The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-16
Sudden Change from Activity to Dullness in
the Government Departments
GREAT DEAL OF DETAIL WORK
President
to be
Early of Manila.
Warshps be Dry Docked.-Cubans Officially
Assem- ito The Peace Reduce
Of the Army

Washington, August 12.-With SIM
plicity in keeping with republican in
stitutions, the war which has ragged
between Spain and the United States
for a period of three months and twen-
ty-two days was quietly terminated at
h:23 o'clock this afternoon, when Secre
tary Day. for the United States, and
M. Cambon, for Spain, in the presence
of President Mckinley, signed a pro-
tocol which will form the basis of
definite treaty of peace. 1t is but sim
pie justice to our sister republic of
France to record the fact that to her
good offices this speedy termination of
a war that might have run on indefi-
nitely was brought about and the pres
ident himself deemed that action on the
part of the French government as
worthy of his special praise.
The closing chapter of events that
led up to the signature of the protocol
and the cessation of hostilities was
full of interest. There were rumors in
the early morning that over night the
French embassy had received the long
expected final instructions from Mad
grOundless and it was not until 1890
o'clock that the note began to come
from Madrid in small lots. The state
department was soon advised of the
fact that the message was under trans
mission, but as it was evident that it
would be long and that it's reception
would occupy much time, the secretary
of state left the state department for
his luncheon.
SPANS ASSENT RECEIVED.
At 2:45 o'clock Secretary Thiebaut,
of the French embassy, appeared at
the state department to inform Sec
retary Day that the ambassador was
in full possession of the note; was full
ly empowered to sign the protocol for
Spain and only awaited the pleasure
of the state department. He intimated
that the ambassador would be pleased
to have the final ceremony conducted
in the presence of President Mckinley
where the negotiations were begun.
Leaving the the secretary of the en-
bassy in his own office, Secretary Day
made a short visit to the White house
to learn the presidents wishes in the
matter. The latter Immediately con-
sented to accept the suggestion, and
M. Thiebaut haStened to inform his
principal that the president would re-
ceive him a the White house at 4
o'clock.
AT the appointed hour driving rain
storm prevailed, obliging all the par
ties to resort to carriages for trans
pOrtation TO the White house. Secre-
tary Day came first with a large port
folio under his arm enclosing copies Of
the protocol, Of the proclamation to
be issued by the president, stopping
hostilities and some other necessary
papers. He was accompanied by AS
sistant Secretary Moore, Second AS
CT mt tny G.
istant Cridler. They were shown i'm
mediately into the cabinet room where
the president sat in waiting. He had
invited to be present Assistant Secre-
taries Pruden and Cortelyou and Lieu
tenant Colonel Montgomery.
When Ambassador Cambon reached
the white house it was just 1855 o'clock,
five minutes in advance of the ap-
pointed hour. The rain was still violent
and the ambassador abandoned his
usual custom of alighting at the outer
gates of the executive grounds. He
was driven under the porte cochere,
passing through a Gordon of newspa-
per men before he and Secretary THE
baut were ushered inside. They went
direct to the library, adjoining the cab
met room, on the upper floor. At 4:O5
o'clock they were announced to the
waiting party in the cabinet room and
were ushered into their presence. Af-
sizes no unnecessary loss of time oc-
Cured and Assistant Secretary of
State Cridler. on the part of the Unit
! ed States, and First Secretary THE
I 'aut. on the part of Spain, retired to
A. window, where there was a critical
al I'd formal examination of the proto-
COZ '.
TH e ORIGINALS OF THE PR@TO-
COL IN DUPLICATE.
Th is inspection had all the outward
form alities due a document of this
impor tance. 1t was prepared in dupli-
cate a. the state department, one copy
to be retained by the United States
governn lent and the other to become
the pror >erty of Spain. The text is
handsome ly engrossed in a running old
English SC ript. Each copy of the pro-
tocol is a ranged in double column.
French ant l English, standing along
side. for cas- comparison as to the ex-
actness of tt anslation. The two cop
les are alike except that the one held
by this govel nment has the English
text in the first column and the sigma
ture of Secretary Day ahead of that
of M. Cambon, " hile the copy trans
mitted to Spain was French in the first
column and the sign nature of NJ. Cam
bon ahead of that of Secretary Day.
The protocol sent to Spain was oc-
companied by the credentials issued by
President Mckinley, especially en-
poWering the secretary of state to affix
his signature to this document The
authorization was brief and in type
writing, save for the presidents char
acteristic bold sigma ture. Later. the
American copy Of the protocol will be