davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
A Treaty That Was Not Altered.

1t Is gratifying to observe that the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations has re-
ported the Hawaii annexation treaty exactly
in its original form, and not only without
amendment, but by a vote practically unani-
nous. Two member of the committee,
Messrs. TURPIE and DANIEL, did not sign
the report, not being quite ready to decide.
and some members were absent but no
vote was thrown against the recommenda-
ton that Hawaii should come into the
American Union.
There will, Of course, be q considerable
opposition vote in the Senate, especially
since some Of its members, in boistering
up the follies of the last Administration,
committed themselves fully against the an
nexation Of Hawaii. But there are enough
others, we trust, to ratify the treaty by the
two-to-one vote which 1t requires.
1t is a good sign, too, that no tinkering
was done with the treaty. Perhaps when
the Senat comes to consider it some
amendments may be found desirable.
There are one or two points in Mr.. NOR.
CAMS pending annexation bill which might
perhaps improve the treaty. But it is a tri-
umph for the State Department that its
treaty has run the first gauntlet unscathed.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
BAYsrDE, Queens county. July II.
SENATOR HILL AND NH. WHITNEY.
Their Political HomeIesaness.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: What Is
there to prevent David Bennett Hill and William
Collins Whitney supporting the Republican
party, SO long. certainly, as the Chicago platform
remains tho authoritative standard OF Demo-
cratic faith and doctrinei
They are both bimetallists. They ara both
protectionists. Actually. therefore,, they arc
good enough Republicans. They are only Demo-
Gratis nominally. According 20 the Chicago defi.
milton of Democracy, really they lire not Demo-
Gratis nj MI. They have been turned out Of their
party. They are not wanted in il. The Chicago
democracy prefers to have them remain outside
as dangerous characters. 1t wants them for
scarecrows. The Bryanites revilc them.
Mr.. Whitney's attempt to manipulate the
Iammany campaign is absurd. / am surprised
that so shrewd n man should make it,. Tho
present Tammany hates him and all he repre-
cajoling. its spirit toward him and his enter
prtses Is vindictive. II there is q man In New
York who ought for self-prescrvation to bend
cvory energy TO beat mmRn Hall in the
coming campaign. no matter what may be the
suhterfuges of its platform, it is William c,
Whitney.
SO. also. as to Mr.. Hill. He could not enter A
Tammany meeting without being assailed with
n storm of Misses. He is ~contemptible In its
eyes; There is no future for him in the Demo-
cratic party.
Yet these men. actually Republicans, at least
as contrasted. with the Bryan Democracy, arc
clinRing TO the delusion that they arc Of i'm
portance in the Democratic party, and can
dence. AS Democrats they are dead and buried.
Their names provoke only Democratic jeering
and c~ontumely. They are, gone politically, and
their memories are reviled. Yet they think
they 7, %rS really live factors in the Democratic
NEW SoRK, July Is.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17

to deprive them all Of their It In
for that reason the negotiations between
the powers and the Sultan may drag out
indefinitely, for it IL not any Of the powers
who are suffering by the delay, but only
the victim, Greece, and to q considerable
extent, also, the conqueror, Turkey.
For Greece the continuance of the present
situation is fatal. Production has ceased
over q large portion Of the kingdom, n
the most fertile part Of It il in the occupa-
tion Of the devastating Turk. The liabil-
tiles Of the country. that were heavy enough
tocarry while Its were untouched,
are now crushing out what little vitality
there is left. II the people Of tho seh-gov-
erning countries of Europe were to lift their
voices this pitiless policy Of the crowned
heads would have to come to an end, but
they are more silent even than the people
Of despotically governed Russia, who have
found the means to bring the weight Of
their sympathy with their co-religionists In
Turkey to bear on the Gar. AS matters
stand, the millions Of people %inhabiting
Europe outside of Russia appear to have
no more influence on their Governments
in this Eastern crisis han the Esqui-
maux of the Arctic zone. They are neither
informed rs to what Is passing nor con-
suited as to what ought to be done ;
and the handful Of their leaders are
dealing with the destinies OF nations.
1t is apparent why Constantinople was
chosen as the place Of elaboration. Had
any of the European capitals been selected
peace would rave been concluded long ago;
but delay and procrastination were desired /;
therefore the locality most favorable to the
indefinite prolongation Of negotiations was
fxed upon, so that no blame might attach
to any Of the other Governments concerned.
With such conditions ruling no good result
Is to be expected.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
The Competitor Case.

