davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1895-12-27
Foes Within.

To THE EpIToR The Sux-Sir. During the Into
tho attention OF patriotic Americans was almost
entirely directed toward England as being the real
enemy in case OF war. c. j. Maxwell in to days Sun
strikes the keynote Of source of danger 10 the
United States when no says "Bewaro OF the enemy
III our midst" and certainly the DEVELOPMENT or
events OF the past week Wound secm TO Justify his
wnrhihG-lhe Cooper Union meeting. The iitterances
90 soir o. our ConIrnct ministers from the puipit-
not 70 sprh. or Godkn and Anglomnn n iacs-mi,st
certainly IOrcf us to the concluslOn that John nn
has some sanch aliies right tnc United States
and posing aS cltLpnS at that. 'N''
Speaking OF some OF the aforesaid minIsters
who Just now seem to DO buGbing over with
cNusions or peace and love and goal viii
the brothefhood ~ man, So. how about their
many Trades Lrol! the pulpit, and very re.
Comfy. TOO. and Hlich were always Surrharped
With hgotry and hate toward their Tathoiic fellow
c'lHchsf Consistency. thou art Jewel, MpanwhIln
lti not patriotic Amer cans furSet for n moment the
hnl Uo.th lnaugurni"d TODAY by Mr. Maxwell lc.
ware or the enemy In our midst. JnIIs Mnnrr, Nv
NEW yOUk. Dec "'''' "''"iH'i-
The sun., 1895-12-27

1t will be an error, very clearly, If the
committee to investigate the DUNRAvEN
charges fails to throw its doors open to the
public, by admitting the representatives of
the press. The committee, by making Mr..
PHELPS and Capt. MAHAN members of
itself, has already recognized the fact
that it is not merely dealing with
an affair Of the New York Yacht
Clubs. The races themselves were truly
international. About the whole of this
country and much of England were
interested in them. The same is true in
regard to the investigation of Lord Dun
RAVENS charges. The members of the New
York Yacht Club form an insignificant
number Of those who are earnestly desirous
OF learning all that there is to be learned
about them.
The testimony to be given before the COM
mittee, if reported universally and promptly
by the press, will reach the ear Of the public
in a much more satisfactory and impressive
shape than if served up at some indefinite
time hereafter in n committee report. If
the press is admitted the English newspa-
pers will be able to have their representa-
tives watch the proceedings with their own
eyes, and note all the attending circum-
stances, which are not ignored in any court
of justice.
If the committee is wise it will open its
doors.
The sun., 1895-12-27
Critical Days for Cuba.

TIE advance Of the patriot army westward
toward Matanzas and Havana is either a
stroke of military genius or an operation of
extreme audacity. There is possibility of
victory in it, but there is danger in it.
Gen. MAKING GOMEZ has shown himself,
ever since he took the field as chief com
mander, to be a leader of such solid abil.
ity that there is good reason to believe in
the soundness of his judgment in the
case. He has been cautious at times
and impetuous at others, but he
has never been rash or overconhdent
He knows the ground; he knows the enemy
and the people of Cuba; he knows the valor
of his troops, and has not u doubt of the
faithfulness Of the officers in service I'M
der him. He has met the Spanish forces a
hundred times within the past nine months;
and the measure of Cuban success may
be judged from the fact that the
war, which began near Santiago. on the
eastern shore, has been carried on for over a
week in the vicinity Of Colon and Cardenas.
II fortune shall favor him there, as it has
favored him many time elsewhere, the cry
will be, onward to Matanzas. forward to
Havanal
LAY ny uuy VIC await Jile news WIN anX-
iety and hope.
A defeat for MAxIMo GoMEz at Colon or
Cardenas, or even at Matanzas or Havana,
would not mean the end of the war for
freedom; but defeat at either place for
MARTINEZ CAMPos would surely he thing
of profound Significance for Spain.
1t has been foolish business for the Span
iards to send out dispatches that the insur-
gents have been beaten in every battle, and
driven from every place at which they made
a stand, or that they were steadily growing
weaker and losing faith in their causc. The
sufficient reply to these statements is that
they have approached closer to the capital
every month of the war, that their strength
has grown from thousands to tens OF thou
sands, and that all our advces from their
numerous camps have told of their high
spirits and their ardent enthusiasm.
Our reports OF the past few days from va
rious places in Cuba have led us to believe
that the Spanish commander has determined
to stand on the defensive Mt the fortified
seaports of Matanzas and Havana, awaiting
the results at Colon or Cardenas; and
that the insurgent commander has
concentrated his forces, as far as possible,
for an attack upon one or other OF the last
named places 1t may be that GOMEZ is
making merely series OF feints; but
1t looks rather as though he were
The sun., 1895-12-27

