The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, April 06, 1898, Image 1
S?MTS? 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 T??IS SOUTHRON, Established jane. 12*9
Sew Series-Vol. XVII. So. .16
l>ar. <3k Os?een,
SUMTER, S. C.
?aas :
$ 1.50 per annum-ic advance.
A D7 B RT I 3 I Mf XT :
On* Square first insertion....?,._$1 00
Beery subsequent insertion_ 50
Con tracts for three months, or longer wil
be made at reduced rates.
All communications which stthserre private
?eterests will becbareed far as ad reniements.
Obituaries and tributes of respecta witt be
eb*rjied for.
The Senate Does Not Ac?
quiesce io McKinley's
Policy.
The Sentiment of the Amer?
ican People Reflected in
" Congress.
Washington, March 29.-Interest
in the Cuban situation-the interest
m|gbt almost be termed excitement,
80 intense was it-reached a climax
in tbe proceedings of the senate to?
day As on previous days of dis?
cussion of the Caban question, thou?
sands of people Socked .to tbe capi?
tol, only a few of whom, compara?
tively, could gain admission to tbe
galleries*
Within five minutes after the sen?
ate convened Mr. Allen of Nebraska
introduced a resole tion recognizing
toe independence of tbe Cuban re?
public. This was followed by a res?
olution proposed by Mr: Rawlins of
Utah dec?an tig war against the king?
dom of Spain. Mr. Foraker of Ohio
thea introduced a resolution declar?
ing preach intervention in the Cu?
ban war aa would bring about the in?
dependence of the Cubans Following
this came a resolution by Mr. Frye
of Marne demanding that Cuba be
made free.
Tbe resolutions followed one an?
other BO rapidly as almost to stun the
auditors, both senators and specta?
tors
This was the condition when the
Vice President recognized Mr Ma
eon of Illinois, for his announced
upeech on the President's message,
transmitting to congress the findings
of the Main ercourt of inquiry Mr.
Mason read his speech from manu?
script, but it was delivered with all
the vigor and fire of which be is
capable. The intensity of the feel?
ing of those in the galleries was
elicited by his declaration that he was
for war.
Vice President Hobart had di?5
eclty in suppressing the demonstra?
tion.
After Mr. Mason's speecb"the sen?
ate passed 74 private pension bills
and followed this order with eulogies J
ort the late Senator Earle of Sooth
Carolina, one of the most remarkable
of which was pronounced by Mr Till?
man, a long time political opponent
of General Earle
Mr Morrill of Vermont, from the
finance committee, reported* a joint
resolution providing for the importa?
tion, free of duty, of military sup?
plies secured abroad into the United
States and asked for its immediate
consideration. It was passed
The resolution of Mr. Rawlins is as
follows :
Whereas, the war waged by the
kingdom of Spain against the people
of Cuba bas destroyed the commerce*
between them and toe peopie of the
United States and its revival wi!) be
impossible so long as such war may
continue, and,
Whereas, by the authority of that
kingdom, in the course of such war
much American property has been de?
stroyed and many American citizens
without jost cause, have been im
prisoned and some assassinated in
their prison cells ; and,
Whereas, while our ship Maine was
at anchor in the harbor of Habana,
within the dominion and under con
trol of the kingdom of Spain at a
place designated by her authority ;
that ship and most of the men on
board, m the service of their coun?
try, by the explosion of a submarine
mine were wilfully, wickedly and
treacherously mangled and destroyed;
and,
Whereas the kingdom of Spain has
proven herself incompetent to tran
quilize the island of Cuba either by
tbe methods of peace or by means of
civilized warfare ; sud, accordingly
has proceeded to make desolate the
homes of its peaceful inhabitants,
driving men, women 8cd children
into guarded camps, detaining them
there without making provision to
shelter, clothe or feed them, thus
wilfully causing their extermination
to the number of hundreds of thou?
sands-by the slow and tortuous pro
cees8 of starvation ; and
Whereas, against these wrongs,
against these revolting acts of inhu?
