davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-04-05
LETTERSFROM TIMESREADERS


To the Editor of The Times:
OF what use are the conferences be-
tween Mr.. Mckinley and the persons he
called to him to talk over the situation.
if the result of such conferences are al
ways the same-''that the President pre-
vailed and prevented any positive step
being taken Immediately" The latest
consultation with officers of the navy re-
vealed the fact that they are disposed 10
attach more Importance 70 the Spanish
question than Mr.. Mckinley does He
wishes TO treat it diploma icalIy. and
they are Tor counter demonstration
against Spain. and for intervention by
force.
1t is unfair to say the least. to resort
20 such intriguing as evidenced by the Ad-
ministratiOn TO gain time. with a vain
hope of aIlaying the excitement OF the
American people. 1t is a sub-erfuge
which should bring the blush of shame
to every manly brow. The situation has
been forced on our country and there
is nothing left but war. We are now
united people. With a voice of thunder
We cry out. In the name of the great
Jehovah and the American people. sur
rendert In the language OF the distin-
Suished senator fresh from the scene OF
desolation in Cuba. the contemplation of
WHICH caused the teaIu OF MS Dei0Teii
wife. / repeat-'-ihe American people
have waited and waited and waited in
patience-yea. in patience and confidence
confidence in the belief that decisive
action would be taken in due season and
in proper way Today. all over the land
the appeal comes up TO us-it reaches Us
from every section and from every class
That appeal IS now for action
There should be no delay in recalling
the brave Fitz Lee from Havana. His
life is menaced-is at stake-and nothing
can stay the hand of the assassin. except
perhaps, a threat of retaliation against
Minister Polo. for any harm that may
befall Gen Lee. the representative Of tn.
great American republic The recOgni-
tion of the struggling Cubans as bel
ligeren- should follow. The port of Ha-
vana should then be bIockaded with our
war vessels which should be the signal
10 Gomez TO LAY on" the death blow to
Spain's dominion in the Western conti-
nent forever and forever and the signal
of resurrection to the miserable and
starving recOncentrados in Cuba
DAWSON A BLANCHARD
The times., 1898-04-05
ont OF the Fryins Pan.

The Spanish Ambassador in London
is reported to have said, in an inter-
view with the representative Of a Ger
man paper:
/ What wonder is il that the Spanish people
are beginning TO ask ii it would not have been
better ii the two hundred thousand troops we
sent 10 Cuba had been landed the long, un-
protected coast OF the United States, yearning
to meet their real enemy at last in the open
deIdg
This amounts To saying that the
Spanish people are wondering whether
the two hundred thousand troops sent
10 Cuba could have been any more dead
/ than they are if they had been landed
in America. Undoubtedly they could
not That is an easy question to an
swer.
! Otherwise however, there seems to
! be no rhyme nor reason in this re-
mark If the Spanish people think
/ these troops would have had any
/ chance Of being alive if they had been
/ landed on the long, unprotected coast
Of the United States" it might be in
! teresting to know where they think
| the chance would be. If these two
/ hundred thousand Spaniards have not
| been able To overcome a smaller force
Of Cubans, badly armed, in spite of
/ the assistance" in the way of arms
which this same gentleman claims
/ America has given them, why should
it be supposed that they would have
had any better luck in fighting against
/ the well-armed, well-disciplined, we'll
I fed, and experienced soldiers of the
United States Army, with all of these
formidable American supplies at their
backs? The chances are that if this
Spanish diplomat thinks that our coast
would be found unprotected in the
| event Of Spanish troops landing there,
be would be very quickly undeceived
should anything Of the sort happen
He should study logic as well as rhet-
The times., 1898-04-05
Tne DipIomatie che.s Gane

The spectacle which has been pre-
sented 10 the American people in the
last two weeks is something ike this:
Congress, the legislative branch Of the
Government. has been steadily growing
more excited. more patriotic. aad more
eager Tor business. The reply Of Pres
ident Mckinley TO its queries has been.
Gentlemen. We VIII settle this thing
by a game Of chess And the chess
game Of diplomacy has gone merrily
on. As everyone knows, chess. while
apparently mathematical in its exact
ness. is. when not played by thorough
master Of The science, subject TO
chances. The pswns are easily man
aged; the bishops and the castles may
be kept in order. but the knights are
apt to turn up in all sorts Of unex-
The times., 1898-04-05
AN EMPHATIC DENIAL.
Cardinal Gibbons Declares His Re-
ported Interview to he Untrue.

