Evening Star Newspaper, April 11, 1898, Page 19

THE EVENING STAR, MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1898-16 PAGES. AMED INTERVENTION (Continued from First Page.) of devyxstation and concentration, inaugu- yated by the Captain General’s bando of Qctober 21, 1896, in the province of Pinar del Rio was thence extended to embrace all of the island to which the power cf the Span‘sh arms was able to reach by oc- gupation or by military operations. The Peasantry, including all dwelling in the open ecr cultural interior, were driven into the ga:r:son towns or Isolated places held by the troops. |The raising and mo¥ement of provisions of all kinds were interdicted. The fields ‘were laid waste, dwellings unroofed and fired, mills destroy2d and, in short, every- thing that could desolate the land and ren- ‘der it unfit for human habitation or sup- Port was commanded by one of the other the contending parties and executed by the powers at th2ir disposal. By the time the present administration took office a year ago, reconcentration—so ‘called—had been made effective over th> better part of the four central and west- rn provinces, Santa Clara, Matanzas, Ha- Vana <nd Pinar del Rio. The agricultural population, to the esfi- mated number of 300,000 or more, was herded within the towns and their immedi- ate vicinage, deprived of the means of sup- rt, rendered destitute of shelter, left Boris clad, and exposed to the most un- Sanitary conditions. As the scarcity of food increased with the devastation of the de- populated areas of production, destitution and want became misery and starvation. Month by month the death rate increased in an alarming ratio. By March, 1897, ac- ‘cording to conservative estimates from offi- ‘cial Span sources, the mortality among the reconcentrades, from starvation and the diseases thereto incident, exceeded 50 er centum of their total number. No Practical Relief Accorded. No practical relief was accorded to the @estitute. The overburdened towns, al- Yeady suffering from the general dearth, ‘could sive no ald. So-called “zones of cul- tivation” cstablished within the immediate rea cf cffective military control about the ‘cities and fortified camps proved illusory aS a remecy for the suffering. The unfor- tunates, being for the most part women end children, with aged and helpless men, ‘enfeebled by disease and hunger, could not have tilled the soil, withcut tools, seed or . for their own support or for the stpply of the cities. Reconcentration, adopted avewedly as a war measure in ‘order to cut off the resources of the insur- ‘gents, worked its predestined result. As I said in my message of last December, it ‘was not civilized warfare; it was extermi- fation. The only peace it could beget was that of the wilderness and the grave. Meanwhile, the military situation in the feland had undergone a noticeable change. Fhe extraordinary activity that character- ized the second year of the war, when the insurgents invaded even the thitherto un- met fields of Pinar del Rio and carried havoc and destruction up to the walls of the city of Havana itself, had relapséd {nto a dogged struggle in thé central and é@stern provinces. The Spanish arms re- ined a measure of contro! in Pinar del ‘io and parts of Havana, but, under the existing conditidis of the rural country, ‘Without immediate improvement of their Productive situation. Even thus partially Festricted the revolutionists held their own andj their conquest and submissién, put férward by Spain as the essential afd sole basis of peace, séenied as far distant as at @ outset. A Grave Problem of Duty. In this state of affairs, my administra- tion found itself confronted with the grave ‘Problem of its duty. My message of iast December reviewed the situation, abd n&r- fated the steps taken with a view to ré- Héving its acuteness and opening the way : € some form of honorable settlement. Thé aésassination of the prime minister, Cano- vas, led to a change of goyernmient ia Bpain. The former administration, pledged } subjugation Without concession, gave os to that of @ more liberal paFty, com- tted long in adivance to a policy of re- form involving the wider principle of home Yule for Cuba and Puerto Rico. ‘The overtures of this goverfiment, made through its new envoy, General Woodtord, and looking to an immediate and effective ‘afrelioration of the condition of the island, although not accepted to the eitent of ad- mitted mediation in any shape, were met bY assurances that home rule, in ah ad- ¥anced phase, would be forthwith offered Cuba, without waiting for the war to hd, and that more humane methods should thenceforth prevafl in the conduct of hos- Ulities. Coincidentally with these declara- tions, the new government of Spain con- thued and completed the policy already begun by its predecessor, of testifying friencly regard for this nation by releasing American citizens held under one charge or another connected with the insurrection, @o that, by the end of November, not a ain- gie person entitled in any way to our na- tional protection, remained in a Spanish prison. While these negotiations wera in progress, asing destitution of the unfortu- Yate reconcentrados and the alarming mor- tality 2mong them claimed earnest atten- Yon. The success which had attended the United measure ‘of relief extended to the wuftering American citizens among them