davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07


they are ample for Spain. The energy with
which they have been made has no parallel
in history No other government ever made
anything like the same amount and kind
of preparations for war in the same length
of time. 1t cannot be said to be wise pol
icy to leave such preparations till war is
imminent, compelling work to be hastily
done in thirty or sixty days which should
be prosecuted leisurely through a series of
years, but we are not discussing question
of policy. The fact remains that no other
government since the creation of the world
ever spent as much money or made as great
and effective preparations for war in the
same length of time as this government
has during the last six weeks If it was
discreditable to us as a nation that these
preparations should have been so long neg
lected, the tremendous energy and execu-
tive force shown when the emergency came
are splendid tribute to the vigor and vi
tally of republican government. The les
son will not be lost upon the world.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS.

In Cambridge Harvard professors are
usually spoken of as Mr." instead of
prof. or Dr."
A horse named Presbyterian won the
Derby race at New Orleans last week.
"Foreordained, We presume, says the Con-
gregat 0naiist
A well-kaown bicycle rider is authority
for the statement that 'it is proved beyond
all doubt that riding a wheel will in one
season cause the foot to grow one to one
and a half inches larger"
Mark Twain, having noticed in an Ameri-
can newspaper statistics of the increase of
crime in Connecticut during the past seven
years. is sorrowfully constrained to admit
that this is just the time that l have been
absent from the state
The coming of age Of the young Queen
of Holland is to be celebrated by a novel
congress under her direct presidency. 1t is
to be called the Congress- of Diplomatic
History, and will be attended by the lead
ing eX-diplomats of Europe
Director A. II. Griffith, of the Detroit
Museum of Art, has an excee 1ingly impor-
tant position as the immediate custodian of
about $3.50, 900 worth of art treasures. He
started life in Indiana and has had an
interesting and romantic career.
Forty-six languages and dialects are used
by the American missionary associations in
their work. DIR. Francis E. Clark says
that 1t is no empty boast to say that these
missionaries are the best masters of Chi
nese, Tamil and Marathi. modern Syriac
and many other tongues Twenty languages
have been reduced to writing by mission
aries, so that merely as an educational
force the missionaries are OF iGestimable
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
A GOOD PRECEDENT FOR SPAIN TO
FOLLOW.

If Spain were wise she would lose no time
in adopting towards Cuba the policy she
adopted towards San Domingo thirty odd
years ago, viz, recognize Cuban independ-
ence and etacuate the island. San Domin-
go was the last Of her American possessions
surrendered by Spain. Her connection with
that island was marked, as so much of her
history has been, by rapine, blood and
treachery. The inhabitants of the Spanish
part of San Domingo declared their indie
pendence of Haiti in 1874 and established a
republic. After several years of fighting
and revolution, Santana, the President Of
the republic, in 1861 made a secret PROPOSE
ton to Spain to resume her authority over
the island, and it was accepted. Santana
was to receive a price for his treachery
In fact, he sold the island to Spain. The
people of the island, as we'll as the Presi-
dent of Haiti. protested against the trans
action but the Spanish government sent
troops to occupy the island, which had all
ready been ceded by the President. Shortly
afterwards rebellion broke out, and after
three years of fighting in which every kind
of atrocity was prepetrated, the Spaniards
were forced TO retire. Not only were the
Spanish troops in the island swept away by
sickness and the brave Dominicans, but the
financial embarrassment of the government
became so intolerable that in 1864, when
General Narvaez, Spanish statesman OF
that time, was asked by the Queen to form
a new Ministry he declared, in common
with all his colleagues, that San Domingo
must be given up, and insisted that this be
announced in the Queens speech on opening
the Cortes. The Queen demurred. and the
ministers resigned in body. Finally, the
Queen yielded Narvaez formed Ministry,
and a message was sent to the Cortes ask
ing it TO annul the decree annexing San
Domingo. The message was a curious one
1t recounted the reasons for annexation ana
declared that the ministers had invoked
every sentiment of justice. humanity and
honor in counseing the annexation of this
unhappy island It admitted the discon-
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07