| which they have not yet been tried ut any
time during the war. In any event, the in
surgent chief has this week been within a
army to be respected.
The situation is serious one for both
sides. The Spaniards have an advantage
at Matanzas, in that the place is not only
strongly fortified but more especially that
the naval vessels in the harbor are ready to
take part in its defence.
II we had not confidence in the discretion
OF GOMEZ, who possesses complete informa-
tion regarding his opportunities, we might
possibly give way to apprehensons
but rs 1t is, we do not. We have
knowledge, on the other side, that the
Spanish army is in bad condition, that
it could not abide serious reverse my
where near Havana, and that words
not encouraging for Spain have come
from the mouth of its commander.
The forces under MARTINEZ CAMPos have
suffered greatly in battle, from the plague,
and from the hardships of the service, SO
that, while they are far greater In num-
ber than they were half year ago, and far
outnumber the insurgents, they have most
likely lost some Of those qualities which are
particularly serviceable in battle, the quail
ties which from the uprising at Santiago to
the advance upon Colon have inspired the
army Of liberation.
In these critical days for Cuba, and for
Spain in Cuba, we retain the hope by which
we have always been encouraged, that free
doms victory may be the reward OF free
dom's warriors.
The sun., 1895-12-27

CLEVELAND would obey, as he has obeyed
in the spirit and the letter, the will OF the
American people announced through the
national Legislature. 1t was equally OBJ
vious, in view OF the firm assertion OF our
determination not to permit the despoil-
ment by force Of feeble American COM
monwealth. that Lord SALISBURY would
eventually have to choose between war and
acquiescence In judicial pronouncement
on the merits of Guiana's claims. What
was 30 patent to all Americans should
have been no less manifest to the 300
British authors, who, since they now under
take to raise their voices on public ques-
tions, must be presumed to read the news
papers. II the American correspondents OF
London newspapers were earning their salt,
they must have made known to the British
public the serious meaning Of the joint reso-
luton concerning Venezuela passed by
Congress in February last. II, however,
only misinformation went by cable,
the files of our American journals
were accessible in England, and should
have been carefully studied by any English
man protesting competence to speak or
write on international affairs. The 1900
BrltlSn WrlterS nave only themselves 10
blame, IL they have had to wait ten months
to find out that the American people meant
precisely what they said last February
through their legislative spokesmen, and
that they would support the position taken
by President CLEVELAND in regard to Ven
ezuela with unanimity never shown before
for any cause or at any juncture since the
adoption Of our Constitution.
The American people can no more be
gulled by British literary men than bullied
by British politicians. All that the ! 300
British writers, or the corresponding num-
Der OF London stock brokers, need to do, is
to follow Mr.. GLADsroNE's suggestion and
cultivate little common sense. When they
have developed that useful faculty they will
apply their well-meaut efforts where they
will do the most good. They will appeal to
their own Prime Minister to adopt the only |
and practicable method Of pre- |
serving peace, by agreeing that boundary
dispute shall be regulated, not by force, but |
by reference to impartial arbitrators.
The sun., 1895-12-27
Lord Salisbury's Plea for Schomburgk

