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.

on TOS S?35T2R WATCHMAN, established April, IS50? "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 ?Jone. 12*9 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. C.. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27,1898. New Series-Vol. XVII. No. 8? C|)t ?ltn?tai? ??? Soo?broi?. Published STsry TSTedneaday, -BY JKT. <3% Octeen, SUMTER, 8. 0, T8R?8 : $1 50 per annum-in Aovauoe. iDTsanesKssT: Ooft Square first insertion..._...~.......$l 00 Erorv subsequent insertion......... 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil be nwde at red aced rates. AU communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as ad versements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. P Eoiopeaa intervention Re? garded Impossible. Neutrality to be Observed by Great Britain, Prance and Germany. Washington, April 19,-The various foreign embassies and relations ?ere intensely active to-day io the expecta? tion that hostilities ?ere near at baud Tba several foreign officers ?ere fully advised of the passage of the resolutions sod ?ere kept posted as to ibe prospents of the President's signatory. Some of the ambassadors and minis? ters called at the State Department to learn whether the President would sign the resolutions. They were i o formed by Judge Day thai the President in* tended to siga them This in tarn ?av comm an teated to the foreign offices, and ?as regarded as placing the matter be* youd any question of doubt. The rep preventative* of th? powers of Europe held no meeting daring the day. nor ts any meeting at present in prospect. Those ?ho have been . most hopeful of bringing about Earopeao coalition DOW conceda that snob a move is ira pc sai bia Already, it is said, Great Britain has takenjiteps not only to maintain a pass? ive neutrality, bot to enforce it with arms if necessary. Two regiments of British soldiers are no? io the British West Indies, tod these are shoot to be augmented by soother regiment en rente from Halifax. They are concen? trated io the belief that the West Indies .?ill. oe a center of conflict, and that the stress.of ?ar may leid one or the other belligerent to occupy neutral British territory So far as is known, the Fres?n govern* ment ?ill observe the same neutrality. Its West Indias possessions are consid? erable aud it has several ships io those waters. Germany aod ?he other powers are expected tc use the same neatral attitude. Io connection with tbs cable report that the Dreiband bad sought to effect a plebiscite in Cabs, it ?as stated at one of the embassies that this branoh of negotiation occurred last ?eek, and embraced some eiroarndtaooes sot made known in the cable dispatches. About the middle of last ?eek one of the embassies here ?as informed from its foreign enies that irs ambasssador at Madrid advised them that Minister Woodford bad suggested, in a tenta? tive way, a plebiscite as a possible solu? tion to the Coban problem, j This am? bassador also advised bis foreign office that %be suggestion did not meet with favor, and has sot beto followed ap. Since theo there has been no talk of a plebiscite, so far ss is known here: TO LOCALIZE THE WAK. - Lcadon, April 20 -The Home cor? re pondent of the Daily Mail says : Italia, thc organ of the forcig o office, publishes to-night the following note : . "The powers are oo the eve of tak? ing a oe? step, namely : requesting the United States sod Spain, in the eveat of ?ar, to localise the hostilities to Coba sod the neighboring waters. This'step ?ill be taken .immediately after a declaratian of ?ar. Utter pes fi ai ism prevails in diplomatic quarters here, the Vatican alone coo ti o air g hopeful of peace. The pope is ?orlt eoergetially to bo accepted ss arbitrator; but be admits that Cabs bas already morally ceased to belong to Spain /' BERNABE SAYS WAR IS DECLARED. Washington, April 20 -The Span? ish minister ?as making bis arrange? ments for leaving this country ?hen I called at the legation. He said be had been formally notified of the President 's approval of the resolutions "I maul leave Washington at once," he said. "I have beeo notified that your Govern? ment bas declared ?ar against my couti* try, and there is co farther ase for my services as minister. 1 regard the sign? ing of the resolutions by the President a? a declaration of ?ar, and, under tbs circumstances, there is no further use for my services as minister, so I will rake my departure at once I may leave Washington this afternoon if [ can perfect my personal arrangements. I may be delayed until to-morrow." Hs shoved considerable excitement, and begged to be excused from making soy further statemeot. Emergency Mitrare. TnsBiM Providing for Call? ing Out Volunteers. Washington, Apri!20 -The house today passed a? an emergency war measure the bill empowering the President to call ont volunteer foces, and providing for their organization Both tbe President and Secretary Alger had urged the imperative ne? cessity for the passage of the bill to? day, and Chairman Hull of the mili? tary committee drove it through un? der whip and spur. The bill was draft? ed at the war department, introduced in the house yesterday, and consid ered and reported by the