manity this government has time and
j again made peaceful protest to the
kingdom of Spain, at the same time
endeavoring by a helpful charity to
relieve those whom she has brought
to such dire distress, and our repeat?
ed protests haviug been disregarded
and ocr efforts of philanthropy hav
ing proved unavailing and
Whereas, firmly convinced that fur?
ther peaceful protest will prove equal
ly io vain and that the recognition of
the independence of the republic of
Cuba and armed interventions in its
behalf by this government will alone
be effective for the redress for the
past and the prevention of future
wrongs, and ,
Whereas,, while regretting the ne?
cessity-now imperious-for such
action, bot mindfnl of oar duty to a
neighboring people and to humanity
and with a consciousness as to the
justness of our cause and that our ac
tion will meet with the approving
judgment of all civilized peoples,
now, therefore, be it
. Kesolved, By, the senate and the
boose of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem?
bled, that the independence of the
republic of Coba be, and the same is
hereby recognized, and that war
against the kingdom of Spain be and
the same is hereby declared, and the
President is hereby authorized and
directed to employ the land and naval
forces of the United States of Amer
i ca to wage such war to success
Congress Will. Not be Con?
trolled by McKinley and
. Seed.
If McKinley Doesn't Act Promptly
the House Will Take the Heins
in Its Hands.
Washington, Marok 29.-Tile re?
vel: io the hocr.e agaiost farther delay
of action on the Coban issue culmi?
nated to-day io a oonferenoe of Repub?
lican members whose ideas are in ac?
cordance with a positive early conree
About 60 * representatives attended,
representing ail sections. Representa?
tive Hopsios of [Dinois, a member of
the ways and means .committee, pre?
med Representative Joy of Missouri
was secretary. Tbe meeting was called
to take bteps to secare immediate in?
tervention in some form and tbe recog?
nition of, Coban independence. It was
the first definite steps following dis?
cussions in the cloak rooms and lob?
bies since the President's message was
submitted yesterday, by many mem
bera who favor immediate and aggres?
ive action. Up to this afternoon the
sentiment was half concealed, bat
strong feeling* against voting money
for Cuban relief coie?s accompanied
by action to stop the war. The meet?
ing to-day waa called wirb a view to
accomplishing tba unqualified removal
of the Spanisn troops from Cuba a?;d
the prompt armed intervention ia the
affairs of that island.
Her Tale of Woe.
The Queen of Spain Appeals
to Several Sovereigns.
London. March 31.-The Vienna
correspondent of the Standard says :
The Queen regent of Spaio, I learn,
wrote personally laet week to Emperor
Frankies Joseph and other sovereigns,
including Emperor Nicholas, request?
ing not precisely intervention, but the
exercise of such influence at Washing?
ton as might caucacc to a peaceful set?
tlement, without injury to Spain's dig?
nity and vital interests
*'I am ia a" dif??eult position,/' she
wrote, "having to act as the guardian
of the dynasty, which ? mast not /x
pose to any danger, nod at the same
time as the defender cf the rights
honor and'tnterests of Spain To sur?
render Cuba in any form would unques?
tionably injure the dynasty under
which it occured ; whereas to fi'ht for
it would keep those interests inti ct, to?
gether with my country's honor. Bu?
the disadvantages Spaiu would have to
??bi coder are obvious; and a pcaoeiul
>o!ution woold best serve ever; pur?
pose."
? Ml? ?<! -? I
A special to the News and Courier
fro'n Orangeburg, S. C., says : On
!a&t Scnday night, on the place of Mr.
S E. Owen, in Oraogcburg County,
four negro children were burred to
death. The houss was occupied by
Quilla Evans, and it seem? that tfce
chiidren wore left in the house a?oee.
The children who were burned were
three of them cf Quilla Evaoe and the
other Lawrence Kennerly, a 13 year old
son of Quilla's father.