The last official statement from the Brit
ish Government regarding England's title
up to the SCHoMBURGK line is contained il
Lord SALIsBURY's letter to the British Min
lister at Washington, accompanying hi:
reply to Mr.. OLNEY. We will take from
that letter the reasons why England
thinks she owns to the SCHoMBURGK line
and why she would have the United States
think so. There Is a bare statement that
the British claim is supported by the "na.
tional archives of Holland and Spain" The
remaining quotations from Lord SAILS
| BURY's note show what the SCHoMBURGK
| line is based on.
1t Is based on Exploration, and infor-
nation obtained from the Indians;"
On "the evidence Of local remains as at
Point Barima;'
On local tradition, as on the Cuyuni;"
On "the ground that the natural boundary
included any territory through which flow
rivers which fall into the Essequibo"
This was all. The last theory, or geo.
graphical theory, led to apsurdity too mani
fest for complete adoption. Upon this
principle" Lord SALISBURY quotes from
SCHoMBURGKs report, "the boundary
line would approach the very heart Of
Venezuelan Guiana" So ION grounds
of complaisance," we now quote Lord
SALISBURY again, SCHoMBURGK, the ex-
plorer, geographer, and British agent, pro-
posed that Great Britain should consent to
Surrender her claim" to frontier that
would have touched the Every heart" of
Venezuelan Guiana, in return for the for
NAL recognition Of her right to Point Ba-
rima. On this principle SCHoMBURGK drew
the boundary line which has since been
called by his name.
Lord SALIsBURY's first definite opinion of
the ScHoMBURGK line is that it is "a
line originating in considerations of conven-
fence and expediency." His second is that it
marks off territory to which 1.-THE Govern
ment of Great Britain do not consider that
the rights Of Great Britain are open to
question" This last sentence is at the
close Of paper in the middle of which
Is an account Of England's removing two
boundary posts at the other party g requests,
an act unheard of in British history, and
of dickering with Venezuela over the title
to Point Barima, ON the British side of the
SCHoMBURGK line.
Geographical theorizing, information from
the Indians, local tradition, evidence of local
remains, formed the substance of SCHoM-
BURGK's report on the line which he pro.
posed" to the British Government; and on
that Lord SALISBURY has proposed to stand
SCHoMBURGK as an arbiter of territorial
boundaries between South American re-
public and British Guiana is marked with
characteristics of absurdity rarely intro
duced into diplomatic questions.
The sun., 1895-12-27
Mr.. TiIden's Prophecy Is Fulfilled.

Many expressions Of pacific sentiment come
to us from England, and we do not doubt
their sincerity. The English people do not
want to go to war with America. The
thought Of such conflict fills them with
dread and horror, and similar feeling ex-
lists in this country. England has known
nothing by actual experience of the horrors
Of war for two generations past but they
are familiar to us. Its contribution to the alli-
ance against Russia in the Crmean war cost
1t as little of suffering at home as it gained
renown In arms. Since then, or for more
than forty years, it has sedulously kept out
of war; confning itself to skirmishes with
savage or half-civilized tribes easily sub
dued by its superior armament, or to hostile
demonstrations against States too weak to
offer successful resistance.
war with America, of course. would be a
very different matter. 1t would be O terrible
war, and its inevitable consequence would
be the dismemberment of the British en-
pire What its consequences might be for
us in suffering we know from our compare
lively recent experience of civil war. 1t
would be an awful conflict, and in the pres
ent state Of our defences it would be likely
to begin with momentary damage to us that
might not be of any Importance as affecting
the issue of the hostilities, and which
would only serve to exasperate the people
and increase their determination to destroy
the aggressor; but it would make us feel
speedily the smart of war. The pain would
come before the glory
At this time, when the pacific expressions
to which We have referred are coming from
representatives of popular sentiment in
England, it will be observed that neverthe-
less the English Government is keeping its
powder dry, in view of possible contingen-
cies. The strengthening of the mill
tary defences OF Canada will DO an outcome
of the present controversy, in spite of
tho now pre1alent conviction In both coun-
The sun., 1895-12-27