The report made In the Senate upon the
American schooner Competitor and her
crew clearly sets forth the duty which de-
wolves upon this country. The resolution
accompanying the report empowers the
President to take any measures he may
deem necessary for securing the release of
Capt. LABoRDE and his two American com
panions, MELTON and GILDEA, and tho
restoration of the vessel to her owner.
The Competitor reached the coast of Cuba,
near San Cayetano, a year ago last April.
She was discovered by the Spanish authori-
ties and captured. with five of the persons
who had gone in her, three of the five be-
ing American citizens. A summary naval
c~ourt-martial sentenced them to death. but
it's proceedings were a direct violation Of
treaty stipulations existing between our
country and Spain. These prisoners were
not taken with arms in hand" and hence,
according to our Interpretation of the pro-
tocol of 1877, made by Mr.. CUSHING and
Minister CALDERoN Y CoLLANTEs, they
should not have been tried by an excep-
tional tribunal" And, apart from that pro-
tocol, our treaty of 1898 entitled them to
privileges which they did not receive.
At length a Madrid appellate court set
aside the proceedings as illegal, and re.
manded the condemned for another trial.
The report of the Senate Foreign Commit.
tee notes that ten months have elapsed
since this death sentence was annulled,
and yet the prisoners ave not had their
second trial. They have, however, "been
subjected to protracted preliminary exami.
nations, preparatory to their trial by another
court-martial, which differs from the first
only in the fact that it is less summary and
more formal"
The ground taken by Capt. LABoRpE, IL
we do not err, is that he was compelled
by his passengers to go to Cuban waters,
and the Senate report declares that "there
is 40 evidence that the owner knew any
thing about the divergence of the vessel
from its regular voyage to Lemon City,
Fla" But even II the Spaniards should
treat this defence as a subterfuge, how can
they hold that LABoRDE and his crew were
guilty of piracy and treason, 30 being sub
ject to the death penaltyi They are not
traitors to Spain, not being subjects of
Spain. They are not pirates. even II en-
gagged in running the blockade Of the Span.
ish coast, and carrying for hire passengers
and supplies intended for the insurgents.
The Senat report, however, makes a
wholly different point, namely that the
acts Of Spain regarding these men, includ,
ing the illegal sentence, the long imprison.
ment, and the subsequent delays to give
them a new trial, justify our Govern.
ment in demanding that they be set
at liberty, " irrespective of any act which
these prisoners may lave committed
up to the date Of their capture" There
is certainly some ground for the surmise
that Spain is in a quandary, fearing to pro.
nounce and execute a death sentence upon
these men, yet not wanting to make their
act seem a light offence in Spanish eyes.
But We cannot consent to their being held
indefinitely, thus enduring years of I'm,
prisonment without trial.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17

paign in the central provinces, In which he
is now engaged. How was It possible for
him to do 30 under existing clr~cumstancesi
Il Is to be said that he has an advan-
tage over the enemy, in that his troops
are divided into small bodies, mobile and
we'll seasoned, lightly armed and clad,
while the enemy's troops must, through
fear of attack, advance In large bodies,
and are heavily armed. The small
divisions Of Cubans move by routes
and over ways. through the forests
or among tho hills, that are un-
available for the Spanish army; they fall
upon the enemy's forts, attack him from
behind cover, take him by surprise, act in
combination or in separate parties, and
retre1t, when that Is necessary, to places
whore they nre safe from pursuit. WEYLER
set out, a few weeks ago, with forty bat
~talions, for a march in close columns, but
he has been unable to do anything more
h hold his army in camp, and parry
such blows as the ubiquitous Cuban bands
nave been able to deliver.
The resolute spirit, the patriotic ardor,
and the mettle Of the Cubans are made
manifest at this time more than ever before.
The hopelessness of the Spanish cause, too,
is indicated by the course of vents In the
last war OF Cuba against Spain the patriots,
two or three thousand in number, fought
for ten years; how long can they fight
with an army ten times as great as that
which they formerly had1 Spain has been
led to hin that the Cubans are broken
or pacified, when, in truth, they are waging
war with an energy never surpassed by any
people, and at a time when mems souls are
tried. These patriots are in earnest; they
value freedom more than life.
There were 200, 900 Spanish soldiers
In the island of Cuba a year ago; we
have Spanish authority for the statement
that that number has been diminished by
one-third. Thousands of them have
fallen in fight; thousands have died
in the military hospitals; thousands have
been shipped back to Spain, suffering from
wounds or disease. The Spanish army has
neither gained glory nor accomplished the
purpose for which it was sent to
Cuba; its commander has dishonored
the Spanish meme; it has difficulties
of an unusually distressing character
this summer; it could hardly have a
more discouraging prospect. II the folly
and the obstinacy of Spain's rulers be not
soon overcome, it must submit to yet further
shame, IL not to ruin.
1t is the great thought of Cuba Libre that
enables the patriots TO fight as they are
fighting this summer
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
The Hot-weather Patriots of Cuba

