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r&K SUMTJEB WATCHMAN, jKatabiisbed 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 SODTHKOX, EstabHehed Jane. 13^.9 Consolidated lag. 3,1881. SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13,1898. New Series-Vol. XVII. No. 37 BB". Ca-. O?teeiij SUMTER, S. C. TBHMS : $1.50 per annum-jo ??vanee. ADVERTISEMENT: ?ns? Square first insertion.............$1 00 S vary subsequent i osertiou ?. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer-wi! be m-ide at reduced rates. . All communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as ad versements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. Spanish Standpoint. . Minister Bernab? Discusses ' the Situation. Washington. April 5.-The Span ?ah minister, Senor Polo y Bernab?, was seen at the Spanish legation to? day and consented to talk on the present condition of affairs He spoke freely and at times with in tense earnestness. The interview is authoritative throughout. "1 am still hopeful of peace." said he. "That .may seem optimistic at a moment when such passions are aroused, such naval and military ope. rations are going on. and when the current of public sentiment seems to be that war is inevitable. I cannot say that I base my view that peace will prevail upon any direct or official information. On the contrary, it is my individua) judgment, based sole? ly upon the conviction that in these enlightened days two self-respecting nations, made up of men and women of high aspirations and noble im st?ncts, cannot and will not resort to that last and brutal expedient, war. To be sure, I cannot close my eyes to certain obvious circumstances ex isling both here and in Spain. THE OTHER SIDE. ?Consider for a moment some of the elements of this present criais,7' the minister went on, speaking with much vigor. "Can it be possible that your people will consider only one side of the case T Let us fer a moment admit that there are two sides to it "Cuba has been a colony of Spain from time immemorial-from the time of the discovery , by Christopher Col umbus-and as a part of Spain there is clustered about it a reverence * of most sacred Cuba i ^regarded al our people just as you regard one by the States of your Union. What would be said if some foreign power Said to the United States that Illinois or Texas or California most be free and independent of the United States? To be an re. your press tells of brutal savagery existing m Cuba I do not rcish to deal in recrimination. The time for that has gone by. Bot I give you my word that this savagery does not exist at all ; that all reliable reports, official and unofficial, Spanish and American agree that whatever may have been the condition of affairs a years ago, General Blanco bas in? augurated a humane and beneficent system, characteristic of the man. AS TO AUTONOMY .'Now, as to autonomy. For some reason, intense feeling has been aroused in this country against the borne rule regime which Spain has inaugurated in Cuba. It seems to be overlooked, in the passion of the moment, that this home role has been the aspiration of the Cubans for years, lt seems to be overlooked also that President Cleveland and Secretary Olney urged a full measure ol borne rule as the. means likely to bring about a termination of the Cuban conflict. Spain has granted that-granted it with the deepest sin? cerity. I do not wish in this to repeat an argument for autonomy, but sim ply to call attention to the fact that plain justice dictates that a system of home rale, brought forth after the deepest solicitude and consideration, and based upon what the Cubans them? selves have long desired and on what the United States government deem? ed most fitting as a settlement, should not be lightly dismissed on represen? tations c? the press, or even on the representations of men of sober judg? ment. THE INSURGENTS **As to the insurgents, they have boroo arms against Spain for three years, entailing terribie loss of life and money ; and yet, believing these men to be misguided, the government has sought to regain their confidence. Even fo-day the Official Gazette at Ha? vana publishes an appeal bj 'be homo rule government, urging all those in arms, insurgents as well as Spaniards, to eease hostilities, join baodsaod unite io celebrating the restoration of peace. It tells them also that if this home role is oot perfect, it may be improved In short, the insurgents are invited to join the Spanish soldiers io layiog dova their arms, stying that a period of ci?m may be given daring which jost ; aod wise c^noselfi may prevail for the j permanent oetiermeot of Cuba. - Spain the Same Yesterday ! and To-rJay. Well may all nations of this cen? tury stand appalled at the story told by Senator Proctor of the horrible condition of the inhabitants of Cuba. Of no other nation save Turkey alone could such stories be told, but the Spain of the Sixteenth century in Europe and America is the Spain of to-day ; brutal, bigoted, ignorant and obstinate. What is said now of Spain in Cuba has been told of Spain at home, of Spain in the Netherlands, of Spain among the American In? dians ; the' ages change Spain not the least. Commerce passes her by ; the ages of science and discovery do not enlighten Spain, and Weyler of 3S98 