of state bank notes based upon the present
requirement of deposit of United States
bonds to secure circulating notes. The bill
makes it possible for national banks to be
organized in towns of three thousand in
habitants with capital of $4,000.
1t is not probable that even the committee
on banking will agree to this bill, out it
furnishes a basis for discussion and sug-
gestion, and bears evidence of intelligent
and careful preparation. While it does not
provide for the retirement of the green
backs as rapidly rs some would wish, it
seems to utilize those not retired in man
ner which will prevent that use to threaten
a reserve. 1t popularizes the national bank
ing system and puts the silver money on
a firm basis by making it redeemable in
gold
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

acts and is frequently the chief motor pow
er OF marriage. of career. Of education.
The extent to which the control of rail-
roads by government has become topic
or interest is indicated by the fact that in
the past three months all of the periodicals
devoted to general or economic topics have
published opinions or arguments on both
sizes. The Forum. for April gives it's first
RaseS 70 an article by President Smith, of
LIZ, riaT louisville d Nashville Railroad Com
pahy, entitled, THE Dangerous Demands
VI the 1nterstate-commerce Commission"
5 onotIer magazine has an article on State
1.Ss uldlion or Railways. The Forum has
U DtH.cl dTiicieS OF current interest, THE Po-
i hH- a. SITUATION in Europe and the East"
ResoTrca sai an MiieS; Central America: Its
SurtiS ;, The English Governing Oil
gssrGehy," by Sidney Low THE Economies
put Prof. Harriss affirmative answer of
the question rs There Work Fnouoh for
AH? inspires hope.
The North American Review for April
contains number of papers of interest.
John Il. Redmonds ireland Since '95', is
given the first place, as if the Irish oues
tion We're as prominent as when Mr.. Clad
stone wrecked his party in his bill to give
Ireland an independent legislature. At some
oller season the article entitled 1.-The De-
cay OF Cobdenism in England" would at
1r1et more attention than now, when the
WYosId has rejected Mr. Cobdens theories
Icy som,erset,s tribute to Frances Eliz-
for those who hold her name in affectione
aye regard. There are two articles empha-
S Sanai, because they treat of topics which
Navy" which have nothing to do with nr tase
ent troubles, and Some Reasons for In
tiLeaslng the Army" which are obvious in
siege OF Paris and the Air Ships" is more
rater,esSiIing IN view of the present wariike
posi- ossIollitles. Sir ". Fl. Russelrs sRecollec
tlohs or the Civil War cause one TO for
get the writer's unpopularitY in 1851 ~ loi
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

If the reason assigned for the delay in
sending to Congress the message of the
President, viz, that it was intended to af-
ford General Lee and other Americans in
Cuba opportunity to withdraw in safety
from the island, the Withholding of the
message was not only entirely justi-
fable but highly eommendable. There
is reason to believe the publication
of the message would put their lives
in imminent peril This is reason
| enough for Withholding the message, for
| however great public impotence or clamor
may be, it can we'll await the consumma-
ton of steps for the safety of the Americans
who wish to leave Cuba, and especially Of
General Lee. The American people could
never justify themselves before the world,
and really would never forgive themselves,
If, from mere impotence and pique, they
should precipitate a crisis that would re-
suit in the murder of General Lee and other
Americans in Cuba. Whatever cause of war
we may have against Spain will keep few
days, at Least, while one brave man MUIR
dered could not be recalled to life.
1t is characteristic of the Spanish people
that such a precaution should have to be
adopted If we were dealing with any other
European power there would be no danger
of the swift assassination of noncombatants
temporarily sojourning in the country, even
after declaration of war, and that is not
anticipated at present. 1t is quite likely the
Presidents message and the action of Con-
gress it will foreshadow will increase the
tension and excitement in Havana and Mad
rid, but it should not imperil the lives Of
American citizens who had failed to get out
of the country
Meanwhile this unexpected delay in the
transmission of the message may lead to
important changes in the situation. There
is a cloud of rumors concerning g Cabinet
crisis in Madrid, the acceptance by Spain of
President McKinley's terms, etc. The most
that can be said of these rumors is that
they indicate SPANS realization that the
situation is desperate and that she is grasp
ing at straws. The Presidents terms are
said to have included an immediate cessa-
ton of hostilities and the withdrawal of the
latter is the important feature and it is
doubtful if Spain will accept that without
fight. The mere cessation of hostilities
would amount to nothing. Spanish diplo-
macy should be distrusted at every point.
Meanwhile the Maine and $50 of her crew
are at the bottom of Havana harbor, sent
there by Spanish treachery.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

