The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-26


pose being to advise With the 'ficlal
relative to the negotiation of recip
rocity treaty for Cuba under the terms
of the present tariff act. This purpose
10 itself may be regarded as az evil
depce Of the confidence Of both parties
10 the security Of the outlook. After
his visit, Assistant Secretary Day re-
paired to the White House and there
was notable gathering around the
President, including Secretary Long of
the navy, Attorney General McKsona
and General Miles. the commanding
general of the army. All callers we're
denied access to the presidents room,
much to their cbagrin, this being the
day of the week that is most largely as
signed to the reception of congressional
callers.
The conference lasted for nearly an
hour, aud when it broke up it vas With
every evidence Of serenity and conf
denoe 10 the peaceful outlook that the
members dispersed
Secretary Long was entrusted With
the duty of making public statement
concerning the Names order and the
reason therefor.
THE BATTLEsHlP SENT.
The Maine, which has been selected
to make the visit to Hsbana for the
protection of American interests. is
battleship of the second class and is re-
garded as one Of the best ships of the
new navy. She vas built at the Brook.
Ign navy yard, and is 3l8 feet long. 81
feet broad. 21.6 mean draugbt and g.
6s2 tone displacement. Two 1o-inch
vertical turrets aud two military masts;
and ber motive power is furnished by
twin screw vertical expansion engines
having maximum hose power OF s.
293 capable Of making speed of II 45
kuots. She carries four 10-incb and
six 4 inch breech loading guns 10 her
main battery and seven 6-pocnder and
eight l-pound rapid FIRE guns and ga'-.
lings in her secondary battery and four
Whitehead torpedo guns
TO MAINTAIN PEACE.
While administration officials miss
no opportunity Of declaring their oou-
fdeoce in the promise of the main
seoasce of peace it may be noted as
mater Of interest that The United
States has now assembled near Key
West the most formidable feet of var
ships that has been gotten together 10
our home waters for many years It is
mace up Of the North Atlantic squad
ron of Admiral Sioard, flagship New
York, frst-class bsttlesbips Iowa, In
diana, Massachusetts. second class bat
,les1ips Maine aod Texas. cruisers De-
trois aud Montgomery, dispatch boat
Fern aud the torpedo boat dotilla COM
posed of the Cushing. Ericcsou, Du-
pont and Porter. which will be rein.
forced in q few days by the Foote. The
big protected cruiser Brooklyn, almost
equal to battleship herself. is fitting
out at the New York usvy yard and
Capt Cook. who oommaods the ship,
was at the navy department this morn.
ing, expecting to sail the latter part of
this week to- joio Admiral Sicard' 8
squadron.
The gunboat Nashville aud the train.
ing ship Essex are at Port Royal. S.
G.. within easy call, aud the entire
usvy may be said to be in state of
that is gratifying to the
officials 10 view of the limited re-
sources placed 10 their hands by coo-
eress.
ALTOGETHER rrACEABLE"
Minister de Lone ca.lsd at the state
department about o'clock 10 pursuit
Of Information couccrniag the move
ments of the Maine. He asked and
vas freely permitted to see 'be orders
scot Admiral Sicard directing the !
MaiDe to proceed to Habana. The
Maioe has just joined the North At
lantic squadron, and for this reason
all orders TO her 60 through Admiral
Sicsrd The fact that the Spanish
minister was shove the orders is re-
Q sardsd as an Indication that there is
aothiog Of threatening or bellicose
nature in thea.
The navy department received iofor.
nation during the day that the squad
roo had sailed frcm Key West for
Toriueas, this being 10 accordance with
the original programme when it was
ordered south