Baltimore, April cardinal Gibbons
denied today his reported interview with
President Mckinley in regard to the
mediation of the pope in the trouble be-
tween the United States and Spain.
There is not a word of truth in it, said
his eminence.
Il have not seen the President for some
time Nevertheless, | hope for peace.
War is always to be deplored and history
shows that, as a rule, matters have al
ways been worse after it than before. The
ruin and distress are incalculable I have
conversed with many famous officers on
the subject of war and have never found
one who liked it, Men like Gen. Sheri-
dan, whom l knew as having witnessed
the horrors of conflict, had an abhor-
renee of it. Such men never draw their
swords but as the last resort.
with the young and adventurous it
Is, of course, different. They know moth
ing of the miseres of hostilities between
two nations, and are eager to enjoy the
excitement of battle. In my sermon yes
terday | expressed the hope that by next
Sunday, when we celebrate the resurrec-
ton of our Lord, we may also be cheered
by the renewal of friendly relations be-
tween our own beloved Government and
Spain, and | perceive by some of the dis
patches that almost the same idea was
expressed by the papal nuncio at Madrid
The conservative and thoughtful people
of the country evidently do not desire war
and seem to be united in the feeling that
the whole question may be safely left to
President Mckinley and, in spite of a few
eXcitable folk, TO Congress as we'll"
The times., 1898-04-05
NEW TREATMENT OF SMALLPOX
The Stricken Man Must Leave or He
Killed.

Columbia. S. c., April S.-R- C. Harris.
colored, developed a case of smallpox
at White Rock. Newberry county, re-
Gently. He was isolated in house. The
attending physician this morning found
the house burned and no sign of the pa
tient.
A mob had visited the place during the
night and orderede the stricken man to
leave at once or be Killed. To hasten his
going they set fire to the house. The
man is supposed TO have crawed off into
a field, but has not been found yet.
The times., 1898-04-05

This is an era of surprises. j. j. Nc
Cook is exploited at the White House
as the best friend of the Cubans and
their representative This is a new one
We had supposed it was Polo or perhaps
Klopsch who occupied that close position.
But as it refers to the small poker parry
of ''autonomists" in Havana probably it
does not signify. McCook is perfectly
willing to accept autonomy and an armis-
tice. That Willingness will have more
benign effect upon the fortunes of the
Spanish-Cuban bond conspiracy, after it
shall be also expressed by Gomez Garcia.
Maso. Estrada-Palma and Quesada. Until
they notify the world that the arrange
ment WIN be satisfactory. the less. said
about the artful dodge the better
The times., 1898-04-05

Speaking of the prospect of European
mediation the New York Tribune yester-
day said, in its Washington corresponds
ence:
The pope is also understood to have advised the
Spanish government to make any honorable sacri-
hces IN Cuba necessary TO avoid war with this
country, and is represented in Madrid dispatches
as Offering his aid TO bring about Il peaceful set
tlement Of the Cuban problem.
Many observers here find in these recent turns
in the situation substantial proof that relations
between Spain and the United States have not
reached the point where peace is to be despaired
Of; and with a firm, sagacious and high minded
Executive ready TO impress Congress the duty
Of exhausting all other honorable means before
resorting TO war TO secure American ends in
Cuba, the prospect may be said TO be brighter
tonight than it has been since Thursday last
for averting any n1pulsive Legislative action de-
signed to precptate hostilities with or without
serious consideration OF the nations true motives
for war with Spain, a sober balancing of the
struggles political and other consequences
The Tribune IS very close to DR.. Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew, who is very close to Arch
bishop Ireland, who is very close to Mr..
Mckinley. Close enough to visit him ON
Palm Sunday!
The times., 1898-04-05
Training.