There is some reason to fear that our Min
lster Woodford is being used by the Spanish
Ministry to help them gain time and i'm
AGNES that he is accomplishing something
IN the way Of diplomacy. He is undoubtedly
mistaken in supposing Spain has any idea
of surrendering or evacuating Cuba with
out war, and he has wasted time in en-
couraging our government to think so. I'm
fortunately General Woodford is not a
trained diplomatist, still more unfortunately
he does not speak Spanish, and most un-
fortunate of all. he is surrounded by Span
iards who are probably spies. A Madrid
correspondent says:
If Minister Wcodford should suddenly die
while the two nations. are on the brink of
war his place would be filled with Sickles.
first secretary of the legation, whose mother
and sister are both Spaniards who are pas
sionately devoted to their flag. The man
who opens the door of the legation cannot
speak English and neither can the Spaniards
who carry Minister Woodford's messages.
His clerk is a Spaniard; so is The vice con
sui, and up and down before this hive OF
Spaniards you can see Spanish soldiers
keeping watch and ward
Under these circumstances, and ignorant
OF the language. it would be a miracle If
our minister should not be worsted in
diplomacy.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

Americans must sympathize with the Gu
ban insurgents on general principles though
they have not yet given any evidence of
capacity for self-government, and we must
pity the miserable reconcentrados, but the
members OF the Cuban Junto in the United
States are not entitled to sympathy, pity
or admiration. Their sole business has been,
while enjoying the protection of this gov
eminent, to get it into trouble and to fight
for Cuban independence with their mouths
hardships of real war. The Cuban Junto
in the United States are scurvy lot, and
when they assume to discredit or criticise
the motives of this government they show
themselves to be impudent as well as I'M
grateful.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

value, while they are Indispensable anti
dotes to the iniquities that come with for
elgn commercial relations to uncivlliZed
lands
The New York Evening Posts London
correspondent says that Mr.. Gladstone $
literary executor will find the newly-built
imminent room at Hawarden Castle stored
with priceless political literary treasures,
the Queen"
William Waldorf Astor has secured a new
private secretary in the person of George
Magnay. His mother, Mrs. Magnay, lives
in Lady Kenmore's house, in Egerton Gar
denS. He was very rich in his young years,
difficult for him to adapt himself 10 even
these circumstances, for Mr.. Astor is a hard
MASTER
A Rome paper says that the Pope invited
all his relatives TO Rome a short time ago
in order to arrange some family matters
and to make them acquainted with the pro-
never publicly left the Vatican since his
election to st. Peters chair, and is said TO
have left the, Papal Palace but once
secretly, and that by night, in order to
visit his brother when he was dying in a
village near Rome.
The poet sat him down to write
A strain of war victorious.
He told the world twas grand to fight,
To die was simply glorious.
This poet was, though not to blame,
In direst straits financially;
He hoped his lines would bring him fame.
And benefit him substantially.
And so he wrote of war and gore,
And scenes of carnage awning him.
While all the while, and more and more,
His hunger fierce was gnawing him.
He labored long upon each verse,
Until he had perfected it;
But, oh, still empty is his purse
The editor rejected it.
-SOmerVilIe Journal
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

