The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-04-10
To Declare War
Against England.

40009o90StG0o0S rsuOO-OG 000Oo0f
1t was near the end OF the rainy season.
and the presidents liver was cut of order.
and his presidency, which extended over
few hundred miles or barren dune and
crag and a mixed population OF all colors
knew It. Also the executive and heads
Of departments generally were just
siclkenlng for another attack of suspicion
the advent Of the disease being heralded
by press prohibitions and unnecessary ar
rests. Altogether things pointed pretty
clearly to the periodical outbreak which
necessitated a rapid change of the per
sonnet Of the government, conducted on
the usual strictly homicidal principles. BY
the time the full languor of the hot
weather was upon us, a general amnesty
would be proclaimed, and the new presi-
dent-Who had climbed into power dur
ing the storm-be extolled for his elem
eney.
had not been out very long, and the
WAYS of the republic still amused me-
My friend. the British consul, who for
the last Is years had inhabited a little
Whitewashed house on the cliff, pervaded
by rats and gray lizards and within hail
Of the pestilential odors from the beach
600 feet below, did not look upon things
In the same light. In theory he agreed
that these periodical bloodlettings were
Indispensable to the health of the repub-
lie, but he disliked the extra work and
exertion entailed by too frequent in
diligence in them. Moreover, he preferred
these fever fits should come on in the
cooler part OF the year. We were sitting
in the shady end of his piazza, and he
was giving me his views on the situa-
ton.
1.-THE present party III last about a fort
night" he was saying, unless they do
something out Of the way mad, which
may give EN- six weeks grace"
What sort OF thing2" I asked. "They
can't do much harm anyway; the area is
limited"
Don't you make any such mistake,
returned he with some warmth. THE old
world is a mere mass of finder a spark
from here could set blazing. Some time
ago." he went on meditatively, "the tail
end Of political party nearly did the
trick. II Il hadn't been that Scanderson
was on the premises they'd have scorch-
ed the British empire for certain"
This being pretty large order even for
a South American republic to contract
for, concluded he had tale to tell, and
1 felt it was my duty to make him tell
It.
''who is scanderson?' asked. "The
name doesn't seem to At in with blue
tropie seas and hot-hlooded presidents"
TITS hard to be sure where he hailed
from-inside the British isles" Allansford
returned thoughtfully. "Irish-Scotch for
choice. Curious blend Irish-scoteh,"
1t was too hot to talk, although the
night would be on us in half an hour.
so settled myself In my chair.
1.-THE story" 1 said.
Tho SIM was brnO7inar low over the Pa
cifc-an angry eyeball under purple lid
and lending a tinge OF red to the low
yellow hills bounding the shore. Below
us bloated pelican poised itself upon one
OF the black-bacl1ed boulders that always
reminded me of a school Of whales float
ing dead in the bay.
After a prolonged pause, Allansford
recommended.
ut was rather later in the year when ii
all began. There was president in
power at the time, who was the worst
president these mixed races have ever
been goaded Into revolution by. They
only took him on because there were no
other candidates upon that occasion. The
last two had been blown up, you see, and
that made the usual crowd bit shy He'd
been president about four months, and
any one could tell with half an eye he'd
never see a fifth under ordinary circum-
stances, but he was backed by an un-
scrupulous party, who knew that his fall
meant early-morning shooting practice
for the black and yellow troops with
themselves for targets, So they put their
heads together to invent something solid
to put OF the evil day and give them time
to clear; for by this time the troops who
were garrisoning the ports had mostly
gone over to the opposition, and would
be sure to resent any movement likely to
deprive them OF their shooting excur-
sions."
Allansford pushed the cigars toward me
and continued:
GAS I said, the president and his party
put their heads together and held con.
fabulation. I afterwaTd heard what
passed at the meeting"
'sYho told your" I inquired, seeing my
companion smile.
"Weli. 1t was the PRESIDENT right-hand
MANTLE minister for foreign AFFAIRS,
finance, war. marine and public instruo-
ticn. gentleman who fortunately be-
Heyed IN hedging. The president got up
and gave a orape-and-fire sketch Of the
position. remarking they were all IN the
same boat, and must sink or swim to-
FUtheF, and ss1sisi Up With . polite re
quest that any one who had a workable
plan to prCpose should lay it on the table
FOR general consideration.
Various members OF the government
talked different kinds OF nonsense, and
when they had quite finished the president