by the judicious expenditure through the con- Bular ag:ncies of the money appropriated Sxpressly for their succor by the joint reso- Tution approved May 24, 1807, prompted the huma:e extension of a similar scheme of aid to the great body of sufferers A sug- gestion to this end was acquiesced in by the Spanish authorities. On the 24th of De- cember last 1 caused to be issued an ap- Peal to the American people, inviting con- tributions in money or in kind for the suc- cor of the starving suffrers in Cube, fol- Jowing this on the 8th of January by a Similar public announcement of the fornia- tion of a central Cuban relief committee, with headquarters in New York city, com- posed of three members repressntiag-the American National Red Cross and the re- ligious and business elements of the com- Wuntty. ‘The cfforts of that Committee hare been OVER THE CORK AND CAPSULE (S NOT BROKEN AND THAT IT BEARS THE NAME ~ W.AGAINES & CO. untiring and have accomplished much. A: rangements for free transportation to Cubs have greatly aided the charitable work. The President of the American Red Cross, and representatives of other contributory organizations have generously visited Cuba and co-operated with the Consul General and the local authorities to make effective distribution of the relief collected through the efforts of the Central Committee. Near- ly $200,000 in money and supplies has al- ready reached the sufferers, and more is fcrthcoming. The supplies are admitted duty frec, and transportation to the in- terior has been arranged, so that the relief, at first necessarily confined to Havana and the larger cities, is now extended through most, if not all, of the towns where suf- fering exists. Thousands vf lives have already been saved. Tkenecessity for a change in the con- dition of the reconcentrados is rscognized by the Spanish government. Within a few days past the orders of General Weyler have been revoked; the reconcentrados are, it is said, to be permitted to return to their hemes, and aided to resume the self-sup- Porting pursuits of peace; public works have been ordered to give them employ- mert, and a sum of $600,000 has been ap- Propriated for their relief. The war in Cuba is of such a nature that shert of subjugaticn or extermination a firal military victory for either side seems in.practicable. The alternative Mes in the physical exhaustion of the one or the other perty, or perbaps of both—a condition which jn effect. ended the ten years’ war by the Truce of Zanjon. The prospect of such a protraction and conclusion of the Present strife is a contingency hardly to be contemplated with equanimity by the civé ilized world, and least of all by the United States, affected and injured as we are, deeply and intimately by its very existence. An Immediate End of the War. Realiziz g this, it appeared to be my duty, in a spirit of true friendliness, no less to Spain than to the Cubans, who have so much to lose by the prolongation of the struggle, to scek to bring about an imme- Giate termination of the war. To this end I submitted, on the 27th ultimo, as a result of auch representation and correspondence, through the United States minister at Madrid, propositions to the Spanish gov- ernment looking to an armistice until Oc- tober first for the negotiation of peace with the good offices of the President. In addition, I asked the immediate revo cation of the order of reconcentration, so as to permit the people to return to their farms and the reedy to be relieved with provisions and supplies from the United States, co-operating, with the Spanish au- thorities, so as to afford full relief. The reply of the Spanish cabinet was re- ceived on the night of the 3ist ultimo. It offérs, as the means to bring about peace in Cuba, to confide the preparation thereof to the insular parliament, inasmuch as the concurrence of that body would be necessary to reach a final result, it being however, understood that the powers re- served by the constitution to the central government are not lessened or diminshed. As the Cuban parliament does not meet until the 4th of May next, the Spanish govtrmment would not object, for its part, to accept at once a suspension of hostili- ties if asked for by the insurgents from the genéral-in-chief, to whom it would pertain, in such cases, to determine the duration and conditions of the armistice. ‘The propositichs submitted by General Woodford and the reply of the Spanish Government were both in the form of brief memoranda, the texts of which are before me—and are substantially in the language aboye given, The function of the Cuban Parliament in the matter of “preparing” péate and tiie manner of its doing so ate not expressed in the Spanish remorandum; bit from General Woddford’s éxplanatory reports of preliminary discussions preced- ing the finkl confereiice it is understood that the Spanish Governnient stands ready to givé the insular Congress full powers to Settle the terms of peace with the insur- wetits—whether by direct negotiation or in- Wiréetiy by means of legisiation does not hppeak : ‘With this iast overture in the direction of intinfediate peace, dnd its disappointing re- eeption by n, the Executive was brought to the end of his effort. In ae annual message of December last I said? : “OP? the untried measures there remain Beer R€cognition of the insurgents as belligerelits; recognition