is the legitimate successor of Torquemada and tho Dike of Alva. Motley tells us that during the eighteen years of Torquemada's ad ministration of the Inquisition, 10, 220 individuals were burned alive, and 97,321 were punished with in famy, confiscation of property or perpetual imprisonment, so that this one friar destroyed 114,401 famines. Natorally when Charles V. pro posed to establish this Spanish inqui sition in the Netherlands, the Nether? lands revolted. -. In the Netherlands Alva organized bis Council of Blood. Here is Mot ley's description of its work : "Thus the whole country became a charnelhou8e ; the dea th bell tolled hourly in every village ; not a family but was called to mourn for the dear? est relatives, while the survivors stalked listlessly about, the ghosts of their former selves among the wrecks of their former homes The spirit of the nation, within a few months after the arrival of Alva, seened hopeless? ly broken The blood of the best and bravest had already stained the scaffold; the men to whom it bsd ! been accustomed to look for guid andce and protection were dead, in prison or in exile. The scaffolds, the gallows, the funeral pyr es, which bsd been sufficient in ordinary times furn* i shed now an entirely ir adequate ma? chinery for the incessant executions. Columns and stakes in every street ; the door posts of privatle houses, the fences in the fields were ladened with human carcasses, strangled, burned, .beheaded. The orchards in the conn try bore on many a tret! the hideous fruit of haman bodies " This is the story of the Spaniard in Europe ; it is reproduced when we read of the Spaniard ic Mexico and Peru. ..Indians," says Fiske, in writing of Peru, "Indians were slaughtered by the hundred, burned alive, impaled on sharp stakes, torn to pieces by bloodhounds In retali? ation for the murder of a Spaniard it was thought proper to call fifty or sixty Indians and chop their heads off. Little children were flung into the water to drown with less concern than if they bad been puppies In the mingling of sacred ideas with the sheerest deviltry, there was a gro tesqoeness fit for the pencil of Dore. Once in honor of Christ and His twelve apostles, they bi nged thirteen Indians in a row at such height that their toes could just touch the groond, and then pricked them to death with their sword points, taking care not to kill them quickly " The story is too well known and too horrible to be repeated at further length It i s the same bloody record of brutality from beginning to eud ; a stoty ia which Spain is ever the foe ot civilization, of humanity, of freedom, and the apostle of bigotry, cruelty and despotism. As Spain wa9 then, so is she to? day in Cuba ; more feeble, it is true, but because feeble, more cruel. She sees power slipping from her, and she clings to it with the tenacity of despair. Let Spain and Turkey remain to blot the map of Europe if Europe will have it so, but the u'me has come ' to c'.oee the history of Spain iu the New World, after five hundred years of almost uninterrupted savagery and bloodshed -Home and Farm * Most Cordial Sympathy. London, April 6 -On the highest authority, the Associated Press an? nounces that the British government has assured the United States of its fullest and most cordial sympathy in its Cuban policy This assurance was given with the most complete knowl edge of tbe latest developments in the negotiations between the United States and Spain, and on the under? standing that even these aro tending steadily toward armed intervention in Cuba The British government is even more friendly to the United States than the newspapers here, having more accurate knowledge of tbe real nature and purport of the dealings between the United Sta-ea and Spain. Queen Regent Working For Peace. Believed in Madrid That Damancl of This Country Will be Granted at Once. Announcement of Armistice Mo mentirily Expected. Madrid, April 6, via Baronne, France, . April 6 -The developments in the situation to-day are doe to the important pari; the qaeeo regent is tak? ing in the crisis She is practically taking matters out of the hands of ber (maisters aod is dealiog direct with the United States minister. Gen. Stewart L Woodford, through the German and Austrian ambassadors and is working earnestly for peace It is known beyond donbt that Spain is now prepared to give all America has asked, although the form of this concession mast be gilded to snit Spanish palate? and jast take into con sideration the political difficulties whiob ooofroot Spain. 12:15 p. m.-A ministerial crisis is imminent. It is understood Senor Sil vela, the teador of the dissident con? servatives and the Conservatives, will, if necessary, accept office on a pro? gramme of sn immediate armistice, with fall authority to the autonomist government to negotiate and cone]ade an immediate aod effectual peace in Coba. 12:20 p. m.