Secretary Bliss informed Gocgrese
that-Msce 1890 the number of names
on the pension rolls had nearly doubled,
and that payments on account of pen?
sions were likely to increase for pome
time to ooma. The value of the roll
is now approximately $132,000,000.
Ultimatum of the United
Slates to Spain.
_
THIS WEEK WILL SHAPE
THE POLICY OF THE
* FUTURE,
v
Whether ft be One of Peace
or One of War.
Washington, March 30.-The vital
point in the Coban situation-viz ,
independence-has shifted itself from
Washington to Madrid, where the
Spanish government is now giving
grave arid earnest consideration to
propositions presented by the gov?
ernment of the United States On the
answer to the propositions probably
depends the future course of the rela?
tion between Spain and this.country.
It believed that it is now but a ques?
tion of an exceedingly short time be
fore the inevitable crisis most come.
The Spanish ministry will hold a cab?
inet council' tomorrow, after the
propositions have been submitted to
the queen regent, a )d as a result
of that conference il is expected by
the administration that a definite
answer to its proposals will be re?
ceived
The propositions submitted by this
country contemplate a complete and
immediate cessation of hostilities in
Cuba, the retain of ' he reconcentra?
dos to their usual avocations, and
the independence of Cuba, this last
feature to be secured probably on au
indemnity basis by which the island
would pay & substantial sum for its
freedom from Spanish rule.
These propositions take a wide
scope, and there are many details in
the alternative propositions, the pur
pose being to present every possible
plan promising a solution of the Cu
ban problem so long is an end of the
Cuban war und Cnban independence
were embodied in the ultimate result.
It has been made perfectly clear to
Spain that nothing less than the close
of the war *nd the independence of
the island will s office ss an adequate
settlement.
IT REMAINS WITH SPAIN
It is now for Spain to accept or re?
ject these tenders There is no dis
position to urge one rather than an
other, so long as the conclusion final
ry reached brings the termination of
the war and Cuban independence.
Never before until now has the Span?
ish government, even for a moment,
entertained such propositions. Now,
in the stress of the present emer?
gency, with declarations of war in?
troduced in the American Congress,
Spain has reluctantly consented to
consider them. This in itself has
given lively hope of satisfactory re?
sults But it iuvo?v?8 a grave crisis
in Spain, and it cannot be foretold
what the fir.al action at Madrid will
be. Until to day i t was believed
that Spain would indignantly reject
a proposition involving the inde
pendence of Cuba, or American in?
tervention, dr the c ?sapp?arance of
the Spaish flag from I he island, either
through purchase by Cubans or other
wise.
SPAIN IN YIELDING MOOD
There was the best of reason for
the official belief that as between
peace and war on these propositions
Spain would choose war, but more
hope apparently is entertained here
of Spain being in a yielding mood as
the American plans for solution are
being carefully weighed with a view
to a final decision As stated, that
answer is believed to be only a ques?
tion of perhaps two :>r three days.
When it is received, the future
course of this government will be
determined, lt is the view of the
administration that tbe present week
will shape the policy of the future,
whether it is to be one of peace or
one of war.
Many representative men of Con?
gress, Senators and representatives,
called at the white he use to day and
conferred with the President. To
the leaders in Congress he stated that
definite results were expected from
Madrid by Friday. This served to
allay tho intense feeling which had
been manifested in Congress and
through the influence of the leaders
further radical action by the Senate
and House was for the time being de
ferred.
At the capitol excitement was una
bated. After the vote on the Bailey
resolution many Republicans went
to the White House to confer with
the President and to express to him
their hope that something might be
promised which would relieve the
strained situation. The assurances j
of the President was given to these
members that by Friday night at the I
latest something definite could be
expected
WAITING EXPECTANCY.
The situation at the zapito! is ono of
waiting expectancy Senators and
Representatives are willing to give the
President to opportuni ty to carry out
bis plans, but there in impatience to
have some information regarding those
plans and some assurances r.hat they
wili not delay action too long.
