davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09

sell her territory with honor the fact
remains that she has done so. Florida
was virtually restored, and we finally
gave Spain S5,0OO,0OO for the territory,
and, as an offset, put in a damage clai IN
Cor that amount. Spain has not for
gotten that.
Prior to the civil war we made sew
eral efforts to purchase Cuba, mainly
for the extension of the slave trade.
But failing, tilibustering expeditions
were winked at. When Lopez was or
ganizing his famous expedition he
sought out Jefferson Davis, and offered
him a command and $4,000 year. He
knew of Davis record in Mexico. and
hoped that he would thus get number
of volunteers from Mississippi. But
Davis declined. The sad fate of Lopez
and his men is well known. The exc
cution of the Americans come near
bringing on a war, and the southern
states, which mainly furnished the fill
busters, were very hostile.
In order to understand the boundary
question, which may soon become a
matter of more general interest, it may
be stated: In 1862, Louisiana, which
then extended to the Illinois, was dis
membered by France. That portion
east of the Mississippi river, excepting
the island of New Orleans, was coded
tc England. AT the same time Spain
also coded to England "all of the ter
ritory that she possessed on this con-
tinent to the east and southeast of the
Mississippi river, including the PENN
sula of Florida"
About 20 years later England gave
back the peninsula of Florida to Spain.
which she had received from France
previously. The stipulations were gen
eral, and the boundaries were little I'M
derstood, if at all.
A few years later France, becoming
tired of maintaining the expensive and
fruitless colony Of Louisiana, coded, as
free gift. the Louisiana territory to
Spain. France gave, or rather the
Spanish claimed, the entire territory
of Louisiana as il existed before it was
carved up by France.
In 1903 Spain exchanged Louisiana
for an island in the Mediterranean
which France at that time possessed
France, then at war with England, ac-
CURED the territory in order to pre-
vent it from falling into the hanGs of
the English. While our ministers we're
treating with France for the purchase
of Louisiana, Minister Livingstone sug-
gested that we first seize New ORLEANS
and treat afterwards. He thus want
ed to hurry up matters before Eng and
acquired the country, having little faith
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09
HAD A READY ANSWER.
A Famous Chicago Lawyer Is Had
gered by Witty Irishman
in n Police Court

The proverbially ready wit of the
son of old Erin was amply illustrated
several days ago in one of the city's
courts.
The attorney prosecuting the case is
one of Chicago's leading lawyers and it
is not often in these days of his pros
perity that he deigns to grace police
court. Some 20 years ago, however, he
was only too willing to take any sort
of case, from one of clothesline nature
to that of a sensational murder. And,
too, the defendant as q rule was al
lowed to set the amount of the fee.
This is all changed now. The lawyer
in question is recognized as one of the
ablest criminal prosecutors in Chicago,
if not in the United States. His fees
are enormous, his last one being 500
coo. He was known in the anarchist
cases and had voice in the great
cronin trial. In all of these his ability
commanded the respect of the court
and his brother lawyers.
Notwithstanding all this he appeared
lately in a police court on the South
side one day to prosecute an Old Irish
man who was charged with stealing
watch. The watch, by the way, be-
longed to an intimate friend of the at
torney's wife and it was because of the
latter that he took the case
After badgering the old fellow on the
stand and getting sharp answers to
the questions put the lawyer remarked:
Come, let's get through. Answer
my questions straight now; we've taken
up enough time"
Yes, that's the charge agin me,
| belaye-takin' time. Onyhow it's
timely topic" replied the witness, with
a grin.
Yes; and it's my intention to make
you do time before l get through with
you," eXasperatingly said the lawyer.
"You--"
well, it wouldn't make much differ
ence these hard times" replied the old
fellow, calmly twirling his torn cap in
his hands.
You are smart, amt you?" fairly
roared the disciple of Blackstone as he
leaped to his feet, shaking with anger.
Well drawled she prisoner-wtness,
"it | wuzzent undher oath | would pay
you the same compliment"
Further wordy warfare was stopped
by his honor, who discharged the pris-
oner, there being no evidence to con-
vict.-Chicago Chronicle.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09
American Philanthropy,

