davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
An Ambassador on the massacre.

According to yesterdays New York
World, the ambassador in Washington
Of one of the great powers made the
significant statement which follows,
and which should have the attention
of the President The name of the
diplomatist is not given, but the text
bears intrinsic evidence of being the
utterances of one skilled in interna-
tional relations. He is reported to
have said:
Admiral Sicard's comment that the disaster to
the Maine would develop most peculiar circum-
stances is more significant. ! think, than most
people suppose.
am frank TO say that if one of my couutry's
warships had met her fate in European harbor
under similar circumstances, my government
would have pursued entirely different course
The commander of the port would have been re:
qured 10 show clean hands Every engine OF
destruction that under his supervision would
have TO be accounted for
This would be no cursory examination. The
honor of nation can never be impugned by
the action of fanatic or by a traitor. Great
governments can always purge themselves OF such
dishonor by executing the criminal
Beyond all controversy. if a warship were SO
destroyed in ports, and the court OF inquiry
should find itself compelled to report that the
agency was external the master Of the port would
The perpetrator of the crime would be exc
full as it is. would have assured the afflicted
nation not only of its sorrow, but it would have
courageousy Inundated itself for the fault OF ITS
recent subject.
This apology would be Just ample as that
made by a pure and upright gentleman ior dis
honorable conduct of one of his disloyai sons or
servants. The ignominy would be keenly felt.
I The ofense would not be palliated. The apology
would be generously ample.
/ II seems to be an admitted fact that the de-
! struction of the Maine from an external
cause Capt. Sigsbee has never said word that
would lead to a different conclusion and the
people who have followed the movements of the
court with eagle-eyed scrutiny are all OF the
( opinion that the blow was from without.
There is no doubt that if the United States
Government, in its wonderful calm could assert
that any other agency wrought the destruction 1t
would do so. The nations are constrained TO
but one belief-that Capt. Sigsbee and his ship
were attacked, whether that attack came from
Spain or 4 mere malefactor. Admitting the lat
ter alternative, Spain has stood mute and like a
wolf takes the consequences of the yiilainy OF
her cub.
II is now too late to make reparation, and
have advised my government that war between
the United States and Spain is inevitable.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
Agreed with the Boy.

Qrom the Cleveland Plain Dealer)
A certain Cleveland man is the proud
possessor of a wife and two bright boys
He also has several female relatives by
marriage, two of whom. ris wife's sister
and his wife's mother. are frequent So
journer at his home.
The younger one, aged seven. is a
lively boy He runs the streets a greai
deal and associates with older boys
somewhat to his moral injury. He has
picked up therby number of naughty
expressions, which crop out at home
quite frequently.
Not long ago he suddenly turned on
his auntie and called her a fool. That
wasn't the worst OF it. \ moment or
two later, when his grandmother
endeavored to repTove him, he inform
ed her that she was a darn fool"
OF course, this shocking offense was
reported at the first opportunity TO his
father.
George" said his wife, graveIy,
you must exercise your parental au-
thority. / can't do anything with Jim
my He called sister a fool and mother
a darn fool, and l want you to punish
him severely
Come with me. jim" said Jim's ia
Their, and they went into one of the
bedrooms and shut the door.
well. jim" said the father, did you
call your aunt q fool?"
Yes. sir"
And your grandmother darn fooI?"
Yes. sir
well, Jim" said the father slowly.
Il think that's about the same djstinc-
ton | should make myself"
And the incident was closed then and
there
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
A humanitarian subterfuge.

There are features about the plan to
distribute relief supplies throughout
the Island Of Cuba which do not alto
gether appear to be just what the oc-
casion demands. Senior Quesada states,
for example, that it would be useless to
attempt the sending of food to the
country in the control of the republic.
since the people within that area and
the patriots in arms have plenty to eat.
Moreover, owing to climatic reasons,
the supplies would spoil before they
could be moved into the interior.
The reconcentrados are Spanish pris-
oners of war under sentence of death
by starvation. To propose any scheme
for their official relief, without accom-
panying it by a demand that the crimes
against them shall cease, and the power
responsible shall leave the Western
Hemisphere would be foolish and futile
in the highest degree. 1t would only
result in some dilatory and hopeless
efforts to talk the Cubans into accept
ing something less than complete inde-
pendence, and in extending the horrors
of the Spanish persecution without
OeHIllle llIll'.
What is supposed to be MI McKin-
ley's plan of relief would be in itself
armed Intervention, and hence not only
a cause but an act of war. That being
the case it would be just as well TO do
something worth while as long as we
are about it, and, as we have limited
elsewhere, Mr.. Mckinley could not
make a better beginning than to take
that torpedo boat fiotilla- If he does
not, we warn him that it will sink
something more of ours. In any event
Spain should have immediate notice to
quit In giving it we would receive the
sympathy and applause of all civiliza-
ton. Spanish outrages and atrocities
in Cuba are as well known in every
European foreign office as they are in
Washington. Europe was ashast at
the cruelty of the Turks in Bulgaria
and Armenia, and there is not a dipIo-
matist on the continent today who does
not know that the sickening crimes of
Bulgaria and Armenia were mildness
and mercy compared with the fiend-
ishness Of Spanish policy and conduct
at our own door.
Any wish To leave such a power even
with the shadow Of sovereignty on our
side Of the water is simply infamous,
and ought to be resented by every de-
cent American.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
RoosEvELT's FRANKNEss.
He Assures the President That tins,
People Mnnt Mnr