of the independ- ence of Cuba; neutral intervention to end thé Wat by Imposing a rational compro- mise between the contestants, and inter- vention in favof of one or the other party. I speak not of forcible annexation, for that cannot be thought of. That, by our codeé of morality, would be criminal ag- gression.” Grant’s Words in 1875. Thereupon I reviewed these alternatives, in the light of President Grant’s measured words, uttered in 1875, when after seven years of sanguinary, destructive and cruel hostilities in Cuba he reached the conclusion that the recognition of the independence of Cuba was impracticable and indefensible; and that the recognition of belligerence Was not warranted by the facts according to the tests ef public law. I commented especially upon the Imtter aspect of the question, pointing out the inconvenience and positive dangers of a recognition of belligerence, which, while adding to the already onerous burdens of neutrality within our own juris- diction, could not in any way extend our influence or effective offices in the territory of hostilities. Nothing has since occurred to change my visw in this regard—and I recognize as fully now as then that the issuance of a Proclamation of neutrality, by which pro- cess the so-called recognition of belliger- etce is published, could, of Itself and un- attended by other action, accomplish noth- img towerd the one 2nd for. which we la- bor, the instant pacification of Cuba and the censation of the misery that.afflicts the island. Turning to the question of recognizing at this time the independence of the pres3nt insurgent government in Cuba, we find safe precedents in our history from an early day. They are wll summed up in Presi- dent Jackaon’s message to Congress, De- cember 21, 1834, on the subject of the rec- ognition of the independence of Texas. He said: “In all the contests that have arisen out of the revolutions of France, out of the disputes relating to the Crowns of Portugal and Spain, out of the sep- aration of the American possessions of both from the European Governments, and out of the numerous and constantly oc- curring struggles for dominion in Span- ish-America, so wisely consistent with our just principles has been the action of our Government that we have, under the most critical circumstances, avoided all censure, and encountered no other evil than that Produced by a transient estrangement of good will in those against whom we have been by force of evidence compelled to de- cide. it has thus made known to the world that the uniform policy and practice of the United States is to avoid ali interference in disputes which merely relate to the in- and not until then, re they recog- nized. herself. * * * It is true that with regard | to Texas the civil authority of Mexico has been expelled, its invading army. defeated, the Chief of the Republic himself captured, and ‘all present power to control the newly organized government of Texas annihiliat- ed within its confines. But, on the other’ hand, ‘there is, in appearance at least, an immense disparity of physical force on the side of Texas. The Mexican republic, un- der another executive is rallying 1ts forces under a new leader, and menacing a fresh invasion to recover its lost dominion. Upon the issue of this threatened inva- sion the independence of Texas may be considered as suspended; and were there nothing peculiar in the relative situation of the Untted States and Texas, our acknowl- edgement of its irdepvendence at such, a crisis could scarcely be regarded as con- sistent with that prudent reserve with which we have hitherto he!d ourselves bound to treat all similar questions.” ‘The Case of Texas. ‘Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded to consider the risk that there might be im- puted to the United States motives of selfish interest in view of the former clatm on our part to the territory of Texas, and of the avowed purpose of the Texans in seeking recognition of independence as an incident to the incorporation of Texas in the Unton, concluding thus: “Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate that we should still stand aloof and main- tain our present attitude, if not until Mexi- co itself, or one of the great foreign powers shall recognize the independence of the new government, at least until the lapse of time or the course of events shall have proved beyond cavi! or dispute the ability of the people of that country to maintain their separate sovereignty and to uphold the gov- ernment constituted by them. “Neither of the contending parties can justly complain of this course. By pursu- ing it we are but carrying out the long-es- tablished policy of our government, a pol- icy which has secured to us respect and in- fluence abroad and inspired confidence. at home.” These are the words of the resolute and patriotic Jackson. They are evidence that the United States, in addition to the test imposed by public law as the condition of the recognition of independence by a neu- tral state (to wit, that the revolted state shall “constitute in fact a body politic, hav- ing a government in substance as well as Posseszed of the elements. of sta- and forming de facto, "if left to it- self, a state among the nations, reasonably capable of discharging the duties of a state”), has imposed for its own govern- ance in dealing with cases like these the