\ remarkable testimonial to the ac-
tivity of private philanthropy in the
United States is contained in the forth
coming annual volume of "Appleton's
Cyclopedia," edited by Rossiter John
son, which sets forth the figures of be-
quests made for public purposes in the
Crited States in 1897. The figures tx
clude ali ordinary denominatonal gifts
for educational and benevolent Dur
poses, as we'll as all appropriations for
such objects made by states and munic-
qualities, and they are likewise re-
stricted to gifts exceeding $1,000 each.
The astonishing total reached of these
figures for the year named was S45, GoO.-
900. which is 5000, 900 in excess of the
sum given in 1896. Beginning in 1899
the requests for public purposes in the
United States for schools, Libraries, hos
pitfalls, galleries, etc, the total sum
given so far aggregates $l65, 1000, or
for each year as follows: 1898, S29,-
OOO,0 900; 1894, $32, 100000; 1895, $32, $780,
600; 1896, $27 ,OO0,O 900; 1897, $45, 900, 0OO.-
Baltimore News.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09

ida Parishes" and is the richest portion
of southwestern Louisiana. The Lone
Star" flag is still preserved.
The seizure of Florida by jackson
caused a bitter quarrel between Jack
son, Calhoun and w. II. Crawford, of
Georgia, all candidates for the presi-
dency, and wrecked the chances of Cal
houn. In a cabinet meeting some one
moved for the arrest and trial of Jack
son for violation of international law
in Selling Florida. jackson accused
Calhoun as being the member, and cited
Crawford as his authority. This Craw-
ford denied. Calhoun denied that he
was the member, told jackson that he
lied, and was quite capable of lying"
"Old Hickory did not carry the quar-
rel farther until he became president.
when he threatened to send an army to
South Carolina, and to hang Calhoun for
attempting to carry that state out of
the union.
Jackson's enmity defeated Calhoun
for the presidcncy-his political star
sank IN a day to rise no more. This
great quarrel was because of the Flor
ida acquisition, aud frcm that our pres
ent trouble began.
While Spain claims that she cannot
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09
PUNGENT PARAGRAPH.

The traditional bee in a mans bon
net is a sort of humbug.-Chicago Daily
News.
Some men can take a drink and leave.
i alone; but most of them want anoth-
er one or more to keep it company
Puck.
Hey Yesterday exchanged thoughts
with the famous Prof. Saduka." She
That explains it. found MIN very
tiresome. '-Fliegende Batter.
Clara--'Mr. Castleton asked me at
what time you were likely to be alone,
as he wanted to call upon you" Maud
What did you tell him?" 81 said
any time."--Life.
Handout barry-"Yes, marin, I lost
me arm in the revolution" Mrs. Kind
heart-"What revolution?" Handout
Harry-"The revolution of a buzz-saw,
marin. Truth.
Mother-"Im afraid Mr.. Crisscross is
not serious in his Intentions" Daugh-
ter-"He is awfully bashful, you know;
but he is Offering himself piecemeal.
Last night, he wanted me to take his
aru."-Tit-Bits.
Dramatic Criticism.-"Many of the
wirticisms," wrote the critic of the
Rugle, reviewing the play of the Thurs
day night before, might have been
written by Thomas Hood" Later
They were. "-Indianapolis Journal.
Maria, it does seem to me that $26H
is tremendous price to pay for hat
to wear just one Sunday" John,
man VINO can't tell hat from bon
net is no judge of what a suitable price
is. Your ignorance mortifies me-
Chicago Tribune.
The Fastidious Public.-She (scorn-
fully)-"Twenty-five cents for that
hat" He-"Dot's der best can do,
lady. Dose secondhand hats vos hard
to sell. You hat no idea how many
granks dere are vot won't buy nodings
but new hats."-Puck.
Doctor-"Your wife must bava chick
en-broth three times day, and you
must give her a spoonful CT this med
icine every hour during die night"
Mr.. Jackson (dubiously)-"Wa-al doc
tab, doan' see how yo' expcc' me toe
Pervide her wifi de chicken-br # an glib
her dat medicine at de same time."-
Judge.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09