An esteemed reporter of the Galveston
Ntrs AYERS that the Hon. WEBSTER FLANAGAN.
an eminent Republican civil service reformer
OF the Lone Star State. has been saying, "in a
voice that could DO heard fifty yards
away" that tho reformation OF the tariff
must be begun by putting a duty on
wool. Then Mr.. FLANAGAN Is reported to
have winkcd In manner visible for
miles or less. AS the Republicans have
resolved to put a tariff duty on wool. and as Mr.
WEBSTER FLANAGAN Is a good Republican,
though with no extreme objections to Pop
ulism, 1t may be taken for granted that he
winked neither tho one nor tho other eye at the
suggestion of duty wool. But the tale has
another earmark of preposterousness. II re-
lates that Mr.. FLANAGAN's remark about
the tariff audible for only fifty
yards away. That is absurd. An aside
in regard to some trivial matter might be whls-
pered by him with SO much discretion as not to
be heard more than twelve miles away, but
when the great man gets greatly vehement
with an inspiring theme his ordinary tone of
voice can be heard 1200 miles on windy day
Why these attempts 10 misrepresent and belittle
n great man and great statesman?
The sun., 1895-12-27
Venezuela's Gratitude.

The demonstrations Of relief and Joy at
Caracas and elsewhere over the interposi-
tion of the United States in Venezuela 8
behalf, may help to offset the feelings of in
dignation and disgust felt by our people at
Lord SALIsBURY's course
In point Of fact, however, our Government
has done only as it would desire to be done
by, were it's position and Venezuela's re-
versed, and were ours the weak country
which had sought aid against the settlement
OF boundary dispute by an arrogant Euro
pean power under the law of the stronger.
The other republics of America, as we'll
rs Venezuela, notably Brazil, have also
shown satisfaction at our attitude in sup
port of the MONROE doctrine. They recog-
nizc that we ask no more for this hemi-
sphere than the countries Of the Old World
are at liberty to exact from us there.
1t was certainly no ignoble sentiment that
led us to protect, possibly at great risk and
cost. weak republic that could be of little
or no help to us in case Of a resulting war.
1t is also not our choice IL we seem to have
virtually constituted ourselves the arbiter
in this matter, without the consent of one
Of the disputants. Congress urged in vain
upon Great Britain either agreeing with
Venezuela upon frontier line or allowing
an impartial referee to fix one for them.
AS it turned out, there seemed no way to
avoid injustice for Venezuela without as
suming an office that we should have gladly
seen assigned to some country that had no
tutelary duties in the case. But the High
Commission, as the case stands, will per-
form it's task without fear or favor.
The sun., 1895-12-27
Suppose There Should Be War,
Whose Fault Is 1t?

We have seldom heard of any exhibition
OF energy more misdirected or more exactly
worthy OF the term preposterous. than the
appeal said to have been addressed by 300
British writer's to their fellow authors in
this country. Our toilers with the pen are
called upon to shield the AngloSaxon race
from injury by averting a war between
England and the United States! The !, 300
British writers are barking up the
wrong tree. 1t is our Government which
for nearly year has advocated peace
full and righteous settlement OF the Ven
ezuela controversy by arbitration. 1t is the
British Government which by the mouth of
Lord SALISBURY has declared that it would
rather have recourse to war than submit
the alleged justice of the claims of British
Guiana to an impartial tribunal composed
of members chosen by the parties to the
dispute IL the 300 British writers really
desire to keep their American audiences,
which, 1t seems, they stand in fear of losing,
and ifthey are truly actuated by pious pref
erence for peace, why do they not at once
combine with the 400 members of the
last House of Commons who signed the peti-
tion in favor Of arbitration presented last
year to the American Congressi II they have
any influence at all, they must possess more
of it at home than they do on this side of the
Atlantic. Why do not. then, the 1900
British writers use what influence they
have, in the right place and the right way, by
imploring their own Government to put an
end to apprehensions of war by permitting
the merits OF the English side of the Ven
ezuela question to be judcially determined
by board of arbitrators How otherwise
do men OF common sense suppose that they
can gain peace with honor
II these 1900 British writers possessed
any qualifications for discussing political
questions. they would have recognized ten
months ago the gravity Of the international
situation. Last February both Houses OF
Congress passed, by overwhelming majori-
ties, resolution declaring that the United
States could not allow any American repub.
lie to be deprived of territory, except in
pursuance of the decision of an impair
tial tribunal, and desiring the President to
press with the utmost earnestness upon the
English Government the eXpediency of
referring the boundary dispute between
Venezuela and British Guiana to ar
bitration. Every sensible person in
this country understood the deep signih-
canoe On that remarkable demonstration. 1t
0DliQEs sr-ia ''.i ~ - alsiisf la-7s sfaFns
The sun., 1895-12-27