In the years of our war tho two ar.
mics marched and fought in the hottest
weather of the summer season. The battle
OF Manassas or Bull Run, the battle Of Get
tysburg and many other battles wero
fought in the month of July. With reso.
lutte mind, the soldiers bore the hardships
of campaigning at all times of the year.
The army of the Cuban patriots Is small
in comparison with the armies that fought
in this country. But In these weeks the
Cuban soldiers and, we may say, their enc
mics. too, are subject to h~ardships from
which the American soldiers did not suffer
at any period OF the civil war. 1t Is not onlv
the tropical heat of the Cuban July that ia
trying; 1t Is not only the humidity of the at
mosphere; more than these, it is the al.
most perpetual torrents of rain. The men
in the service have to tramp through
slush and bilge water; they are affected
by the prevalent malaria; they are sub
ject to yellow fever; they cannot get
natural sleep; and they must rest con.
tent with such supplies as are to be
found. the Cubans living mostly upon
roots and fruits. Campaigning is hard, in.
deed, for both sides in Cuba in these DAYS.
1t appears by the latest official report from
Havana that there were $1,000 Spanish
troops in the hospitals at the opening of
this month.
TIL Spaniards are DESTROYS that there
h be, as there was In other years, a stop
page of military operations during the hot
and rainy season. When WEYLER went to
an eastern province by water SIX weeks ago
as the leader of forty battalions, he pro-
claimed that 1t was his purpose to assume
the offensive; but al soon as he reached
Santiago he surrendered to the floods. de-
ciaring that nothing could be done there
while they lasted.
Gen. GOMEZ seized the opportunity thus
onered TO him. moved the greater part OF
MS forces westward. and began the cam
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
a STRAIGHT nrsanlte,. View or Il.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: A few days
after the election OF last yoar. at which Bryan
ism was overthrow in this city. Mr.. John G..
Shechan, leader of Tammany Hall. publicly de-
clared. In apparent wrath and with ominous
emphasis. that the gold Democrats who deserted
the amman standard In that election would
not be permitted to return to that organization
unless they came back repentant.
To a genuine Bryan Democrat who honestly
believes In tho doctrines of tho Chicago plat
form. tho air OF insolcnt superiority now as
sun,ed by the coterie who dined on Wednesday
tremely aggravating.
Some OF tho gentlemen assembled at the dinner
have. acquired In. the past considerable reputa-
tion for political skill and sagacity, but II the
real purpose OF that anriferous feast was to pro-
mote harmon in the Democratic household and
conciliate tho plain and honest ndherents OF De.
mocracy, the programme, instead of indicating
ability, was the very essence OF stupidity, as the
aftermath will plainly show.
July 10, 1897. A CONFUSED DEMOCRAT.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
The Republicans in Kentuoky.