pute. This was our first trouble with
that country, and it began shortly
after the revolution. About this time
the Northwestern territory" threat
ened TO secede from the union because
the government was too slow in com
polling Spain to give us full access to
the Mississippi river. By treaty we had
that right, and New Orleans was desig-
mated as a depot for the deposit of
western commerce. Without notifica-
ton Spain annulled these rights, and
this with other troubles caused the re-
volt in the northwest and in the Mis-
sissippi territory,
About this time Aaron Burr foated
down the Mississippi river with an eX-
petition to accomplish partly what we
did half century later-the capture of
Spanish territory on our coast. Our
boundaries have been extended since
from the Mississippi to the Pacific
territory then owned by Spain. Barr
met with encouragement in the NatcheZ
district, but our Gen. Williamson was
In the pay of Spain, and his expedition
came to naught. Several years later
Gen. Jackson captured Florida. Out
laws had been depredating in the Dor
der states and fled to Florida. He
pursued them, and finding that they
were aided by the Spaniards and Sem
mole Indians he incidentally took pos
session of the country. He had no au-
thority for so doing, but had written to
President Monroe, intimating his in
tantions.
Gen. Jackson wrote: 81 do not ask
for formal orders, but tell Johnny Raw
to tell me to do it." johnny Ray" was
a member of congress from east Tennes-
see and particular friend of Jackson's.
1t is presumed that President Monroe
told johnny" Ray, for jackson did it,
The main object, however, was to
take the country before it should fall
into the hands of England.
But before Jackson had taken the
Florida peninsula, the American resi-
dents of west Florida rebelled against
Spanish authority, captured the garri-
son at Baton Rouge, and set up what
they called a government" With
view of relieving the general govern
ment of international complications,
the filibusters claimed that the terri
tory was part of Louisiana, and they
asked to be annexed to Louisiana in
stead of applying for admission as a
separate state. Some favored the latter
idea. The territory had been in dispute
before it was "Texanized." The dis
trict is known to this day as the Flor
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09

in the earnestness of France, although
that country was at war with England
When the United States purchased
the Louisiana territory, the terms We're
again general, the treaty reading that
the boundaries should run as before
existing" Consequently the United
States claimed all of the territory com.
prising Louisiana before being SLICED
up by France.
Thus, it will be seen, France sold tc
the United States some territory that
belonged to Spain. In fact, the bound
aries in several instances Tapped" one
over the other. And Spain, being un.
certain of her boundary lines, pushed
colonies into the territory she had, OF
believed she had, acquired from France
She seized this strip of Mississippi ter
ritory, established headquarters al
Natchez, and held it with the aid Of
the Natchez Indians, importing negroes
from Africa to do plantation work.
The Spaniards captured this portion
of the Mississippi valley through secret
taw Indians. The Natchez Indians oc.
cupied the lower portion, and the Chloe.
Jaws extended from Choctaw bluffs
(the present Vicksburg) to the Chick
asaw bluffs (the present Memphis).
Upon the acquisition of this section
by the Americans the Spanish officials
refused to leave, according to treaty,
but remained, plotting with the Indi-
ans, hoping to retake the country
Finally they were expelled beyond the
borders to the Spanish province of
Texas. Then nearly all of the Spanish
settlers left the country, and after our
conquest of west Florida, they left that
section also for Texas, so intense was
their hatred of Americans.
The fact that Spain was the original
possessor of this vast territory, and
having lost it for the lack of power II
hold 1t, must ever rankle in the Span
ish breast.
In the early part of the sixteenth
century. while a Spanish adventurer
was seeking gold, and incidentally a
spring of perpetual youth, which an
Indian soothsayer told him existed on
one of the bahama islands, he stun bed
upon peninsula, which he named
Florida. According to the Spanish GUS
tom he claimed the "air, the sea and
the EARTH" in the name of Spain. The
boundaries, of course, were not defined.
for he had no idea of the extent of the
country.
But when the French discovered the
Mississippi and settled in Louisiana
Spain came forward and claimed every
thing by right of discovery" The
French claimed from Canada to the
gulf, and ''all the territory watered by
the rivers which flow into the NTssis-
sippi river" which La Sale had dis
covered.
For nearly a century and a half after
its discovery Spain made no attempt ia
coionize the country, beyond an occa-
sional expedition in search of gold and
pearls, supposed to exist here in large
quantities. I'm. SCANIAND.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09