ton by herald were in 1876. when Louis
Hili sent a herald to declare war against
spain, ana In 1851 when Sweden declared
war against Denmark by herald sent 10
Copenhagen; while as late as 1871 war be-
tween England and Holland was declared
by solemn proclamation
As the most recent cases are those likely
10 influence the conduct of nations in the
immediate future the wars of the present
present crisis.
In the quarrel between Russia and Tur-
Key, which Immediately preceded the Cri-
mean war, a formal declaration was issued
at Moscow by proclamation of the Gar.
and three days later. after the Turks were
We'll aware of the state of affairs opera-
tons were commenced in earnest
In the cases of Britain and France less
consideration was shown War was formal-
and on the Ssst it was procIaimed b. bv The the
nigh sheriff of London from the steps OF
the exchange But these declarations were
mace merely to Justify the step to the peo-
pie and to ask for their approval and help.
BEFORE that time active operations had
commenced by the entry of the British and
French fleets into the DardaneIIes, contrary
TO treaty. and the forced retreat of the
RUSSIAN fleet to Sebastapol when the allies
reached the Black sea.
On Feb. 8 the Russian minister was with
Drawn from London, and the British and
french ministers from st. Petersburg. Al
Ihough such step usually precedeS war,
ana is often regarded as equivalent to a
declaration. 1t only signifies that all hope
of successful diplomatic negotiations has
Deen abandoned and that war IS likely to
ensue 1t does not necessarily imply a state
or war, such state requiring some definite
act of hostility
In the Opium war of 1870 the Italian wars
or lS47 and 1919, the AngIo-Persian war of
1896 the wars between Austria and France
IN IS59, Prussia and Schleswig-H olstein in
IS65, and Brazil and Uruguay in 1854, vari-
Gus hostile acts were committed before any
declaration of war was made. although in
some cases manifestoes were issued to neu-
tr3l powers. In the Austro-Italian war OF
1853, the Austro-Prussian war of 1866 and
the RuSso-Turkish war of 1877 the declaFa-
ton and active operations were practically
synonymous. In the last mentioned case,
Tor example. the Porte received copy OF
the declaration on the evening of April "a,
the very day on which $1,000 Russian troops
crossed the RoumaEian frontier
The most notable instance in the present
century Of a formal declaration of war be-
gun was that of the Franco-Prussian war
in 1870 In this case the declaration was
almost forced, as the French who were the
aggressors, voted large war credits on July
10, and on the following day the French
minister returned to Paris. A formal in
timation of hostile intentions was then sent
to Berlin, and laid before the Parliament
of the North German Confederation on
July 90.
On Nov 12 1885, Britain was honored by
a declaration of war from King Theebaw
of Burmah, but it was needless formality
on the part of his duskv Majesty. for the
British troops We're already on the way TO
his capital. and the onv reply to his chal-
lenge was his deposition, which Immediately
ensued.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

III Congress should declare war or take
such action as to make it inevitable II
should amend the militia law so as to en-
ape the President to call out the National
Guard for foreign service and also empower
him to call out volunteers. At present he
can only call upon the National Guard or
state militia to enforce the laws of the
United States, to suppress domestic insur-
rection, or to repe1 foreign invasion. and
he cannot call out volunteers without pre-
vious authorization by Congress The law
in regard to calling out the militia is as
follows:
Whenever the United States are invaded
or are in imminent danger of invasion from
any foreign nation or Indian tribe, or of
rebellion against the authority of the gov
eminent of the United States, it shall be
lawful for the President to call forth such
number of the militia of the State or States
most convenient to the place of danger or
scene of action as he may deem necessary
to repel such invasion or to suppress such
rebellion, and to issue his orders for that
purpose to such officers of the militia as he
may think proper. vs
This does not provide for calling out the
militia in the case Of foreign war, unless
it may be deemed necessary to repel foreign
invasion AS for calling out volunteers,
there is no standing law on the subject. In
every instance where it has been done it
has been authorized by special act of Con-
gress, as it would have to be now Con-
gress could cover both of these points in a
few minutes by the passage of a law au-
thorizing the President to call out the state
militia and volunteers at his discretion, but
in the absence of such law his action is
hampered. 1t is quite possible that in case
of war with Spain only the militia of the
Atlantic seaboard States would be called
out, and that only for coast defense within
the States; it is not likely that any volun-
teers would be called for. yet the Presi-
dents hands should not be tied.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