committee to day. No such expedition could have been possible except under the stress of war pressure.. The bill is permanent in its character. There waa a tremendous demon? stration in the house immediately after the reading of the journal, when Major Pr?den, the Presidents exe? cutive clerk, announced the Presi? dent's approval of the Cuban r?solu tiona The bouse then went into commit tee of the whole to consider the bill authorizing the President to call for volunteers Mr Hull explained that the com mittee bad unanimously agreed that past precedents should be followed and the governors of States should retain the power to appoint all regi? mental officers. The joint resolution passed by con? gress authorizing the President to em ploy the militia force of tbs United States, be said, would not meet the prosent situation. He felt authorized to say that ii wo were to fight this war it would be with the volunteer and not the militia forces Mr. Hull read the following tele? gram he received from Secretary Alger this morning : "I hope yon wiil introduce your bili this morning Time is now very valuable. On the whole, I am inclined to think that re? quiring commies ;ons to be signed by the President for the militia would be cause for dissatisfaction and op? position by the governars, who na? turally might feel that this was tak? ing some of t?faeii power from them. Can you consistently change that and hasten its passage ?'T Mr. Johnson (Rep.) of indiana at this point attempt?d to secure time to address tbe bc use regarding his attitude on the general situation If war was to come, he waa ready to support any measure to prosecute it toa successful crnclusiou, but be? fore hostilities began he thought the bouse ?honld give him a chance to speak The request met with moch opposition, and was refused Mr Handy (Dem ) of Delaware op posed the bill because it was propos ed to pass it as au emergency meas? ure, and yet it wait to be a permanent enactment A question theo ?rose as to whether under the provisions of the bill addi? tional legislation would not be neces? sary to permit tbe President to call out volunteers. To meet this deifect Mr. Lacey offered au amendment authoriz? ing the President to raise volunteers whee congress shall have authorised him to do so, or wheo fae has teen au? thorized "to call into the actual service of the Uaued States the militia of the several States.'* The Coban resolu? tions ooctaia thalattor authorization The amendaient was adopted Mr Millan (Dem.) of Tennessee moved to reduoe the term of enlistment of the volunteer forces from three years, S?- provided iu the bill, to one year. He thought many of the young men of the ooootry vroald cot be| will? ing to au enlistment ifor three years. Mr. Hull replied that it was not ex? pected that tbe war would be a long one unless Spaio resorted to guerilla warfare, but be did not believe *a three years1 term would terrorize tbe young mee. Tbe amendment wa? defeated. Mr Talbert (Dem ) of South Caro? lina warned the house tbat war witb Spain was not a slight tbiog. Gentle? men who thought it would be over in a few days would be sadly disappointed, in his opinioo. ''I remember at the openiog of the last war/' said be, "men at tbe north aod south believed it would not last 30 days. I heard a man agree to drink all the blood that was spilled. Every country in Europe may be drawn into tbe encounter be fore we get through with Spaio Mr Litt'e (Dem ) of Arkansas of? fered ao amendment, which was agreed to, providing that the Indian Territory shall furnish its quota Mr. Lin ney (Rsp.) of North Caro? lina offered an amendment providing that nothing to the bill should be con? strued to prevent companies and reg i - merits from eeieotiog their owo cffi?ers The power to ?elect officers to fill va? cancies, be said, would be ao icceotive to enlistment Tbe tyrannous disci plice of officers, be said, was more dreaded by soldiers than the ba leta aod bayonets of the enemy. Mr. Grosvenor (Rep.) of Ohio vig ? oroasly opposed the amendment Ita j adoption, ho said, v?ould so^ a seed of ? sin tbst wcuid crow up to death j Mr. Pearce (Rep.) of Missouri tock i the satae view. Tbs election of officers. ! be said, was destructive of discipline ?ind (fficienoy. Mr. Talbert challenged this state? ment and referred to the ezperience of the Confederate army This drew from Mr. Walter (Rep.) of Virginia the statement that his ex? perience in the Confederate army bad taught bim thet an army that elected its own offisers was wholly inefficent. He declared thai all men were not brave While all men would fight if properly disciplined aod led, many could not be counted upon io the hour of danger when inefficieetly officered An amendment wa9 adopted provid? ing for a chaplain for each regiment. An amendment was adopted provid? ing that regimental and alt other offi? cers should keep daily records of all officers and men sick or wounded and that upon the disbandment of the or? ganization they should be filed in tbe re? cord and pension offise of the war department Section 13 was amended so as to pro? vide that tbe governors of States, in? stead of the President, might appoint officers of the regular army io the grades of field officers io the volunteer army, such appointments to depend upon the consent cf tbs President The bill was passed without division, and at 5:15 p. m. the house adjourned Big Fleet Closely Guarded. Patrol Doubled -Cincinnati Away on Unknown Mis? sion. Key West, Fla , April 20.