further condition that recognition of inde- pendent statehood is not due to a revolted dependency until the danger of its being again subjugated by the parent state has entirely passed away. This extreme test was, in fact, appited in the case of Texas. The Congress. to whom President ‘Jackson referred the ques- ticn as cne “probably leading te war” andj therefore a proper subject for “a previous urderstanding with that body by whom war can atone be declared, and by whom all the provisions for sustaining its perils must be furnished,” left the matter of tac recognition of Texas to the’ discretion of the executive, providing merely forsthe sending of a diplomatic agent when thd President should be satisfied that the ye-. public of Texas had become: “an inde- Pendent State.” Ft was so recognized. by President Van Buren, who: commissioned a charge d'affaires March 7, 1837, after Mex- ico had abandoned an attempt te reconquer the Texén territory and when there was at the time no bona fide contest goingon ‘between the insurgent province and its former sovereign. ; I said in my mcssage of December Jast;, “Tt is to be seriously considered whether the Cuban insurrection possesses beyond dispute the attributes of statehood which alone can demand the recognition of beilig- erency in its favor.” ‘The’ same require: ™ment must Certainly be no less seriously considered when the graver issue of recog: nizing independence is in’ question, for no less fositive test can be applied to the greater act than to the lesser; while, on the other hand, the influences and conse- quences of the struggle upon the internal‘ policy of the recognizing state, which form important factors when the recognition of belligerency is concerned, are secondary, if not rightly eliminable factors when the real question is whether the community claiming ‘recognition is or is not indepen- dent beyond peradventure. No Cuban Independence. Nor from the standpoint of expedience do I think it would be wise or prudent for this government to recognize at the present time the independence of the so-called Cu- ban republic. Such recognition ts. not nec- essary jn order to enable the United States to intervene and pacify the island. To ccmmit this country now to the recognition of afiy particular goverhment in Cuba might subject us to embarrassing condi- | ticns of international obligation toward the organization so recognized. In case of intervention our conduct would be subject to the approval or. disapproval of. such government; we would be required te sub- mit’ to its direction and to assume ‘to it the mere relation of a friendly ally. When it shall appear hereafter that there is within-the island a gevernment capable of perférming ‘the duties and dis- charging the functions of a separate na- tion, and having, as a matter of fact, the proper forms and attributes of nationality, uch government can be promptly and readily recognized, and the relations and interests of the United States -with such nation adjusted. There remain the alternative forms of intervention to end the war, either as an impartial neutral by imposing a rational compromise between the contestants, or as the active ally of the one party or the other. % As to the first, it is not to be forgotten that during the last few months the rela- tion of the United. States has virtually been one of friendly intervention in many ways, each not of itself conclusive, but all tending to the exertion of a potential in- fluence toward an ultimate pacific result juet-and honorable to all interests concerni- ed. The spirit of all our acts hitherto has been an earnest, unselfish desire for peace and prosperity in Cuba, untarnished by | differences ‘between us and Spain and un-, stained by the blood of American citizens, The forcible intervention of the United States asa neutral, to stop the war, accord+ ing to the large dictates of humanity and following many historical ts where conflicts ‘beyond their borders, is justifiable on rational grounds. It involves, however, hostile constraint upon both ‘the parties to the contest, as well-to enforce a truce as to guide the eventual settlement, GROUNDS FOR INTERVENTION, The grounds for such intervention may. be briefly summarized as follows: It te apocificalty our duty, for it ts steht | advance. Y snations, wall, ig res ponsibil# ye end to terminate the conditions that deprive | 8nd repose from a condition which can no Rigid es = them of legal spipction. Such was our course in regard te Mexice'__ppird. The habe intervene may be jus- | tion of Cuba. In the name of humanity, ia tified by the vérgg@prious injury to the com-}the name of civilization, in behalf of en- merce, trade and—business of our people | @@ngered American interests which give destruction ‘of property | us the right and the duty to speak and to and by the 1 and d3vastation Qf the island. * Fourth, and which is of the utmost im- portance. The) ptés2nt eendition ‘of affairs in Cuba is a qmenace to our peace, and entails mous expens such a conflict waged for years in amiisiand go near which our peojiit thve such trad: and bust- ness relatioi the lives and liberty of eur citizensyerecin constant danger and their property™destroyed and themselves ruined—whre our trading vessels are liable | opiigations, to seizure and are seized at our very door, by warships of 4 foreign nation, the itions of filibustering