tent of the Dominicans, the practical fall
ure of Spanish military operations, and an
nounced the following conclusions:
That it was a deIusion to believe that the
dominican people a whole or IN the
great majority desired their annexation to
come general, it does not bear the character
OF a measure taken to subject few dis
contented rebels, but of war of conquest;
That even by concentrating our efforts and
sacrifices in order to obtain a triumph we
should place ourselves in the sad position
of holding the island entirely by. military
occupation, fun of difficulties ana not eX-
empt from dangerous complications; that
even under the most favorable hypothesis
that a portion of the population may show
themselves devoted to US after victory, the
governmental system that would have 10 be
established in those dominionS must either
be little suitable to the usages and customs
of the inhabitants, or very diSSlmllar to
that of the other colonial provinces.
Wherefore, it was recommended that ''the
royal decree of the 18th of May. 1861. de-
claring the territory OF the Dominican re-
public reincorporated with the monarchy
be repealed" The decree was repealed and
San Domingo was free. When it came to
evacuating the island the Spanish govern
or general insisted that the treaty should
take the form of thigh and voluntary act
of generosity on the part of Spain, and
that the Dominican government should reg
lister national declaration that the war
which Spain had been waging for four
years was just and lawful and that she
now retired-to quote his words-"purely
and solely out of a noble and disinterested
respect to the preference of the Dominican
people for an independent nationality" The
Dominican government utterly refused to
subscribe to such declaration on the
ground, among other reasons, that it would
require them to pay Spain a war indem-
nifty. They declared that 1.-The united Do
minican people, without regard to rank or
color, had planted the white cross of the
republic on the principle enunciated by the
Great Mother of free nations, that America
belongs to Americans, and we will endure
all our trials over again sooner than desert
It," The governor general replied that I'M
less his terms of evacuation were agreed
to he would Enclose the Dominican re-
public in a fiery ring of ruin and desola-
ton by means of a perpetual blockade, and
incessant raids on all its forts and large
towns" The Dominican government re-
fused to yield an inch, and finally the gov
ernor general gave up and the Spanish left
the island. If Spain were wise she would
apply this precedent to Cuba
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
HOW NATIONS DECLARE WAR.
In These Days Hostilities OFTEN BE-
gin without Warming.
sd. louis Republic.


Notwithstanding the fact that most peo-
pie consider a formal declaration OF war
necessary before active measures can De
taken it is usually the case III these go
ahead times that no warning whatever Is
given. -, .
When Rome was mistress of the world a
declaration of war was solemn junction
attended with so much ceremony That
special college of heralds was always kept
in readiness to peform it when necessary
In medieval times letters of defiance
served TO give warning of hostile inten-
tions. and still later heraids were sent TO
throw down the gauntlet ana make YER
bal declaration of war
In such times formal declarations We're
necessary to differentiate between the pri-
waite brawls of a few barons and q national
war for which the community was respon-
sible bit at the present day total conceal
ment gs long as possible is the almost uni
versal rule. The objects, says writer in
Tid-Bits. of this are usually either TO anuc-
ipate the designs of some other power, TO
avoid the onus of admitting state of War
as long as possible, or to gain time Dy
swiftncss of attack.
The latest Instances of formal declara-
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

Boston Transcript.
Westerner visiting Boston, who is a
representative of the conservative class or
Westerners having large interests, says
that the western excitement makers IN
Congress do not represent their SECTIONS at
all 'There isn't a man worth ealing q
coast who wouldn't give every cent Of ms
money and every drop of his blood for ms
country If she was in danger, ne says.
..Rut the biggest danger the United States
is in at present is that some of the shout
ers may not catch on to the fact that what
as we'll as East is to show the whole world
that while we've got plenty of fighting
strength. we have the sense and grip and
Observation-Disclosures not to go off half
coked and murder $4,000 or so of the flower
of our own folks in our navy-self acting
murder machines in order To make spain
LET nm on Cuba. The sense of the meeting
is that Suain's got to let up, and that
enough of our men have already been killed
for the purpose-plenty