-The United States torpedo boat destroyer Mayflower arrived here last night aod anchored near the flagship New York. Additional precautions have been put in force here to insure the safety of the big ships since tho resolutions of con? gress were adopted. All deoklights on board the New York, Iowa and Iodiaoa which lie out of Key West harbor, are now extinguished until 8 p. m., when the battle ports tire screwed on and the formidable warships cao hardly be seen from each other's deok, except when an occasional searchlight fhebiog around reveals their dark outlines. Besides this precaution, the night patrol has been doubled. Last evening both tbe Cincinnati and the Marblehead, accom? panied by two torpedo boats, went out on pioket duty. The cruiser Cincinnati is missing from her squadron of sister ships to? night, bat there in no occasion to fear that disaster or accident has befallen her. This morning the Marblehead returned as usual, but not the Cincinnati, which bad not been sighted up to nightfall. In? quiry developed the fact that a message was signaled to her from the flagship early this morning. Its import bas not been ascertained on shore, . but the aoswer was waved back, "Still nine miles out. Will follow orders." What these orders were are known only to the commanding officer of the fleet and the Cincinnati. The probabil? ity is tbst no alarming significance at? taches to the inoident, as the Ciooinnati was most likely sent further out to gain greater command of the entrance to these waters frc m the Cuban side. It bas been teamed that the cable between here and Habana was out about a mile south of Fort Taylor, aod evi? dently by some ooo familiar with cable work. The strand, which is of the double armor, heavy, shore end type, was not ca'; in twain, but merely cut open. The conductor was then pulled out and cot in too near the shore. The cable is now repaired aod the whole matter is under investigation. Spain Calls 80*000 Reserves. London, April 21.-Special dispatch from Madrid says : War minister, Correa, authorized oali out 80,000 re? serves. Three vessels loaded with troops left Cadiz, destination oo koowo. Postmaster Gen'l Gary Re? signs Prom Cabinet, Washington, Aprii 21.-Postmaster General Gary has resigned and Charles Enory Smith of Philadelphia has been named as bia successor. In bis letter to the Presideot, Mr. Gary stated that his ouiy reason for leaving the cabinet was tbe serious condition of bis health, in accepting the resignation, President MoKioley assured Mr Gary that the pieasaot recollections of their association would ever remain with bim. Washington, April 22 -It is learn? ed from reliable sources that the gov? ernment has been informed that the Spanish fleet baa not jet sailed from the cape Verde Islands, although orders to that effect are said to have been issued yesterday morning; Thc Queen Regent's Speech She Regards the Impending-: War as the Result of the j Prej adice3 and Passions of the United States. Madrid, April 20.-Tbs opening of the Spanish Cortes to day was a magni? ficent eight. All the wealth and beau ty of Madrid gathered in the Seoate, where every available foot of space was occupied Large bodies of troops were drawn ap outside the bat-ding, including the handsomely uniformed blue dragoons and the magnificently attired palaoe guards. All the members of the diplomatic corps were present in full dress. A wild obeer went up at 2 30 P. M. when the Queen Regent was driven to the Cortes Palace io a State carriage, escorted by a detachment, of Life Guards. Tbs cheering was taken up within the buildiog as the Queen Regent eotered, the cheers beiog ac? companied by enthusiastic cries' of "Viva La Reina !" 'Viva Alfonso Treoe!" "Viva Espa?a!" a really tumultuously patric tic demonstration. The Queen Regent read the speeoh from the throne while seated, with the young King Alfonso on ber right and the premier, Senor Sagasta, standing bear the Kicg. Eler Majesty's words were insudible to all bot those io her immediate vicinity. Tbe reading was greeted throughout with cries of "Viva Espa?a !" A wonderful picture was presented by the Queen's entourage, consisting of most of the highest personages in Spain in brilliant Court, military, naval cr palaoe uniforms At the close of her Majesty's speech there was renewed cheering, after whioh Premier Sagasta deolared the Cortes opened and the Qaeeo Regent and the boy King, accompanied by the Court, left the building amid another burst of enthusiasm. The Queen Regent's speeoh began : "The grave anxieties whioh sadden? ed my mind the last time I addressed you baye increased, and are heightened by public uneasioess, osoveyiog the presentiment of fresh and greater com? plications as a result of the turn which events in Cuba have taken. These complications were brought about by a seotioo of the people of the United States whioh, seeing that the autonomy previously offered io my message was about to be put in force, foresaw that the free manifesta? tions