that we are power- less to prevent altogether, and th2 irritat- ing questions an@ entanglements thus aris- ing—all these and others that I need not mention, with the resulting strained rela- tions are a constant menace to our peace distribution of food and supplies be con- and compel us''to\keep on a semi-war foot- ing with a nation with which we are at peace. _ pi -Destraction of the Maine. Thesé ‘elemerts, of danger and disorder |a solemn responsibility. I have exhausted already pointed but have been strikingly | every effort to relieve the intolerable con- illustrated by a’ tragic event which has | dition of affairs which is at our doors. deeply and justly moved the American peo- ple. I have already transmitted te Con- gress the report-of the Naval Court of In- quiry- on the déstruction of the Battle- ship “Maine” in’ the Harbor of Havana during the night:of the 15th of February. The destructioh ‘6f that ‘noble vesse! has filled the national heart: with inexpressible horror. Two aundred and fifty-eight brave sailors and marines and two officers of our navy; reposing in the fancied security of a friendly harber, have been hurled to death, grief and want brought to their homes and sorrow to the Nation. The Naval Court of Inquiry, which it is needless to say commands the unqualified confidence of thé Government, was unani- mous in its conclusion that the destruc- tion of the “Maine” was caused by an ex- terior explos‘on, that of a submarine mine. It did not assume to place the responsi- bility. That remains to be. fixed, In eny event, the: destruction of the Maine, by whatéver exterior cause, is a pateat and impressive pfoof of a state of things in Cuba that is Intolerable. That condition is thus shown to be such that the Spanish government cannot assure safety | Remarks of an Official of the Forcign and security to a vessel_of the American navy in the harbér of Havana on a mission of peace and rightfully there. Further referring in ‘this connection to recent diplomati¢ correspondence, a dis- patch from our minister to: Spain, of the “6th ultimo, contained the statement that the Spanish minister for foreign. affairs assured him positively that, Spain will do all that the highest honor and justice re- quire in the matter of the Maine. The re- ply abov? referred to of the 3ist ultimo also contained an expression of the readiness of Spain to submit jto an arbitration all the differences whith can arise in this matter, which ‘is subgfghijally_ explained by the note of the Spimist minister at Washing- ton of the 10thtmnant, as follows: As to the questiot of fact which springs from the divdPsft3? of views between’ the report of theo :dmorican and Spanish boards, Spainpfojjoses that the fact be ascertained byrqnnimpartial investigation by experts, wh¥s¢ Yecision Spain accepts In’ ‘Te this 1 hat# Maite ro repty, * President Greniyin 1875, after discussing the phases of tHelfcontest as it: then ap- (peared, ail .ifgyhopeless and apparent in- definite” protor ini “Said: In such'eten€, T%m of opinion that other camtied tp assume the hchn.davalves upon -them, and to seriously constéer the only remain- ing measures’ possible, mediatton and inter- vention. OmAng, pérlups,‘to the large ex- panse of water geparating, the island from. |' to plunge two continents into profound sus- the peninstfla, * * * the. contending par: jtles appear to have within themselves no jGepository of commén confidence, to sug- igest"Wisdom when passion anilvextitement ‘have their way, and to assume the part-of | dent found, or fancied he had found, he peacemaker.. a : in-this view, in the earlier days-of the contest the good offices ‘of! the -United States ‘as a meditor were tendered in good | an anti-Monroe campaign to prevent any faith, without any selfish purpose, in the interest of humanity, and in sincere friend- ship for both parties, but were at. the time. declined by Spain, with the. declaration | Krocks this suggestion on the head by say- nevertheless that at a future time they would be indispensable. No int!matton has been. received that in the opinion of Spain that time has been reached. And yet the strife continues with all its dread horrors, and all its injuries to the interests of the United States and of other nations. Each party seems quite capable of work- ing great injury and damage to the other, as well as to all the relations and interests | Irish nationalist leader, dependent on the-existerice of peace in the | peper claiming to represent the Irish party, island; but they seem ircapabie of reach- ing any adjustment, and both have thus | Spain will win in the expected war, asks: far failed of achieving any success whereby oné party shali, possess and control the island:to the exclusion of the ether. Under | jards in the American press, or would- not thé’ cttcumstances, the agericy of ‘others, either by mediation or. by intervention, seems to be tht’ only: alternative which must,. sooner or, later, be inyoked.for the termination of the strife." . : In the last anal message of-my imme- diate . predecessor, during ,the. pending struggle, it was sald: a ‘When the inability. of Spain to deal suc- cessfully with thp insurrection has become manifest, and it,is demonstrated that her | 8nd has passed a resolution of sympathy scvéretgnty is*extinet in Ciba for all pur- poses of its righiful existence, and’ when’ a hopeless sti le