"Ot all the boys who apply to us about
80 per cent. are rejected because they
have not the consent of their parents or
have been sent to reform school, or
some similar reason. OF the re-
mainder from one-tenth to one-uuarter
fail in the physical or mental require.
ments. The kind that we prefer are
Americans or native-born lads, who
have been brought up near the water.
They generally know how to handle
boat and to swim, and won't get seasick
when rough weather comes along. But
we sometimes get very good boys from
the country.
when the boy has passed his exami-
nation he is taken on board the training
ship, of which there are two, one at
Coasters Harbor island near Newport.
and the other at Mare island, San Fran
cisco. He first receives q uniform Of
regulation blue jersey, sa;:or trousers
and round hat, which rihKes him feel
quite like man-o war.man at once,
though he is very far frorn being that.
During their course on the training
snip 'ie poNS are Ilsted as thlrd-cIaSS
apprentices and receive nine dollars
pei month pay, besides their clothing
and rations. After completing their
tour of service they are promoted ~
eecond-class appre ntices, and their nav
is raised 20 SIS per month. When they
have done one years service they are
IN line for promotion to tirst-class ap-
rrentices and receive S21 per month,
which is only three dollars less than is
paid to able seamen."-N. Y. Sun.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09
SEEK TO JOIN THE NAVY.
Boys ThrOnG the Recruiting Sta
lions. Eager to Enlist, hut
Few Are Accepted.

Ever since the talk Of war began there
has been rush of boys at all the re-
cruiting stations of the army and navy.
They have been of all kinds, small boys
with hollow chests and sallow faces,
big raw-bOned boys who think that life
in the barracks or on board a warship
would be pleasanter than work in Il
shop or factory, poor boys with shabby
clothes and no homes, well-dressed
boys in search of adventure, foreign
born boys who can hardly speak Eng
lish, American boys who offer their
services for the flag.
Il don't know where all the boys come
FROM" said the recruiting officer of the
receiving ship Vermont at the Brooklyn
navy yard, but whenever there is talk
of war we have from ten to fifty of them
a day. OF course we can take very few,
and unless a boy has a very cheerless
prospect in life we try to discourage
him, for after serving his apprentice
ship on a warship the youngster can
only become a seaman. He cannot rise
TO become an officer, for the govern
ment gets its officers from the naval
academy at Annapolis.
'If the boys knew exactly what was
before them most of them wouldn't be
so anxious to enlist, for the life is a hard
one, and unless a fellow is naturally
fond of the sea he soon tires of it, \
good many of the boys who come in
here and want to enlist have run away
from home. We can generally tell it
10y their timid manner. They often
hang about for an hour or two before
they muster courage to come in, and
then they look about as though they en-
Pected to see their fathers after them.
If we think that it will do them good
we get one of the men to talk to them
and tell horrible yarns of the cat-o'-
1ine-tails and the cruel treatment they
will receive on shipboard. That gem
orally satisfies them, and they are glad
to scamper back home as fast as they
can.
occasionally one persists. but the
rules are strict in saying that the con-
sent of the boys father or guardian
must De ODtdlHeu. we always explain
this to them, and tell them to come back
tie next day with one of their parents.
Tat is usually the last we see of them.
Once in awhile we get hold of a boy
whose parents cannot take care of him,
and so are willing to have him enlist.
Then, if he comes up to the necessary
requirements, he is allowed to sign pa
pers. But we always explain, both to
the boy and his parents, that this is a
serious business, for once in the service
he is bound until he becomes ., and
will not be released except under ex-
traordinary circumstances.
These requirements are not severe,
although the aim is, of course, to get as
strong and hardy boys as possible, and
those who are poorly developed or who
have any bad habits are quickly reject
ed. In the first place the boys must
be between the ages of IA and II years.
They must be able TO read and write.
They must have good eyesight and hear
ing, a strong heart and lungs, and sound
teeth. Then their height, weight and
chest measurement must conform to Il
certain standard, which for the differ
ent ages is as follows:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09