the cuban psople, through its chambers, would frustrate forever the schemes against Spanish sovereignty, which have been plotted by thens wbo with resources and hopes sent from the neighboring coast, have fettered the suppression of the insurrection in that unhappy island. Should the Gov? ernment of the United States yield to this blind current, menaces and insult, which we have hitherto been aile to regard with indifference, for they were not ao expression of the senti? ments of the true American nation, would become intolerable provocations, which would oompel my Goveroment, in defence of the natiooal dignity, to sever relations with the Goveroment of the United States. "In this ?opreme crisis the sacred voice of Bim who represents human justice oe earth was raised io counsels of peace and prudence, to which my Gov? ernment had no difficulty in hearkening, strong in the consciousness of its right, and calm in the strict performance of its duties " Her Majesty added : ' Spain's grat? itude is due to tbe Pope, and also to the great Powers, whose action strengthens my conviction tbat Spain's cause deserves universal sympathy, and that her oonduct merits unanimous approval. "Possibly, however, tba peace efforts may fail to oontrol the evil passions ex? cited against Spain. Lest this mo? ment arrive, I have summoned the Cortes to defennd our rights, what? ever sacrifice they msiy entail. Thus iodentifying myself with the nation, I oot only fulfill the oath I swore io ac? cepting tbe regeocy, but I follow the dictates of a mother s heart, trostiog to the Spanish people to gather behiod my son's throne, and to defend it until he is old enough to defend il: himself, as well ss trusting to the Spanish people to de? fend the honor acd the territory of the nation." The queeD Regent then referred to the trouble in the Philippine islands, and, continuing, said : "Although a dark and gloomy future is before ns, the difficulties are not beyond our pow? ers. With our glorious navy and the united nation before foreign aggression, we trust io God that wc shall overcome, without stain on our booor, the baseless and unjust attacks made upon us." Key West, ApriT22 -The blocfc adc of Havana began at noon to day, the warships detailed for that service arriving off Habana harbor 10 30 a. m Seven of the warships remain here for further orders, which sre ex? pected from Washington this after noon. Events in Madrid. Departure of Minister Wco? ford-Text of His Dis? missal Madrid, April 21 -A semi-official DO?'? issued Ibis afternoon says : "Tbe Spanish government, having" received the ultimatum of the President of the Uoited States, considers that the document constitutes a declaration of war against Spain, and that the proper form to be adopted is not to make any further reply, but to await the expira? tion of time mentioned in the ultima tuts before opening hostilities. "Io the meantime, the Spanish au thoritie3 have placed their possessions in a state of defense, and their fleet is al? ready on its way to meet that of the Uoited States " Foe British ambassador, Sir Heory Drummond Wolff, called upon Senor Gullon, the foreign minister, and in? formed bim that the affairs of the American legation were in bis (the am? bassador's) bands. WOOFORD'S DEPARTURE. General Woodford arrived at the station about a quarter of an hour in advance of tue hour at which the train was scheduled to leave. Tbe train started half an boor late, and during the interval General Woodford con? versed with the representatives of the foreigo press and a number of private friends. An immense crowd gathered at the s talion composed of all classes. A strong force of police aod civic guards maintained order while amid the crowd moved a large number of private detec tives. A detachment of thc civil guards accompanied General Woodford to the frontier. The retiring minister maintaiced bis usual calmness, but looked worn and fatigued _ __ O The Eoglish flag is now flying over the American legation, which is still guard? ed by the police. There is a bitter feeling here against Great Britain, especially on the con? traband of-war aod privateer questions. It is the belief of tbe general public that Great Britain is playiog, io an underhand manner, the game of the United States AMERICAN EAGLE SMASHED. 9.30 p m.-Enthusiastic proces? sions are now moving through the principal streets. The mob gathered in front of the building of the Equita? ble Life Insurance Company and in? sisted upon the removal of the Amer? ican eagle, which was thrown down and smashed to bits The fragments were then carried through the streets by a cheering, yelling mob to the military club, where the members ap? peared upon the balcony and enthu? siastically cheered the demonstrators, shouting "Viva Espa?a V and/'Down with the Yankees !" The police mix ed with the crowd and allowed the demonstrations to go on without re? straint. The civil governor of Madrid, Senor Aguilera instead of prohibiting disorder, allowed complete liberty, of action, mingling: among the demon? strators. He was loudly cheered, especially when the American es cutcheon was thrown from the balcony of the Equitable building and fell at bis very feet Aguilera as if tramp? ling upon the