for {ts revestablishment hag degenerated into a strife-Which means nothing more than the tiseless sacrifice of hamgir ‘life. and},the utter destruction of the very. subject-matter -of the conflict, a situation will be presentedin..which our odligations.to the sovereignty of Spain will | is anxiously watched in Germany as the be superreded by higher obligations, which | Opening of actual hostilities is expected, we can, hardly. discharge. s SY His Apaual Message. In, my anpuel message, to Congress, cember: last; speaking to this “Tide > tear i"Gkure . will demonstrate Hesitate to. recognize and L rise = he ‘the fmnitepensable:condition of a| Vided, many of the papers wae spa igat alike’ Yo the’ Cubans | Pinion that the ‘United States ought to rightpaus and ‘to Spain aswell es equitabl to all our interests so.ini ly ngolvo4 ‘in’ the wi by passion nor selfishness, the government will continue its watchful care over the rights and propfrty of American citizens about by (bl agencies a peace which Sovernment an'eRor- | ige and empower the President to take us amd with | mination of hostililies Between the govern- ©xPe-| our own, and to use the military and naval 1B BOYS HAVE CHARGE Young America Swarms in Front of Star Office. ————— A MOTLEY AND A MERRY CROWD longer be endured is the enforced pacifica- act, the war in Cuba must stop. Asks Power to End Hostilities. In view of these facts and of these con- siderations, I ask the Congress to author- Measures to secure a full and final ter- ment of Spain and tHe people of Cuba, and to secure in the Island the establishment of a stable government capabie of maintain- ing order and observing its international insuring peace and tranquilizy and the security of its citizens as well as Methods by Which the Youngsters Pass Away Time. THEIR CODE OF MORALS ——— forces of the United States as may be necessary for those pi And in the interest of humanity and to aid in preserving the lives of the starving Precocious juvenility owns 1th street people of the island I recommend that the and the contiguous sidewalks in the vicin- ity of The Evenirg Star office every day, during these exciting times, from early forenoon till the shades of night fall. It is a motley and merry mob, embracing all shades and sizes of the small boy and the tinued, and that an appropriation be made out of the public treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens. ‘The issue is now with the Congress. It is Prepared to execute every obligation im- posed upon me by the Constitution and the law, I await your action. Latest Decree of Spain. Yesterday, and since the preparation of the foregoing message official information was received by me that the latest decree of the Queen Regent of Spain directs Gen- eral Blanco, in order to prepare and facili- tate peace, to proclaim a suspension of hostilities, the duration and details of which have not yet been communicated to This fact with every other pertinent con- sideration will, I am sure have your just and careful attention in the solemn de- liberations upon which you are about to enter. If this measure attains a successful result, then our aspirations as a Christian, peace-loving people will be realized. If it fails it will be only another justification for our contemplated action. WILLIAM McKINLEY. Executive Mansion, April 11, 1898. —————_—_-e-__ BRITISH SYMPATHY. Waiting for the Extra, big boy, from the youngster just out of jumpers to the old one who has young- sters of his own, but who is just as young to all intents and purposes as his juniors, because a n2wsboy never grows old. The attire cf the crowd is as varied as its other characteristics, but all garbs meet upon a common level of equality, and the school boy, neatly clad, who is seek- irg excitement and pie money by the sur- reptitious sale of a bundle of Stars, is jostled and pushed about in good old demo- cratic fashion by others whose nakedness is mer2ly emphasized by the torn and tat- tered raiment handed down to them from their daddies. It is a panorama well worth study and reflection, this moving mass of sewed-off numanity. It rejoices in a free aud un- Office. During the course of a conversation & high official of the British foreign office in London is quoted as saying: “The certain difficulties and possible dan- gers which the United States is inviting by its attitude, besides the vast cost and the disquieting uncertainties of war Itself, ali of which could be avoided by a policy of indifference, show the single-mindedness of the American aims and constitute an irre- sistible claim on the sympathies of other nations, for the assured losses are not counterbaianced by any prospect of gain. “The President’s policy is statesmanltke and ¢ssentially humane, and while we may view apprenensively the ultimate results to America herself of the necessity for in- troducing order in the government of Cuba, the solution of the insufferable scaridal will not be too dearly purchased at the cost of war. “The maleficent rule of Spain in Cuba has got to end now, for neither America nor any one else will trust her promises, 80 often broken, especially after the telltale ecrrespondence which resulted in the recall of Senor Dupuy de Lome. “Nevertheless,” added the official, “Amer- ica has taken up an unenylable task. After driving out the Spaniards she will have tg send troops to crush the Cubans, who