1t was learned yesterday that Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt told the Presi-
dent on Saturday that the people wanted
war
He told it in no unmistakabIe manner.
and showed to Mr.. Mckinley that he was
right.
1t happened in this way: Mr.. Roosevelt
had occasion TO call at the White House
and while there the President asked him
some questions in regard to the details
of certain arrangements for war which
came under the Assistant Secretary's di-
rect supervision. Mr.. Roosevelt made the
necessary answers. and stated that the
department was ready for fight, and
that the moment war was on hundreds
of thousands of Americans would YOlun-
teer for service in the navy.
why" said the President. ''dO you
think, Mr.. Roosevelt. that the people
want WARP"
yes. Mr.. President" was the reply. 81
not only think, but 1 know positively
that fully So per cent of the population OF
the country is for immediate war
They think that peace has ceased to
be virtue, and that we must fight in
order to preserve our honor"
This interview. as reported above.
comes from such an absolutely authorIta-
tive source that there can be no doubt
that it took place. While the Assistant
Secretary is given to denying published
accounts of his actions and words, Il is
not thought that he will deny this.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

cradle time and suddenly needs it. there
is a certain embarrassment in asking
for it, and there are profuse apologies
when ii is returned, and things are al
togRther uncomfortable. There was
borrower once, who was very indignant
at receiving such a request, and claimed
she had been insulted; but such borrow
ers are rare. The main point is that
people who borrow books ought always
to return them. and that. too within
reasonable time.
The worst plight of all, however, is
that Of the owner of d book which has
gone astray. he cannot remember
where. That book may as well be given
up as lost. 1t is one of the meanest
things in the world-this appropriating
of books. and it is done by people who
would not for the world appropriate
anything else. They themselves are not
mean. but the thing is mean, all the
same
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
EMMY Thunder.

(From the Chicago Chronicle-)
Individual Republican members Of Con-
gress declare in hotel Hobbies and street
corners. anywhere but in the House of
Representatives. that they viii no longer
suffer the reproach of non-action which
is brought against them by many people
and 10 which they are compelled by the
attitude of an Administration 10 which
they are by party association subseryi-
ent.
Such members Of Congress do not reck-
on with the Speaker Of the House. They
assume that they are members OF de-
Lucrative body. and that il they rise de-
handing 10 be heard on a situation
which has grown into one OF peril and
perpIexity they must be heard. They do
not seem 70 recognize. save in the House
of Representatives. their own impotence
Abundant pretext to address the House
upon the Cuban situation has long eN-
listed. Democrats have endeavOred 70
furnish the opportunity, but the Speaker.
who is an autocrat in his domain, viii
not permit them 10 be heard, and they
themselves are fearful of mourning party
wrath and party discipline
The absolute monarch Of France could
say truthfully: 1.-THE state: it is l." The
gentleman from Maine wiz not boast il
he says in the same spirit: The House
of Representatives: it is T." Members Of
Congress who talk upon the street coz
ners and are silent in the House viii be
heard only with contempt Chicago con-
gressmen are addressing their speeches
to Washington correspondents for home
consumption They thunder on the Ave
nue.. but they are as meek as AIoseG IN
der the Speakers eye
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
Take the FIotiila.

Mr. Mckinley and Secretary Long
have almost the opportunity Of their
lives! Six little torpedo boats and
six or seven handsome torpedo boat
destroyers are moving painfully across
the seas from the Canary Islands to-
ward our shores.
Where others see unfriendlness in
this. we are compelled to regard the
movement as distinctly pacific. We
have been roaming the world in search
OF just such craft, and have been will
ing to pay pretty much any price to
get hold Of some. Now our Spanish
fellow creatures have relieved US Of a
considerable part Of the necessity.
Obviously, then, the thing for the
President and the naval authorities to
do is to send five or six warships and
cruisers to meet the torpedo fiotilla
and escort it into one of our ports for
a friendly visit. After that, the next
thing would be to borrow it for our
own purposes. We need exactly such
vessels and should not hesitate min
ute about taking them.
We have lent the whole American
Navy TO Spain for two years, without
a cent of cost to her. 1t would be a
pity if we could not help ourselves to
a dozen mosquitoes of the sea in eX-
change. The enterprise would be with
out risk. None of these boats is
equipped for fighting at present. They
would have to equip in one Of their
own ports before becoming effective
\ for military uses. They might just as
well be fitted out in one of ours Mr.
+ Mckinley should not be unmindful OF
I the extent to which we need this new
4 Spanish armada in our business.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
Borrowing Books.