escutcheon, addressed the populace, amid enthusiastic ap? plause. He said : "The Spanish lion is roused from his slumber. He will shake his mane and disperse the rest of the brute creation " The demonstrations then continued a part of the mob proposing to de? monstrate in front of the American legation, which is now under the British flag It is hoped, at the time this dispatch is sent, that the crowd will disperse, exhausted, having noth? ing upon which to wreak its ven? geance La Correspondencia Espana sug? gests the expulsion of all foreigners, especially the newspaper correspond? ents. WOODFORDE DISMISSAL. The following is the text of the note received this morning by Gen eral Woodford from Senor Gullon, minister of foreign affairs : "Dear Sir-In compliance with a painful doty, I have the honor to in? form you that there has been sanc? tioned by the President of the Re? public a resolution of both chambers of the United States which denies the legitimate sovereignty of Spain and threatens armed intervention in Cuba, which is equivalent to a decla? ration of war. "The government of her majesty have ordered her minister to return, without loss of lime, from North American territory, together with all the personnel of the legation "By this act the diplomatic rela? tions hitherto existing between the two countries and all official com? munications between their respective representatives cease. "I am obliged, thus, to inform you, so that you may make such arrange? ments as you think fit. I beg your excellency to acknowledge receipt of this Dote at euch time as yon deem proper. "Taking this opportunity to reite? rate to you the assurances of my dis? tinguished consideration. (Signed) * "P. Gallon." - A Grave Situation-for Span? ish Forces. Believed That Supply of Coal and Food For Navy and Army in Cuba is Very Limited. London, April 22.-A dispatch to Thc Daily Telegraph from Barcelona, via Paris, say e : "Grave apprehensions are entertain? ed in the highest government circles that the issue of war may be de? cided not by valor and enthusiasm and dogged perseverence qualities, of which the Spaniards possess an abundance, but by reserves of coal and victuals, of which they have made by a scanty pro? vision in Cuba. It appears that in re? spect of ooal in particular, they are comparatively worse off than they have hitherto imagined. "The Spanish goveroment, firmly be? lieving down to the very last moment that peace would be preserved through the intercession of tbe pope and the powers, neglected to lay in sufficient provisions of coal, despite the represen? tations made to them by one or two far? seeing naval officers. "Besides this, it ts believed they never once inquired of the British or other neutral governments whether ooal would be regarded as contraband cf war. Tbe result is said to be a state of affairs which may be fraught with unpleasant surprises and bring hostili? ties to a premature end. "Those in the secret were ansioas to overthrow the cabinet on other grounds before the beginning of wsr, for pa? triotic considerations forbade a public discussion of the oountry's weak point on the eve of hostilities. The short time allowed for deliberations cf parliament rendered this inten? tion difficult of execution, and Liberal ! oabioet, which oondooted the negotia ? lions, will be allowed to bear the re* sponstbility for the results during a con? flict. This alarming story comes from an excellent source, quite above all suspicion, even of hostility (o the cab? inet. "If, as I fear, sevents hoaid demon? strate its troth, the close of the war may also be the end not only of the Liberal government bot of muoh else which is infinitely more worthy of respect than aoy political party and which enjoys the sympathy of all Europe. "I hear that extreme depression pre? vails among the few who are initiated ioto this paioful secret." What the Cabans Promise. New York. April 19.-At the office of thc Coban Junta general satisfaction was expressed to day over the a&idn of Congress in passing the Coban r?solu? tion. A statement was given out whioh contaioed the following : "Should fore be necessary on the part of the United States there will be tbe most complet ce-operation by the Cuban Government and its army. Coast pilots and practic? ed guides will be placed immediately at the service cf the United States, and ia every practiceable way will thc Cubans aid io ezpeliiog the common enemy." Key West, April 19 -This after? noon some two hundred Cabans, bead? ed by a brass band, marched through tbe streets and halted is front of the hotel. After a serenade of American national airs, oheers were given fur President McKinley, and the news? papers of the United Srates Sever*! prominent Cubans made addresses in Spanish. The burden of these being gratitude to America and jcy at the j near prospect o^ freedom for Coba. The procession then marched to the cable office, where thc following mes? sage was scat to President McKinley i "A thousand Cuban volunteers at Key West effer their services under the j United States fisg. J S GOY'ID." ! Active steps will be taken io form a j regiment. Royal makes the food pare, wholesome aa4 deficit) is. POWDER Absolutely Puro oo**t awgw pottoc i co.. nea >oau