are rebels at heart, and who will not sub- mit tamely to any form of government which will deprive them of their occupation of fighting.” : England’ Would Join America. After commenting upon the fact that “the effeet of the dramatic postponement of President McKinley's message has been pense ard put every bourse in the world ae aeons into violent alternations of heat and cold,” the London Spectator suggests as a possibie explanation of the delay that “the Presi- embarrassed independence, which even in- cludes Policeman W. Adams in its careless superiority over surroundings. Its component parts are all inspired with the ‘same earnest hope that an extra is going to be issued, or, barring that, they will. get their checks and the resultant Stars of the regular edition quicker than their companions, but while awaiting the realization of such, to them, idyllic bliss, they pass their time in killing it with ap- proved juvenile weapons. They play and fight; they exchange confidences and renew ermities: they settle between themselves, not by the rules of arbitration, but with vigorous slang or the more emphatic argu- ments of pudgy fists, the questions of who has the prior right to sell Stars in a cer- tain locality; for as quail rise in limited areas, so newsboys ply their search for customers in prescribed areas. Names Varied and Unasual. ‘The names these youngsters answer to are as varied and unusual as their other characteristics. “Possum” yells derision at “Rabbit,” and “Rabbit” in turn shouts at “Shuffiefoot,” as a quick-witted lame boy is popularly known. “Humpty” is playing marbles with “Ananias,” a litUe coon as dark as the middle ages, and as dense in all save getting Stars and se)ling them And so the nicknames fly over the flock. Every néwcomer of the mulatto persuasion is immetiately greeted as “Yaller,” and there are “Big Yailers” and “Little Yal- lers,” “Slim Yallers” and “Bow-legged Yal- lers,” and “Yaller” Jims and Bucks and Neds, until this chronic nomenclature is well-nigh exhausted. ‘When a lot of the bigger boys get around a ring-up near the corner of E street, it is not always safe to bet that they are playing marbles. They have marbles, of course, and they are grouped in the center of a big ring, chalked on the concrete. Does the boy who says it is his “go” shoot a taw across the ring, wheu he kneels was face to face with a coalition of the continental powers, France, Russia, Ger- rany and Austria, nominally to preserve the peace of the world, in reality to conduct territory now in the possession of a Euro- pean power passing under American con- But the Spectator in its next sentence ing: “While the continental powers do not love the American republic they would not be so mad as to risk a war with the whole Anglo-Saxon race, and that would be the outcome. For, if America was attacked by @ continental coalition, England would be by her side in twenty-four hours.” Dillon’s Paper for Spain. The Freeman’s Journal, the organ of the John Dillon, a after flatfootedly expressing the hope that “Is there a nation in the world which could brook the insults leveled at the Span- protest against the stand-and-deliver policy adopted?” In conclusion the Freeman’s Journal re- “In our opinion the United States would be better.employed helping Spain to make autonomy-a success, rather than in forcing a deplorable war. The latest advices show the Americans do not want to deliver Cuba to the Ss, ae The independent League has pro- tested against this pro-Spanish declaration with the United States, repudiating with scorn ‘and indignation the declaration of the Freeman’s Journal. —— GERMANY REMAINS NEUTRAL. Declines to Interfere in the Spanish- = American Dispute. All news of the Spanish-American crisis and German interests, especially her com- mercial interests, are involved. § be satisfied with the concessions Spain is fhe Unites ‘States i Tight in’ demanding 1e is the absolute independence of Gobe aoe a ill pee eens Gignation in America at Spanish misrul te @ trying position, for if they refuse it gives: anybody in serious itical cir- Spaniards ‘unity with cles floubts that War Is coming, the points enema erwhat they have all at issue- being deemed irreconcilabie, al- along contended, that the object of the Cu- President “McKinley's ‘moderation ana’ eve, with Again Ua coder to eeeoenn ee ae dent desire’ for peace. ends. The same authority gave it as the’ opinion of those concerned that Presiient? McKinley and the cabinet believed that the: armistice was sufficient grounds for a de" Jay in declaring in favor of armed interven, organ party, the be enabled to confer with Spanish depe That the Gorman eakae ee Ciale ‘with & view to terminsting mae oye ranging to “appropriate Samoa, drive the by acquiring thelr independence, r the Danish Islands, as Germany, after | its head when it meets an army of news- | and set srerz posse means of boys. Their code of morals consists solely in trating each other “white” in their re- | COb® should have been exhausted. spective dealings. Little boys cannot cope » big and ant | Pah fn seo. evr we tee =| SIR SPENCER WAL during - the | when the sale begins of the checks, the cir- ‘fdvice bes saved dmterven-| cular disks of braes, bearing numbers from rein, mege Lov gy flniamnnd upon .them, which are good for a cor- reople barpy and that which might serve to avert the wi he was to