(From the Detroit Free Prcss)
''rll be glad when this war-scare is over"
Amy special reasonE''
Yes my youngsters haven't left a whole
pillow-clse or sheet in the nursery
The times., 1898-04-05
Lnsinr Their Ner,e

(From the Cleveland Plain Deaer)
Had genuine scare up in our neighbor-
hood this noon''
''What was the cause of it?''
Fellow in the livery stable shooting rats with
an old horse pistol
The times., 1898-04-05

From the Philadelphia Inqurer)
4 regiment OF 1000 negroes is said to be ready
in OF the Southern States 10 fight for the Gu
bans. The use Of negro troops in Cuba is one that
should be considered by Secretary Alger The
climate in the approaching season would have no
terrors for coored troops.
The times., 1898-04-05
To President Mckinney,

4 am not among those who fear the
people"
Thomas jefferson, 1881.
The times., 1898-04-05

CFrom the indianapolis News)
Russia has taken China under her protection, {"
whatever that may mean.
The times., 1898-04-05

that they would not agree to an arInis-
tice with Spain pending negotiations for
system of autonomy for the island.
These statements were reaffirmed with
emphasis yesterday.
The Pope VIII Not Mediate.
a Cabinet officer who was a visitor at
the White House yesterday denied posi-
lively the Associated Press story that the
Pope had been selected as a mediator be-
tween Spain and the United States at the
instance of this Government. He said
that neither the Pope nor anyone else
had been selected or even asked to medi-
ate between the two governments nor had
any proposition for mediation been en-
tertained by this Government. In other
words he branded the story as a fake.
pure and simple.
The day was a very busy one at the
White House and a number of callers
We're seen by the President Judge Day
was at the White House during a greater
part of the day and Senators Fairbanks
and Hanna were among the early callers.
Congressional callers were Representa-
tives Hull, Hooker of New York Mitch
ell of New York. and Barrett of MasSa-
cusetts and Cannon.
President McKinley's health is caus-
ing his friends some concern and all
though he has held up well so far they
fear a break down may come at any
time. The large amount of work he has
had to perform has been keeping him up
quite late. and he did not leave his desk
until O'Clock yesterday morning. He
took soma rest during the day yester-
day, taking a short nap after luncheon
Saturday he was feeling slightly indis-
posed and tired and retired early. He
took a little exercise on the White House
grounds Sunday but did not remain out
doors long. The hard work and unusual
hours are telling upon many of the en-
ployes of the White House. and they
wonder at the capacity for hard work
shown by the President.
Some of the routine business that the
President supervised has been given over
to other hands and he is relieved of all
except business of the utmost Importance
as much as possible. Only official call
ers are seen and the public receptions at
the White House have been abandoned
until further notice.
The times., 1898-04-05
Nndir and Zenfth.

From the Toledo Bee)
From Blaine to Day comes pretty near being the
whole stretch from the sublime TO the ridicu-
lous
The times., 1898-04-05
Ii All depends"

Mr.. BromwelI of Ohio has been appeal
ed to to stand by the President" Mr..
Bromwell says he has always stood by
the President and will continue to stand
by him until next Wednesday at u
O'Clock. Whether he win continue to
stand by him after that hour depends
upon his message, for Mr.. Bromwell is
for independence, intervention and
prompt action on account of the Maine
disaster. He wants Spain to pay an in
demnity for the loss of that ship and
compensation for the loss of each of the
266 brave seamen who lost their lives in
Havana's harbor through Spanish treach-
cry, in the shape of the absolute freedom
of the island from Spanish rule
The times., 1898-04-05

CFrom the Detroit Free Press.)
''Do YOU go in for smoking, Bloomy2"
''No: my wife has re 90 ont, doncIer En0wr'
The times., 1898-04-05
Depends on Republicans.


If manhood can be counted upon to as
sert itself on the Republican side of the
House of Representatives, then the peo-
pie of this country may rest assured that
the gordian knot of the Cuban question
will be cut this week.
The President has taxed the patience
of the Republicans of the House to the
uttermost. They are in state of in
cipient revolt against him now and un-
less he shall come forward with some
fair. honorable and favorable solution of
the Cuban controversy within the next
forty-eight hours. he will have sacrificed
his opportunity to carry the House with
him.
Yesterday was a day of signal disap
pointment to the public because the Pres
ident failed to confront the issue as his
close friends in Congress had promised.
The Republican members of the House
are beginning to believe that the Presi-
dent does not comprehend the ticklish po-
sition in which they stand politically.
They fear that Mr.. Mckinley is permit
ting himself to be blinded to the political
situation Of the eAcountry.
A prominent Western Republican, who
is chairman of one of the most important
House committees. voiced the apprehen-
sions of his associates in conversation
with The Times man last night. He said:
The Presidents Idea.
"The President seems to be impressed
with the idea that it is his duty, as a
Christian. to prevent war. 1 have had
three different talks with him within the
last several days and the burden of his
conversation has been the great value
of keeping peace. The President, in my
opinion, does not begin to understand the
dominating opinion of the people of this
country.
II think he has listened too much to
the arguments Of Senator Hanna and
other men who do not weigh the honor
of the country as worthy serious consid-
Grafton in the balance against their own
selfish interests"
Il was astounded," said this Republi-
can, when the President said to me that
we could not make the destruction of
the Maine a cause OF serious complaint
against Spain.
He entered into technical explanation
of that matter from a diplomatic stand
point and 1 told him frankly l could not
see it in that light. 1 said to the Presi-
dent that l believed the Maine was blown
up by Spanish treachery and L was in
favor of holding Spain directly response
BILE therefor. He did not agree with me
and 1 am afraid added this Republican
leader, that the President has been per-
suaded to look with too lenient eyes up
on the grave offenses of the Spanish gov
ernment"
The times., 1898-04-05
plOyers.