It was ?tated to-d8y io a high diplo?
matic quarter that the Spanish govern?
ment within the last ten days bad ad?
dressed a note to the great powers of
Europe, folly setting forth tbe grave
aspect of tbe controversy with the
United States and at least inferentially
suggesting that the time was now op?
portune for European influences to be
exerted. It is said that this note led to
the utterances of Premier Hanotaox
in the French chamber last Sunday,
and has been tbs canse of activity at
European capitals within tbe last few
days in connection with Spanish
American affairs. Up to the cresent
time, however, no actual step toward
coediatioD or ioterveotioo bas been
taken by any of tire great powers, al?
though there is little doubt that France
stands ready to take the initiative if
there is tbe slightest evideoce that the
United States government will view
snob a move with favor.
LAST RESORT OF DIPLOMACY.
A tender of good offices is one of the
last resorts of diplomacy, when all oth?
er means of averting war seem to be at
an end. There is additional difficulty
(rom the fact that when two nations
are involved in a crisis any external
influence may be resented as an intru?
sion There is reason to believe that
the French authorities aro folly con?
scious of these delicate . and difficult
phases, and that no step will be made
unless it is dearly apparent tn advance
that the United States desires the
friendly offices of other nations.
The Spanish government bas earnest-,
ly hoped within the last week that
some of the European powers, aod
more likely Austria or Fraocc, would
take the initiative, without waiting to
consult the desires of this government.
This hope has proved vain, however,
and it is stated to-day on high authority
that recent negotiations in Europe have
diseased positively that while the sym?
pathy of some cf the continental pow?
ers wa3 toward Spain, no one of them
stood ready to espouse ber oause, by
mediation or by arms.
The greatest secrecy prevails tn
many of the bureaus of the war and
navy departments in regard to the vari?
ous projects of defense and naval
movements now going on, aod the of?
ficials in many cases positively refuse
to make public steps that have been
determined upon.
The most notable instance of this
kind probably ia in the navy depart?
ment, where Captain Crowninshieid of
thc bureau of navigation has issued an
order forbidding subordinates to make
pub'io any information except on per?
mission from himself.
- ? ? -
Resolution Recognizing
Cuban Independence
Held Up in the
House.
Washington, March 30 -A wild
and uproarious scene occurred in the
House of Representatives to day
when Mr. Bailey, the Democratic
leader, attempted to force the hand
of the Republicans upon a proposi?
tion to overrule the Speaker and pass
a resolution recognizing the inde?
pendence of t^he Cuban Republic
He was cheered on by tho crowded
galleries, but the members of the ma?
jority refused io support him They
were rallied by two cf thc leading
advocates of intervention, and the
Speaker himself from the chair made
an indirect appeal to his party as
sociates to stand Arm, at the same
time intimating that if their impa?
tience was curbed a little longor they
would have the opportunity they
coveted. The scene throughout was
n*ost dramatic, and the members and
spectators in the galleries were
wrought up to a high p?tch of ex
citement.
Mr. Bailey offered his resolution as
a privileged question As soon as it
was read, Mr. Boutelle made the point
of order that it was not privileged,
and upon that Mr. Bailey demanded
to be heard. He called attention to
the fact that in the Fifty-third Con?
gress, when Mr. Crisp was Speaker,
Mr. Boutelle, who now made the
point of order that this resolution
was not privileged, presented
a resolution of a similar char?
acter relating to Hawaii, which
the Speaker held was privi?
leged, but must go a committee.
Against that latter ruling an appeal
was taken, and the whole Republican
side had voted against tabling the
appeal When he said that at the
head of the list of distinguished Re?
publicans who voted on that question
was the honorable Speaker of this
House, the Democrats went into ;
rapturous applause I
Meantime the confusion was great.