II seems thai the Kentucky Republicans
arc strongly tempted by the National Dem
ocrats to suppress their own party organize
tion and to follow the latter's leadership.
The argument for this course 10 old and
we'll known. It has been urged recently In
New York city in behalf of the Same in
terest for which IL IL urged in Kentucky,
namely, that Of the gold Democrats and Of
all heterogeneous pertisans who wsver in
unfolding the gold standard under Q Re-
publican leader. It has been urged many
times before, but It IN essentially unsound.
The Republican party In the only party
upon which any serious reliance can be-
placed for overthrowing the Organized De-
mocracy. The national banner of honest
money, domestic peace and order and in
dustrial safety has passed into Republican
keeping. 1t should be lowered nowhere
while the Chicago platform is unrepudiated,
for the sake Of any organization whose aim
IL to diminish the Republican vote or to
suppress the Republican name.
With the u~nequallcd responsibility now
resting upon the Republican organize
tion, dickering with It's enemies in any
State Of the Union. however hopelessly
anti Republican when Organism is elimin-
ated, would be to weaken the party's pres
tige in the country, and to that extent
weaken its force to carry OF the general
warfare for the country's salvation.
To nominate q Republican ticket in Ken
lucky, and keep the great issue clear. un-
compromis ed, unevaded, and undiscredited,
is the patriotic duty and the better wisdom
for the Kentucky Republicans.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
The Eastern Crisis.

Another crisis within the perpetual crisis
that reigns in southeastern Europe has
passed. The Turk and his ally, or allies,
within the Concert saw that the threatened
blow was about to be struck, so with that
condescending alacrity which distinguishes
him under such circumstances he intimated
his acceptance OF the principle of a strategic
frontier. Between accepting the principle
and agreeing to the frontier proposed there
is a considerable difference. 1t Ia not,
therefore, surprising to learn that negotia-
tions are to be resumed after the delibera-
lions of tho foreign military attaches
and the ottoman military delegates, who,
1t Is optimistically stated, will endeavor
to agree upon the proposed frontier. The
endeavors Of the Sultan's delegates to
agree will depend upon the advantage
he may discover in prolonging negotiations
II the other side gives signs of being in q
yielding mood.
Like the Hindoo silk weavers' fingers
that are said to be 30 sensitive that they
can feel even the thickness of the spiders
web, The Sultan has by long habit
and the natural d~elicacy of percep-
tion peculiar to his order of tempera-
ment, acquired the power to Judge to a
nicely the limits of safety for dealing with
the Concert when it threatens. Both he
and his hackers know that every day that
passes without releasing Greece from the
intolerable strain on her diminishing re-
sources brings matters nearer to the posi-
Bile revolution at Athens which they
are waiting for, which would entirely
alter the whole situation as regards
Thessaly and Crete and even Greece it.
SELF. The unfortunate financial position In
which that country is would furnish the
pretext for E~gyptianizing Greece and Khe-
divializing King GEORGE, il he thought 1t
worth while remaining to occupy such a
position. His departure would be the most
pleasing to those who want to deprive
Greece of its independence, while his
stay would be an embarrassment to
the crowned heads who, however will.
ing to see him go, would hardly care to
push him out themselves.
The instinct of self-preservation has stood
in their way to the dethronement of the
Sultan, who, whatever his crimes, is one of
themselves. The moment is not propitious
for crowned heads to practise the high kick
on each Others headwear, even OF the least
among them. There arc too many waiting
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
On One Condition.


There Is probably no man in the country whS
has a wider reputation as a bridge builder than
w. 4. Brown, chief engineer OF the Pcnnsylv.-
MIA Railroad. No bridge project, no matter .rv
great its magnitude. is entered upon with m."a
readiness, both as to the preparation " tie
plans and their successful execution. than ny
him.
His promptness to undertake great briigs
projects, how ever, is no greater than his rCadl-
ness TO answer absurd engineering questions
which are often put To him. This WAS evidenced
by his reply 10 Il clorG man To whom he wa in.
PRODUCED some years ago in lr'tsburg by tho
late H.. III. Houston, u director al tho PcnnsylNI-
mia Railroad. Mr.. Houston introduced him %
the greatest bridge builder Of the country,
whcreppon the preacher, turning TO Mr.. Brown.
asked him il he could huild u bridge TO al ernl ".
Yes, II You furnish the abutments." was no
proulpt rcply,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
no AUD1r CORPORATION Aooouxrn
A Company Horu,ea to TnrOrHs and Protect,
Investors.

