion-to the conviction,
not only of the people of the United
States, but of all the civilized na
tiou8, among whom Spain is not count?
ed.
The interval, even though it be
impatient, is uot wasted in idleness.
It is a cause of profound gratifica?
tion to observe the readioess and
the prcmptoess with which the
goveromeot, with every part
of its orgaoizatioD workiog in
harmony, rises to the emergency
Every executive department is per
forming its duty in absolute accord
and the Congress has forgotten par?
tisanship in the call upon patriotism.
There have been a few misuDder
standings and there have been mis?
representations, ?neb, for example,
as that which accused Speaker Reed
of opposing the p?aos of the aidminis
tratioo But these calumnies have
died with their utterance, so swiftly
have evente presented their dis?
proof.
With the reported purchase of two
fast cruisers from Brazil, the navy in
a measure makes np for the ioss of
the battleship Maine Spain appears
to have suddenly re cognized this fact,
and has made of?cal recognition of
our preparations for war, which
are in reality preparations to
enforce peace by making: war
hopeless for the adversary. Her new
Minister, Senor Po-o, has received a
demonstration of the straightforward?
ness of the language-of diplomacy
"as she lc spoke'' by Secretary Day.
When he called at the Department of
State yesterday and with feigned sur?
prise inquired if it were really true
that the Government of the United
States had bought some warships,
and. if so. why. he- met a reply that
in its frankness and its logic mast
have confounded bia Castillan curi?
osity. Yes, he was told, we have
bought war vessels in foreign wa?
ter? ; and we have bought them to
replace a battle ship that we lost in
foreign waters This answer is a
"facer " There is abont it no ?va?
sons, but a square assertion of our
proceeding. It is well that the Span?
ish Minister should thus have the ex?
plicit information that this nation is
absolutely in earnest and that there is
nothing of bluff, but the sternest re?
ality, in its readiness to maintain its
honor and to rescue humanity from
further outrage.
Time flies, but happenings are fast
upon its heels The present situa?
tion, so exasperating to two nations
and so disturbing to other powers,
must move quickly to its solution in
brief war or in lasting peace. The
approach of the alternative is herald?
ed by the Spanish Minister's ques?
tions. No embassy or other legation
at Washington has taken the trouble
to inquire into our purchase of war?
ships. Why should Spain make form?
al demand, only to receive emphatic
answer ?
There are some extremely interest?
ing cablegrams now now pulsing be?
tween the Spanish Minister and his
superiors in Madrid.-Mail and Ex?
press, March 16.
We bave bright, honorable cercharte in
Ibis torco, and they give the pnbiic wLat it
demands. They neve? offer as a substitute
eons-thing "just a? good."
? ?? mH-i-M- \w MBBg
-i^--i- t--M wa ua?fi
Royal makes the food pure,
wholesome a2d dei:c.\ io.
FWKR
Absolutely Pure
BOYAL gMQgg POWU6R CC., KEW YORK.