-It is confidently assert? ed at this hour that a proclamation of the queen recent announcing an im? mediate armistice in Cuba, will he issued to-morrow. In is added that some of the cabinet ministers may resign, but if necessary the ministry will be changed. The Aus tri io ambassador, Count Dubskjr, had an interview with the United States Minister, Gen. Stewart L. Woodford to-day. They seemed much pleased s t the situation 5 :30 p. m -The family of United States Minister Woodford will start this eveniog for Biarritz, Eraooe. The staff of the United States lega? tion ha9 lefc Madrid and will probably remain io Parin for tbe present. Nevertheless the latest information is of a more assuring character. A cabi? net council is DOW in session and it is believed the deliberations are of a very important nature, but the ministers maintain absolute reserve. M Patenot-e, the French ambassa? dor, visited United States Minister Woodford thia afternoon. 7:40 p m -The official statement that affairs have taken a pacific turn bas not yet become generally known and public opinion remains much ex? cited Tbe bourse has declined heavily, owing to the belief that there is dissen? sion in the cabinet, which, however, tbe ministerial supporters absolutely deny. The hope of reaching a peaceful set? tlement with the United States is grow iog stronger. It is reported that the basis of an irmistio in Cuba have been arranged. If this be true a royal decree will appear in The Gazette to? morrow or Friday announcing the con? clusion of an armistice. The Viczaja and jjthe Almirante Oquendo will await orders at Puerto Rico. 9 p. m -Mrs Woodford, wife of the United States mioister, accompanied by her nieoe aod Lieut. G. L Dyer, the United Steten naval attache, left by the 8 o'clock train for Biarritz. Considerable surprise is expressed at their departure, "in view of the settle? ment/' but Miss Woodford remains and it is explained tbac the others will soon return. The President's Alleged Pol? icy. Efforts by ISuropsan Powers to Mediate. Washington, April 5-That the President's me-saige will go to Coogress to morrow is tte best information obtain able in Washington this evening, though the kaleidoscope of international events appear lo bc moving so rapidly at Madrid ss to make possible some possibly new and pos? sibly remarkable change in the aspeot of affairs, that will prevent this state ment holding good. The message is ready, makes about 7,000 words and been approved by the oabinenr. It recommends armed intervention (but so far as known without stating that this should be inmediate) by the United States to prevect hostilities and succor the starviog puoplc lt makes an ar? gument against recognition of indepen? dence at tbia time and leaves it olear that in the opinion of the administration it is the daty of this government to supervise tho Uws of the island until, in the light of fuller and later knowl? edge, a stable government oan be estab? lished. The attitude of Congress oo this policy cannot be foretold. Toe day ban been prolific of reports of mediation on the part of tbe Euro pean powers bet a summary of all the news on this point is that thc powers of Europe canoot agree, and that their interference would be unacceptable to the government of tbe United States. The safety of Geceral Lee our con? suls and other Americans io Caba is a matter of concern to tbe State Depart? ment but advices from General L3e in? dicate that the transportatioo of all Americans from Cuba would take some time, and apparently showed that be did not share fully in the apprehension felt here AMBASSADORS ACTIVE. Thronghout the day unusual activ? ity was manifested at the foreign embassies and legiations representing the great powers of Europe. These were the British ambassador. Sir Julian Pauncefote ; the Prench am? bassador, M Cambon ; the German ambassador, Dr von Holleben ; the Italian charge d'affaires, Count Vanci, and the Austrian minister, Mr. von Hengel Moller. These officials were kept fully advised from their foreign offices, and it was expected that a concerted movement would be made almost any moment. About midday the British ambassador went to the French embassy and conferred with M. Cambon on the situation, and shortly after Count Vinci was at the British embassy Again at 5 o'clock it was understood that the French ambassador and Austrian minister conferred with Sir Julian at the British embassy. But while con? ferences were thu? going on and ap? prehension was keen over an antici? pated move, it could not be learned up to a late hour that any actual offer of mediation bad eventuated. It certainly bad not been made np to the close of office hours at the State Department The German ambassa? dor, Dr. von Holleben, appears to be the only one not actively participat? ing in the conferences to day, but there is reason to believe he is kept fully advised on the sentiments at Berlin concerning the Spanish situa? tion. The Spanish minister. Senor Polo y Bernab?, did not take part in any of the diplomatic conferences, nor did he have occasion to visit the State De? partment during thc day. If the negotiations have taken any new di? rection, it has beeo between Minister Woodfc ri and the authorities at Mad? rid, and not at Washington. To-night the Spanish minister dined with Post? master General Gary. At the capitol to-day tremendous ef? fort was made to have Congress sup? port the outlined policy of tho Presi? dent. A general belief was expressed when the House adjourned that a ma? jority of the House committee on for? eign affairs was ready to support Mr McKinley's plan, and the impression prevailed that a resolution in line with the recommendations of the