Tho steadily increasing demand for an indie
pendent audit of corporation accounts, that H.
for an audit and examination OF the books y
various companies by competent experts othu-
than those regularly employed by the coma.
mics themselves, has led TO the formation OF mo
Audit Company OF Now York. Every one Of the
officers and directors OF the company has a
national reputation, and many OF them have IN.
ternational regulations as managers OF railway,
insurance, and financial corporations. The
Presidency OF the company has been taken tea.
porarily by Mr.. August Belmont, and the *.
perts who have entered its service inciuio
Stephen Little, Thomas L..Greene, William Bar
clay Parsons, and Henry b. Seaman. The Fact
that the company includes civil engineers among
Its officers indicates that 1t purposes to examine
and report upon the physical condition of prop
critics, as we'll as upon their accounts and fnan.
cial condition.
The company expects to obtain its patronage
from investors, financial Institutions. borrowers
Of money. directors of corporations. merchants,
ana purchasers OF property. 1t will undertake
to furnish investors with accurate and disintcr
ested information regarding companies in the
funds. Il Is suggested that financial insiiS".
tions that are large lenders OF money. either
upon securities? pr commereial paper. VIII IND iho
be more readily negotiated il borrowers uT1a
the Company as to the value ~ tho
security they have to offer. The same state
ment applies to merchants and manufacturer
who have occasion to enter the money market
as borrowers. The company expects to be Of
special service to directors Of corporations; who
in that capacity accept serious Responsibilities,
yet in the majority Of cases are unable, either
on account Of the time required or lack of e1pe.
rience, to inform themselves thoroughly regard.
ing the affairs Of companies that they assist n
managing. The Audit Company Is entirely m
American enterprise. and will. obviously, for ita
own protection, employ only the most capable
accountants. whose work will be supervised b.
experts of acknowledged reputation.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-17
THE PROPOSED SHIP CANAL.
Major syuous says 1t IL Not worthy 70 Nd
Undertaken by the Government.

WASHINGTON, July 16.-The report Of Major
Thomas ". Symons, Engineer Corps.:on the pro-
posed ship canal by the most practicable route,
wholly within the United States, from the Great
Lakes to the Hudson River, of sufficient ca
pacity to transport the tonnage of the lakes to
the sea- the examination and estimate of cost
OF which was authorized by the River and Har-
Dor act Of 1896, was transmitted to the House
to-day by Secretary Alger. An accompanying
letter from Gen. Wilson, Chief of Engineers,
gives the substance OF Major Symons's recon-
mendations. There are three possible routes,
according to Major Symons.
]. The Oswego route from Lake Erie, via the
upper Niagara River. to Tonawanda or La Sale;
thence by canal TO Lewiston or some point on
Lake ontSrio; thence by Osweso and Oneida
River, TO the Hudson at Troy.
= Erie I anal route by the line of that canal.
j. Follow the first route to Lake Ontario:
thence to st. Lawrence River and to Ogdens-
burg or near there; thence to Lake Champlain,
Major Symons says this is IA possible but. not
practicaole:route. Major symonsd discusses the
that the best one is by way OF thcISiaeara River,
Lakes Ontario and Oneida, and the Mohawk
River. To build such a canal would, at a rough
estimate, cost 500, DOC. 900; to maintain II would
require an annual expenditure Of two miilions,
and it would:have no military value. Finally,
OF such a project is not worthy to be under
taken by the general Government.
hdJoT Sy1 hOuS i also OF Ine opinion that the
Erie Canal, whom enlarged under existing plans
Of the State Of New York. will, 4 all %restric-
lions imposed by the State upon its use be re-
moved, give commercial advantages that would
be given by a ship canal. and that IL it BIO fur.
ther improved by enlargement to a size sufficient
tons in its alignment SO as to give a continuously
descending canal all the way from Lake Eric 10
by harges, would enable freight to be trans
ported between the East md the West at a
lower rate than by ship canal navigated by the
large lake and ocean vessels. Major Symons
says that this enlargement OF the canal Is = pro-
ject worthy of being undertaken by the general
Government, as the benefits to bo derived there
from would be commensurate with the cost, esti-
mated at about $50. O00. ZOO. The cost of the nee
essary survey along the olwego route is csti-
mated ut $3.50, 600 an independent survey for
the enlargement OF Eric Canal would cost ST 2S,-
600. \ combined survey would cost $3.50, 900.
In transmitting MAJOR Symuns's rrrort to Gen.
Wilson, Col. Gillespie, Division Engineer,
adds his concurrence in the conclusions reached.
Elaborate maps, accompany the report. Sec
rotary Algcr makes no comment In
the report.