81 always said that Barlow was an
original genius"
whats his latest wild scheme?"
Hes talking of organizing a regi-
ment of Kentucky colonies to be com
manded by private"
But that will be impossible"
"Why?"
THE Kentuckians will never consent
to go under the command of a man who
is not a citizen of their state"
"But what's to prevent-by George!
I never thought of that" - Chicago
Evening News.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09
TROUBLE WITH SPAIN
We Have Had More or Less of It
for Nearly a Hundred Years.
1t Started in the Natchez District I'm
der JeHersOn's Administrations
Gen. JacksOn's Bold Seiz-
ure of Florida.
Especial Natchez (MissD Letter

In the early part of this century the
Americans of the ''Natchez district"
organized revolt against the Span
iards, who at that time occupied a
strip of the Mississippi territory about
100 miles in width, In public meetings
the citizens of Natchez denounced Pres
2ent Jefferson because he would not
aid them in overthrowing the Spanish
tyrannical rule. After recovering West
Florida from England Spain took pos
session of this strip, which was in dis
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09

Nose Montague hear Abe Absa,om
wuz circulating scandaous report.
about me at de club last night.
Tony Thompson-Yes. But il re
coiled right back on his own head. d.
boys II stand anything but chestnut
Puck
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-09

In France it is a punishable offense
for any one to give infants under one
year any form of solid food unless such
be ordered by written prescription
signed by legally qualified medical
MANN. Y. Sun.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-27
CRYING OF WARES.
Provisions of the Law Must BE OBJ
served by Nevsboys.

Numerous complaints have been made re-
Gently to the District Commissioners AMI
60 the police authorities respecting the
practice Of newsboys crying their papers
al unlawful hours Commissioner Wight,
Who has immediate charge of such mat
tiers. after Investigating the matter. has
reached the conclusion that the complaints
are well founded. and he has, therefore,
directed the police authorities to strictly
enforce the law in the matter.
The law in question is section of ar
ticie TX Of the police regulations, which
reads as follows: NO person within the
District of Columbia shall make any need
less noise or cutlery or any noise or outcry
for the purpose Of advertising wares or
attracting the attention or inviting the pa
trCnage Of any person for any hack or
other vehicle or any business whatsoever;
provided. however, that newsboys in the
exercise of their calling may cry their
newspapers between the hours of o'clock
am. and o'clock pm. on secular days of
the week, and not otherwise; provided
further, that Eewsboys may cry at other
Necessary hours extra editions of the local
newspapers on extraordinary occasions:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-27
believes THEY WERE SPIES.
Robert Ford Offered 500 by Strang-
Tues.lnN Night.

Robert Ford, q respectable colored resi-
derson of the Anacostia station an expari-
ence he had with two men, whom he be-
lieyes spies, while his way to
Washington from Alexandria on a ferry
boat Tuesday night. Ford says the two
men fell into conversation with him when
a short distance out from Alexandria, and
continued interrogating him until The boat
reached Washington.
One of the men, who vas stout and dress
ed in gray, and appeared TO be over six feet
tall did almost all of the talking, his COM
parton rely nodding assent to all he said,
so Ford states. He says he was at nrst
asked whether or not he was acquainted
with the vicinity of the river and about
Washington, and on replying in the afiirma-
tive, was interrogated freely in regard to
Fort Washington and Fort Sheridan. He
was offered, he claims, big money if he
would either row the two men down the
river that night to the Notifications or give
some information about the defenses.
Ford says he kept the conversation going
until the boat reached the wharf. He al
leges that the man who did the questioning
admitted he belonged to Spain" Accord
ing to Ford, the man said he and his COM
panion were just coming from Virginia.
fered him $100 # he would assist them, and
at the same time drew a roll of money from
his pocket, but Ford says he slipped away
when the boat touched at her wharf. After
thinking over the matter he deemed it best
to tell the police
Implicit confidence is placed in the old
mans story by those who know him.