Score another diplomatic victory for Sa-
gasta, The Presidents concession to him
that the Maine massacre was to be con-
sidered only as an incident has enabled
the Spanish premier to complicate the sit
uation with an alleged papal mediation,
and it is believed at every court in
Europe, on the basis of diplomatic reports
from Washington, that this mediation has
been mutually arranged with a view of
averting Congressional action, and secur-
ing delay until after the rainy season in
Cuba. Meantime nothing is being said
about the willingness of the Cuban gov
ernment to agree to armistice, ex-
cept possibly by Klopsch. OF course the
Cubans, flushed with recent victory, and
on the point of cleaning out the last Span
lard, will not listen to such a suggestion.
Their day of final triumph has dawned.
They will not waste it in such foolishness.
The times., 1898-04-05
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.

Readers of The Times who may at any time
be unable to procure copies of it at any news
stand railroad station OF on railroad trains will
confer favor upon the management by sending
TO this otiice information Of the fact.
The times., 1898-04-05

The country is getting in the habit of
taking State Department denials with the
reservation necessary 70 diplomatic utter
ances. Judge Day declares that the pope
has not been asked to mediate. It will be
harder for him to deny that Leo XIII has
not been begged t0iuse his good offices to
induce Spain to accede TO Mr. McKinIey's
requests, or at least TO get the queen re-
gent and Sagasta to adopt such a tone
and policy as would enable him to get
Congress off his hands," before that
strangely American body can take some
irretrievable step, and so wreck the Span
ish-Cuban bond deal.
The times., 1898-04-05
The Armistice Talk.

While the Administration is delaying
action and seemingly trying to bury the
Maine incident in the dust of a Senate
committee room, Spain and her friends
in this country. members of the bond
syndicate and the peace-at-any-pric
party, are as active as bees. Cooper
ating with Spain in every way possible
and sustaining her diplomacy. another
word for delay, they hope that the war
spirit Of the American people will be
appeased by time, and that conditions and
disaster will be forgotten.
They hope that Spain will be able to re-
move the cause for war on the part
of this country by arranging an armis>
tice with the insurgents while peace
negotiations are being carried on and
che tempting bait of autonomy is held out
to the starving Cubans. Action by the
United States shall wait upon the conclU-
sions of the peace negotiations, occupy
ing probably six months or more, and
then Spain imagines herself as standing
before the Christian powers as Il right
eous government that has done all in
its power TO make peace with the world.
The times., 1898-04-05

On yesterday Speaker Reed attempted
TO suppress the galleries as well as the
House, and sternlY declared that he
would order them cleared if there were
any more applause for those who spoke
on the floor for Cuban independence or
American honor. It. is not so much that
Thomas B. Reed objects to patriotism as
such, but numbers of the people in the
galleries must be insured in some of his
twenty-eight life Insurance corporations,
and they are liable to burst blood vessels
and things, shouting for our flag or for
human liberty. During the remainder Of
the week We presume that it will be con-
sidered extra hazardous for any citizen to
express his approval, even of the Presi-
dent message, in case it should contain
anything worthy of approval. The latest
one was received in cold and grim silence.
The times., 1898-04-05
The Maine Incident.