Th'j Republican leaders were evident ,
ly rallying their forces I
Mr Hull, chairman of the commit- j
tee on military affairs, who was one j
of the prime movers in the movement
for prompt and vigorous action on the
Republican side, came forward with t
a strong appeal to Republicans not c
to be carried off their feet. At the 6
outset, he acknowledged that hie
sympathies were with the resolution
(which it transpired afterward he be?
lieved at that time contained a decla?
ration of war), but he argued that it
did not present a question of higher
privilege than tbe consideration of
an appropriation bill. We could have
war, said he, whenever we wanted
it. A resolution declaring war was
privileged, he admitted.
Mr. Terry, Democrat of Arkansas,
argued that a question involving a
matter of privilege was in f_ct one
for the House to decide.
Amid profound silence the Speaker
made his ruling. He spoke in delib
crate, distinct and emphatic tones,
and decided that the resolution was
not privileged, giving at great length
his reasons for so ruling.
Mr. Bailey immediately appealed
from the decision of the chair
In putting the question on the ap?
peal, Speaker Reed made the follow?
ing significant and impressive state?
ment :
"As far as a question arising out
of this matter is concerned, the chair
has not the slightest doubt that the
wisdom of the House, which has al?
ways been able to arrive at import?
ant questions in a suitable way, will
get at them now." (Applause on the
Republican side.)
The division was eagerly awaited.
The Republicans rose en ma6se when
the speaker called for the yeas. The
Democrats, who anxiously surveyed
the solid phalanx for a sign of a
break, were disappointed. The di?
vision resulted : 179 yeas to 139
nays
-i ??> ll ? a
Feeling Prevalent That Peace
is Assured.
9
Havana, via Key West, Msroh 30.
-Sunday and Monday were days of
decided anxiety in the political and
business circles of Havana; bat yester?
day and to-day chere bas been a much
more quiet feeling. Without being
able to give any good reason for their
belief, many prominent men seem satis?
fied that peace is sssured. The word
"armistice" is repeated from lip to lip
as if there were some magic within it
to solve the whole problem of Cuban
otrife.
Those, however, who known General
Maximo Gomez, General Calixto Gar?
cia, Senor Bortolomeo Masso and the
other insurgent leaders best, say that
all reckon without their host who be?
lieve these men will agree to an armis?
tice, even if asked to do so by the
United State?, unless it is plainly un?
derstood that the truce is to be fol?
lowed by a recognition of "Cuba
Libre "
It is argued that General Gomes, af?
ter holding cat all through the dry sea?
son, will decline to agree to a truce dur?
ing the rainy mouths, io which the in?
surgents would have the advantage.
On ali sides it is regarded as almost
certain that if war does come it will not
come until all possible plan: f accom
medaling difficulties fail.
EXCUSE FOR A BACKDOWN.
A Spaniard of high influence, while
talking recently with Consol General
Lee. said :
"Thc Sagasta ministry wili not be
compelled to fight to insure self-proteo
tioc. Sagasta could quiet Spain by
proclaiming: 'We have made Cuba an
ash pile, a ?ese.'t. It is oo longer
worth any outlay of blood or treasure.
It is only fit for negroes and mixed
bloods. Let it go ' "
But very few take such a view of the
situation, although ignorant Spaniards
might be deceived by such a declara?
tion.
Meanwhile, it seems as if the Spanish
military and naval powers are either
convinced that there is no danger of
active hostilitie'a or are utterly carders
of tbe grave consequences that the fu?
ture may hold.
There are no visible preparations to
provision Havana io case cf a blook- ;
ade. cor ia there any notable increase
in thc coal supply for naval uses. In
the opii/iori of Americans, hero one of
the gravest dangers lies in the fact that
the ignorant ^classes of the city are not
io any way advised as to che chances of
war or oi^ge. They believe Havana
impregnable and the fleet of Spain all
conqaerin<r If rudely awakened to
other views, they might become dan?
gerous and foster internal disorders.
GEN LEE SERENE.