President would be reported from the committee. There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the Senate committee. CONSERVATIVE SENATORS. An important conf?rence of conser? vative Senators was held duriog the day, when it was determined that in case the foreign relations committee did not report io accordance with the President's recommendations, there would be a long debate upon the reso? lution reported, and unanimous aotioo by the Senate could not be expected. General Miles said to-day that the only regiment th CB far ordered to Cbiokamaaga was the 25th regiment of colored infantry, and so far as the present intentions are concerned, they are only to stop there temporarily, on their way to Key West and Dry Tor togas, to which piace they were origi nally ordered about ten days ago A PROTRACTED DEBATE. A debate which occurred in the exe cuti ve session of the Senate late this' afternoon would indicate that no matter what the character Of the resolution to come from the committee on foreign re lations, the resolution would cause a prolonged, discussion. It emphasized the fact that these are two clements in the Senate-one fer mdepaodence with intervention, another for intervention alone, and these two factions will fight vigorously for their idea9. min i i ? President Changed His Mind at Last Moment. Washington, April 6 -Notwith? standing the impatience and disap? pointment caused among the Repub lican members of the house by the withholding of the President's mes sage, the frank statement of the President to the leaders and to several prominent Democrats that such a course was deemed absolute ly necessary by Consul General Lee to insure the safe departure of the Americans still in Cuba has caused them to accept the situation in good faith. Some of the most radical, after hearing the statements of those who saw the President, ap? peared satisfied. Those with whom the President talked come away with a very strong impression that the message would mean war . unless Spain backed down squarely. One of them who has been very active j in antagonizing delay says the mes- j sage will be perfectly satisfactory to j him and will fully meet the especia j tion of the country. Pending the transmittal of the j messsage, in view of the situation presented by the President, ail plans looking to action in the house will be abandoned. But those who have been taking part in the radical move? ment and who always admit the pos sibi?ity thsit the time may come when they will have to part company with the President are, according to the leaders of the movement, more determined than ever to ulti? mately obtain what they desire. They, however, are at preent satisfied with the assurances they have received as to the char? acter of the message. But this has not prevented them from organizing for possible contingencies The con? ference which was to have been held to-night after the message was in was abandoned, but 50 of those who originally inaugurated the movement met immediately after the house ad? journed to discuss the situation AU who were not heartily in sympathy with them were invited to leave. Those at the meeting unanimously agreed to wait upon the message, but the movement for a caucus start? ed by the President's supporters, which was also abandoned during the afternoon, exposed to them a danger upon which they had not reckoned namely, that a caucus of Republicans might be called to bind them by the party action and place them in the position of bolters if the occasion arose for them to adopt an independ? ent plan of action A committee of eight was therefore appointed to count noses, to watch the situation and to devise ways and means to meet any tactics of the opposition The committee is as follows : Messrs. Hopkins of Illinois, Lorrimer of Illi? nois, Tawney of Minnesota, Cooper of Wisconsin, Hepburn' of Iowa, Brorawell of Ohio, Joy of Missouri, Knox of Massachusetts. Several rather vigorous speeches in denunciation of any policy of delay were made in the course of the meeting. In order to emphasize this position, a proposition wad made to unite with the Democrats and block all legislation, adjourning from day to day until the message appeared and the house had acted on the Cuban resolutions Mr. Hull of Iowa, who is pushing the army reorganization bill, made such an ardent plea to al? low that bill to come to a vote thal the proposition was temporarily abandoded. Whether it will be re? vived depends largely upon the course of events. It can be stated, however, that it is seriously contem? plated One of the other chief de? velopments of the day W38 the prob? ability that io the event of a split on the Republican side the Democrats would unite with the radicals and allow the latter to force the issue If the Democrats should seek to as? sume the aggressive the chances are they would solidify the Republicans against them. The delay of the message was re? ceived in the senate with varying de? grees of favor of disfavor, depending largely upon the predilections and personal and political associations of the members Senators united in the necessity for protecting the safety of Gen. Lee and the other American cit? izens in Cuba Many, however, were inclined to criticise because our cid zens had not been removed hereto? fore, while