Americans don't wish to go to war pro.
vided Great BritGin will mind It's own business
and refrain from kicking the under dog In
South America; but 1t is proper TO ray that
after this Venezuela business has been settled
satisfactorily, and the Hon. Mr.. TAURUS has
become conscious that he is not the whole
zodiac, new treaty " i'll have to be negotiated, SO
that versesmiths like the Hon. WILLIAM WAT
SON and tho Hon. LEWIS MORRIS can be extra
dited. 1t is u matter of doubt II burglary, arson
and similar little eccentricities, which, after all
have usually certain business basis TO them,
are more hurtful to civilization and the kind
feelings OF mankind than are bad verses; and
WATSON and NORRIS have lately been making
an amount Of bad verses unusually bad even
The sun., 1895-12-27
Naturalized EngIIshman Who Wouid ne
True to This CountrY.

To THE EDITOR OF THE sUs-Sir: As an Englishman
was panied and surprised to read Mr.. Trelawneys 8
statement in his letter printed In yesterdays Sun that
"were England in real danger hundreds OF thousands
OF hersons would rally TO her support all parts
OF the enrh even had they taken oaths allegiance
to this or any other country" II did not love my
native country should not be worthy OF citizenship
IN America or any other country and f had Thought
Il possbe should ever have been called upon help
america & nght England ! would not have taken the
have no choice loft In the matter. Though I do not
believe there Will he war and II there were II would
be entirely unprovoked and unJustinable, have no
right tn let my, priyate Judgment prevent me from
should hope never 10 come out OF such war alive
Like Mr. T.. am nm ndmrer OF your paper though es
you profess TO wish for peace don't why YOU are
forever striving 70 stir up hatred against England
Such hatred is not American. but Irish, -'
BROoKLYS, Dec. 25. ANGLO. ANrRIcAy
The sun., 1895-12-27

1t Is pleasant to observe that the Hon.
BENJAMIN R. TILLMAN of South Carolina has
not yet INDUCED in his contemplated amuse-
ment of combing down Mr. CLEVELAND with a
pitchfork. Instead, Capt. TILLMAN is wear
Ing nice flannel muffler over his face. and
has had his pitchfork spiked until further
notice. 1t seems, however. that he is strop-
ping pitchfork for the purpose of making
incision Into the martial and comely corpus of
his esteemed colleague as a Senator in Congress
from the Palmetto Dispensary State. the Hon.
JOHN LowNDEs MANNING IRBY. Can there be
such wrath in celestial minds. and especially
in and about this sweet time of Noel and Of
little roast pigs bearing apples couchant in
their mOuths2
The sun., 1895-12-27

In the Nineteenth Century Uondom there
arc observations by Sir ASHLEY COOPER upon
the prospects Of the Olympic games which are to
be celebrated at Athens next spring. We quote: /:
Tho promoters OF the games should be congratu.
lated as the Americana declare that they cannot do
less than send shpload or athletes TO celebrate tho
occasion. shall watch with interest what tho
prizes arc."
We had never heard of this shipload of
American athletes until Sir ASHLEY COOPER
spoke OF 1t. We guess that the Americans who
declared to him what they would do on tho oc-
cason. were experts at game which was often
played Mt Olympus when the Delphic oracle was
in working order.
The sun., 1895-12-27
Harlan ?

Mr.. Justice HARLAN OF Kentucky for the
High Commission to determine the Venez-
uelan boundary'
There are eight other Justices on the
bench Of the Supreme Court of the United
States, including the honored Chief Justice.
aud nearly all Of the eight are jurists Of
recognized wisdom, probity, and discretion.
II one of the Commissioners is to be a
Justice Of the Supreme Court, let the choice
fall upon a Justice whose conclusions will
carry the greatest possible weight.
Judge HARLAN is said to be an entertain
ing travelling companion, and yet his record
rs visiting statesman is not good