General Lee continues as cheerful as
susiigh?. despite the fact that bo was
warned last Sunday aod Monday of five
distinct plots against his life. Of
course he does not give credence to
such etorien. and he is carefully guard?
ed by the government; but continued
warning* of this kind are not a pleasant
menta! diet. The iast story was that
be would ho poisoned by & bribed em?
ploye of his hotel. To tbis General
Lee replied by asking tho newspaper
jorrcspoodents who sit near him at meal
:ime, in case he is suddenly taken ill,
?ret to shoot hi? waiter aod then run
'or a stomach pump.
We have bright, honorable mercbacts ia
bis town, and they give the public w_at it
lemaads They never offer as a eabstitote
lometbiog "just as good."
TRIBUTE TO
SENATOR EARLE.
Senators McLaurin and Till?
man ProDonnce High Eu?
logy on the Distinguish?
ed Carolinian.
Washington, March 29.- The Sen?
ate paused tn day. io the midst of a
whirlwind of war talk, to pay tribute
to. the memory of the late Senator
Earle, of South Carolina. Consider?
ing his short term of service in the
Senate he was greatly beloved by bis
associates, and the eulogies passed
upon him to-day by leading Senators
were of an unusually high order.
Senator McLaurin, the successor of
Judge Earle, was appropriately
chosen to open the debate. It is sel?
dom that the Senate has listened te a
more beautiful and fitting testimonial
to a departed Senator than that which
the junior Senator from South Caro
lina paid Judge Earle. Senator Mc
Laurin's personal and political friend?
ship for the dead Senator enabled
him to judge the deceased at short
range, and in the opening speech he
sounded the keynote for nearly all the
remarks which followed.
Senators Chandler of New Hamp?
shire, Clay of Georgia, Spooner of
Wisconsin, Chilton of Texas, Cannon
of Utah, Kenney of Delaware and
McEnery of Louisana addressed the
Senate in the order named.
Senator Tillmau closed the pro?
ceedings with a plain, straightfor?
ward story of the political career of
Judge Earle. Senator Tillman de?
parted somewhat from the nsnal eu?
logistic course and directed his re?
marks almost exclusively to the polit?
ical history surrounding Judge
Earle's life in the Palmetto State.
Senator Tillman prepared his hearers
for his rather extraordinary procedure
by stating, in his opening sentences,
that he was not personally friendly to
the dead Senator, as they had been
antagonists in State politics He
then preceeded to review the politi?
cal history of South Carolina, with a
dash here and there of some of his
characteristic tartness of expression,
which jarred upon the solemnity of
the ceremonies He said he would
be censured for 6uch a radical depart?
ure from the beaten track on such oc?
casions, but he wanted to dc full jus?
tice to the memory of Judge Earle,
to demonstrate that he was a faithful
and devoted public servant There
was not a tinge of venom or disre?
spect in Senator Tillman's remark?
ably enlogy upon his dead colleague,
and he impressed the Senate that he
was earnest in his admiration of the
manly, dignified and able qualities
which finally enabled the subject of
his eulogy to .?nd his life in the
United States hecate -News and
Courier.
Another Warning.
The "war scare'*'fhoald have more
interest to the Southern farmers than
to any other class of people in the
United States If war comes, higher
prices for oro, meal, flour, ba^on and
all feed stuffs will come with it. The
Southern farmer who doe-*, sot produce
enough for himself, his family and his
stock to eat will suffer. There's no
dcubt about it. Our formers have been
warned in time If they do net raise
wheat, oats, corn, barley, vegetables,
hogs, and cattle in abuudaoce luis
vear they will bave only themselves to
blame.
ls it not rime for the disappearance
of t,bat peculiar phase of constitutional
ignorance-so frequently encountered
in public places of la*e-which de
riGUCoes not o ri ly ihe non-arrival of
war, bat thc President because hs has
not declared war. Those persons who
do not koo^ fha* Congress alone is
vested with power to declare war have
no right to disccss thc Cuban question
from any point cf view. They should
pass their leisure moments in perusing
the fundamental law of their country.
-The New York Mail apd Express.
Royal inches the food pure,
w bc I esc LC s cad ?elic'fj'zs.
WOVAt e<MCI?0 POWDER CO., MEW VQ3K.