others declared protection for them should have been sent to Habana "It is ? humiliating spec tacle," said Senator Quay of Penn? sylvania, "that with our fleet within 90 miles of Habana we are not abie * to protect our people in that port." "That request,*' 6aid Senator Proc tor, "merely illustrates the character of the people we are dealing with in | this matter/' The inteuse Cuban sympathizers on both sided of the senate chamber were free in the expression of opiu ion that there was some motive for the delay that did not appear on the surface They did not question the good faith of the representation as to the danger of Americans in Cuba, bul they agreed that there must have been other causes for the administra? tion's conree When the Madrid bulletiu stating the probability of an armistice in Cuba was made known, they found in it a verification of their surmises. At one time during the afternoon the indication was strong that dis satisfaction would find voice in the open session of the senate, but those who felt disposed to discuss the ques? tion were restrained from a feeling of delicacy because not fully certain of their ground The conservative element did not find encouragement in the situation. They were not displeased over the prospect of delay, but they expressed regret at the occasion for it. "The publication of the fact of danger of Americans in Cuba," said one of then*, "will set the country aflame and the war spirit will be more ram? pant to morrow than ever." Altogether the day's proceedings had the effect of leaving the senate in an unsettled condition, but it also relieved the tension to a perceptible degree ll 40 p rn - It is said that a satis? factory settlement has been arrived at between the United States and Spain Later-The most careful investiga? tion in official circies to-night faiis to develop anything in support of the theory that the delay of the Presi? dent's message was doe to the situa? tion at Madrid When the announce? ment was first made to-day that the message had been withheld, the in? ference was drawn in some congres? sional circles that the delay was par? tially influenced by the attitude of the queen regent, who was reported willing to yield everything demand? ed by the United States, provided it could be done without precipitating a popular disturbance in Spain, Press dispatches of a pending cabinet crisis in Madrid tended to confirm this. Those closest to tbe President refused to discuss the Madrid situa? tion further than to say that there was not information from that quar? ter, and that no fresh negotiations had been opened It was reiterated tbat the crux of the situation was in Habana. This was confirmed by members of the foreign relations com? mittee, to whom this explanation bad been made in such form that they professed themselves sali?fied w!th it. War With Spain. What Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward says about the jingo newspapers : ; "What should be said of the news? paper men who might be guilty of causing such an immeasurable woe ? God only could forgive them. This country never would. Let us remem? ber that civilized nations are no longer thugs and pirates It is out of date to settle natiooal differences by slaughter. The incendiary editor raves hotly over the loss of three huodred men But he coldly instigates the murder of three hundred thousand or three times that. He pours fiery rhetoric about the miser? ies consequent on the explosion of one battle-ship. But he is layiog the torpedoes which may blow up two navies. He places the minc. He trails the wire ; he puts his finger OD tbe electric button. He is the ermina!. He is a thousand fold mere guilty than any possible savage, or maniac, who might, by any conceivable turo of events, be suspected to know more than he chose to tell about thc destruction of the Maine " We Cannot Turn Back. Spain must quit this country. Tbat is manifest destiny, and the hour bas struck. There is no stopping place short of the absolute independence of Cuba There is no peace short of thar. It would bave been as easy to end the war of the revolution at Bunker Hill or the civil war at Bull Ruo as to turn back now We have become the in? strument, tbe evolutionary force, by which Spanish rule io the hew world she onoe owned is brought to its histor? ic end. Finality is the very essence of the undertaking. We should be very great fools to make these martial prep? arations and go through al) this worry, suspense and loss for some miserable compromise that ?onld break down next fall or next " .r or ic ten years, and leave ua to make oar martial prep? aration and go through the worry, the suspense and the loss again. Time and again we have temporized and post poo ad. Wc were wi?hin a measurable distance of war with Spain in 1873, and again in 1875 We had a "Cob? ban war panic'' in 1896, and McKin? ley's solemn words of warning last De? cember brought the ultimate necessity of intervention and possible hostile aotion clearly into view The "war scare" cf 1898 wilt ced thc series. New York San. Washington April 8 -President McKinley is determined that no change will be made in his message to Congress and he will abide by the result of the record as presented to Congress. He had many callers this morning. j_WOVM. POWDER CO., WSWVQWC