The Maine disaster is an incident to be
settled by diplomatic negotiations and
the possible payment of an indemnity.
This is the roseate dream of Spanish di-
plomats and the members of the peace
at-any-price party.
A gentleman closely connected with the
Administration in a statement yesterday
said that he regarded as the most import
ant news of the day the information that
the insurgents in Cuba are willing to
accept Spain's proposition for an armis-
tice until October, peace negotiations to
be conducted in the meantime between
the two parties with the view of estab-
fishing a suitable system of autonomy
for the island. He said that the plan, he
thought was acceptable to Col. John j.
McCook This gentleman did not claim
to speak officially.
The plan of Spain's proposition, which
according to Col. McCook is agreeable to
the insurgents. is for an armistice and
the temporary withdrawal of the Spanish
troops from the island, the withdrawal
to be made permanent upon the accept
ance of system of autonomy by the
Cubans and the payment of an indemnity
He said further that he understood this
plan had the approval of some senator's,
the supporters of Cuban independence in
the American Congress- as the best solu-
ton of the situation.
The stock market indicated yesterday
that this plan has official approval. In
the afternoon story was printed that
the President was hourly expecting a
telegram from Sagasta, stating the terms
of the proposition which was supposed to
please the Cubans, but this was officially
denied How the news of the proposed
armistice and Col. McCook's acceptance
on the part of the insurgents reached the
Administration was not learned, but Sen
ators Fairbanks and Hanna, prominent
members of the peace-at-any-pric party
and glove with Col. McCook, call
ed upon the President and may have con-
Veyed the news.
McCooS in Evidence.
Col. McCook called upon Judge Day at
the State Department, and in one of his
numerous calls at the White House he
might have brought the news
1t has been stated time and again by
the members of the Cuban Junta, both in
this city and New York, and by the lead
ers of the insurgent troops in the field.
that nothing short of absolute independ-
ence will be accepted by the Cubans, and
The times., 1898-04-05
w Int Is 1t:

81 have wired that gentleman reply
asking him to kindly send me some in
formation as to what that firm and wise
policy is for no one in Washington has
been able to discover what ii is.
1--WE have. many of us. tried TO find
out something on that line, and failed.
Another man in the northern part of
the State asks me to stand by the Pres
ident. I replied, telling him that if
staid with thes President l would be
compelled to stand. for the President
did not show any intention of moving.
Representative Shattuc began late in
the afternoon to feel the effect of this
wave of patriotic sentiment although
earlier in the day he, in a rash moment,
bet the cigars that his opinions were so
well known that no one would think of
operating upon him. Mr.. Shattuc is for
independence and Intervention and will
treat all these dispatches with silent
cont
The times., 1898-04-05

TUESDAY. April 5, 1898.
The times., 1898-04-05
Spain sparring for Wind

The warfare 50 disastrous to the Span
ish troops in Cuba, will cease for a time
and Spain will be given an opportunity to
recuperate and prepare for not only a
continuance of war in Cuba but possi-
bic conflict with the United States, in
which she will have the moral if not the
actual support of the powers, deserved
by her upright conduct in dealing with
Cuba and apparently acceding to the de-
mands of the United States for the cessa-
ton of hostilities on that island.
A crisis will be averted at home and
abroad for her people will believe that
she has honorabIy acquitted herself. The
stock markets in both countries will re-
sumo a normal condition and the Wall
Street coterie, contributors TO the cam
paign fund for the Advance Agent of
Prosperity" the word prosperity with
them being a synonym for an opportunity
to iuggle the stocks, will be highly salts
fed with the result and hail President
Mckinley as a savior, the man who pre-
served the honor of his country without
spillng a drop of blood.
The times., 1898-04-05
MIR. Rawiins's Eloquent Plea

The speech of the day on the Cuban
matter was made by Mr. Rawlings of
Utah. who said in part:
Mr. President. the facts in our rela-
tions to Spain and Cuba are known. The
case has been made up. and the ques-
tion now is What are We going to do?
1t is not a question for solution IN my
Judgment. by the executive department
1t is question which belongs peculiarly
to Congress. 1t is for us. the representa-
tives of the States on this side of the
Capitol and the representatives of the
people on the other side of the Capitol, to
decide in this emergency what We are 10
do. 1t is for Congress under The CoHsti-
tuition TO declare war. and Congress ought
to be willing To take that full respon-
sibility when the grave and critical
emergency arises.
THE facts being known. the case being
made up, shall we declare war or shall
we declare for peace? Mr.. President. it is
not necessary TO wait upon the President
to know whether in view of the exigencies