learn what to e action. gh leave Cuba that independence for bans was the only thing that could avert war; an ‘armistice ‘migh! 3 7 Gout and Rheumatism, Gout is well recognized as — from excess of uric acid in the This theory is supported by — favorable action of the Carls Waters. Dr. Lustig, of Teplitz, issued 2 pzmphlet wherein he recognized the great efficacy of Carlsbad Waters in Rheumatism, both acute and chronic. Write for pamphlet. Eisner & Mendelson Co., sole agents, New York. =e = = rroney and then not giv: him the papers. His existence would never cease being made miserable as long as he sold Stars. There is a charge by the big boys for get> ting littl ones their Stars, as described, but it is small, and never considered to be an_imposttion. The'cry “checks out” is the signal for a great rush Star officewards, whenever it is yelled by some lusty pair of young lungs. From hop-scotch circles, where patient youngsters are trying to hop and kick @ flat piece of coal into one space after an- other without covering with foot or coal the dividing chalk lines between the spaces; from marble games real and feigned. as Gescribed above: from curbstones and wine dow sills; from everywhere that young America is animated or inert, comes a& legion of yelling urchins: “Checks out! Rhack-a-Shack David! Checks out! The Exchange. Down cellar steps they pile until the big Toom is full, and then the check seller# shell out checks and take in and count cash with a celerity that would make a circus ticket agent sick and envious. It is @ gay, queer, remarkable crowd, and just now ‘ts chief irspiration is significant of its Americanism. Every boy is @ patriot. Some of them are even insurs gents, judging from the Cuban flags they proudly sport. Do they read the papers they sell? Thos who can, and that is the vast majority, do, religiously. Ask ten of such if there'll be war? It is ten to one that nine of them will regard the questioner scornfullyg “War, now! Dey ain't no sech luck.” Order Just Issued by the Depart ment. The Treasury Department has issued thé following order regarding leaves of ab= sence: Hereafter leaves of absence will be grant« ed to officers, clerks and employes of this department during any calendar year, a8 follows: At any time during the months of Janus ary, February, March, April, May and June, for any number of days which do not exceed at the rate of two and a half days per month, the number of days accrued an@ unused at the date of request for leave. At any time after July 1, in any calendar year, the full thirty days may be granted, or such portion as may be yet due and un- used. When application for leave of ab- sence is made there must be noted on such application the amount of time charged zgainst the applicant for sickness or other cause prior to date of application. In special cases, where the application for leave is accompanied by a written states ment by the head of a bureau or office, of chief of division, Secretary's office, giving: good and sufficient reasons therefor, the above limitations may be waived, not W exceed fifteen days before June 1. « From and after this date the heads of, and offices and chiefs of divisions, tary’s office, in this department, shall keep a daily record of absence on accoun\ of sickne: clerks and employes in their reaus or divisions, and forward to the dis vision of appointments, Secretary's offices, at the end of each month a consolidated report, showing the absence or presenea daily of each officer, clerk or employ When desired, a medical officer will be directed to investigate and report to the department in any case of siekness so red corded. Record must be made for all absence for fractional parts of a day, and when such’ fractional parts aggregate seven hours, day's absence must be charged and report= ed on the time reports. In continuous absence which exceeti three days, the Sundays, if any, interven- ing must be charged and reported on the time reports. Employes must report to their respective offices not later than 2 o'clock p.m. the fact that they were unable to report for duty on account of sickness or otherwise on such days as they may be absent. Attention is called to the change made by’ act approved March 15, 1898, in the law, regulating annual leave of absence, to wit:' “Hereafter it shall be the duty of the heads of the several executive departments, in the interest of the public service, to re- quire of all clerks and other employes, of whatever grade or class, in their respectty departments, not less than s hours labor each day, except Sundays and days declared legal holiday: ———-_e-_____ THE POPE’S INTERVENTION, The Armistice Attributed to the Ef. forts of Leo XIII. The Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Sun says, under date of yester- day: The granting of the armistice to the, Cubans by Spain is ascribed by the Cath- olic authorities here to the direct influence of Pope Leo XIII, and they are very rauch, pleased at the success which has attende| the efforts of the pope and his adviserm, The information that the armistice wad granted was received at the apostolic deles’ gation yesterday. consisting of three words. No news f: either Rome or Madrid was received at delegation today. The message was brief! Archbishop Ireland has now accomplished his mission here up to date, but he will re- If he could not steps might be take