There are two or three proverbs. in
and out Of the Scriptures, which the
owner Of books feels occasionally i'm
PEELED to quote. One is.
Neither borrower nor lender be.
and another.
From him that would borrow Of thee turn not
thou away.
The real lover of books would like to
obey the latter injunction, for no man
or woman ever really enjoyed book
without wanting to share that enjoy
ment with somebody else. But expert
once occasionally leads even this gen
erous person 10 ponder over the first
precept. The real book-Iover is seldom
a borrower: he is a buyer; and lends
books 10 other people who can afford
anything ia the world except something
TO read. But when, after the book has
been lent FOR a period Of several weeks,
IL fails to come back and the borrower
goes away on a Summers vacation, or
moves out Of town, there comes a
period Of something very like repent
ance. Again, when the owner of the
book has been without it for a consid-
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

lain, who has always been the Jingo of
the party.
The empire has suddenly walked up
to the fact that Russia has over
reached Salisbury at every turn, and
that now it is necessary to surrender
to the car on every point, contention
and former declaration. or proceed at
once to fight. Even the friendly con-
sentative press displays anger over
the situation, which it declares could
have been prevented by peaceful
means, if proper steps had been taken
in time. whereas Russia is now in
trenched at Port Arthur and fallen
wan. and could not be dislodged, if at
all at least not without a resort to
h0stilities
Even Japan seems to have been
drawn away from Great Britain by
the shrewd diplomacy of Russia in
giving assurances and evidences of
an absence of all design on Korea.
English papers say with mournful
plant that this leaves their country
without a possible friend in the world
unless America can be counted upon to
rush to the rescue and support Of its
British kin If that be the only hope.
it is a remarkably foolish one. The
people of this country would be the
very last to do anything of the kind.
On the whole they have quite enough
! to do to keep their end up here; and
4 even at that Yirtuous course they are
! constantly met with British colonial
1 aggressions of an eXasperating charac-
/ ter. That does not render them any
the more kindly disposed to the inn
/ possible idea of a British alliance, but
they would have none of it. for that
matter in any case.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

We are very much interested to learn
that Mr.. Straus of New York" has pre-
scented plan to the President, suggesting
settlement of the Cuban question by
means Of giving Spain suzerainty over the
island, instead of sovereignty, which as
the elder Mr. Weller would say, is
more tenderer expression" The Cuban
patriots will die to a man before they
will accept anything short of complete
independence. But the plan of Mr..
Straus, while not contemplating their
wishes in the matter, would give the
Spanish Cuban bondholders a pleasant
clnch on the situation On that account
it does not appeal to the American pub
lie in any favorable sense.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

In a statement to reporter Saturday
Senator John T. Morgan of Alabama is
reported to have said Spain has es-
tablished her character by the Cuban
slaughter We don't have to go back to
the Middle Ages. We have in this gen
Grafton 400 900 persons who We're not fight
ing starved to death by military orders
Spain has outlawed herself by her acts,
put herself beyond the pale of human his
tory. We have borne with patience her
outrages. We have filled our jails with
men prompted by the ordinary impulses
of humanity to help her victims. We
have done police duty for Spain long
enough on our shores. Now the time has
come to stop it. We have the same right
to interfere in Cuba that France had to
come to our aid in our ireveluuon-the
right of men, of human beings-and we
Will exercise it" That is the way
the country would like to hear the Presi-
dent talk
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

In spite of its Spanish proclivities, the
New York Hcraldo is a great news gath
erer and it's sources of information in
spised. Yesterday, and on the strength
Of what it learned from its service in
Spain, Cuba and this country, it re-
Iuctanuy concluded that hostlities can
not be avoided. That hotilla business
was the last straw as far as America
is CONCERNED.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
War on Both sides.

II would be impossible 20 imagine a
much more disguised public sentiment
than that which today marks British
opinion Of the Salisbury ministry. The
premier himself has practically gone
into retirement. and what is left Of the
Tory government appears slipping IN
der the control OF Joseph Chamber
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
ECHOES FROM ABROAD,

Although the exact date of the COM
ing elections to the Reichstag has not
yet been settled upon, they are expected
to take place in May, June or July, and
the political parties have already begun
their campaign work The Catholics and
the Social Democrats are keeping a little
quieter than the other parties, but every
one believes that they are working in
secret just as diligently as the others
are in public.
1t is said that the Catholics propose
TO spring a surprise on the country in
the shape of church agitation just be-
fore election day, and that they are re-
naming quiet about it till then because
it's publicity might illustrate the ends
they have in view. The Social Demo-
Gratis do not want to- do anything which
would occasion unusual police activity
and involve the arrest of their leaders.
who will be much needed later on and
orders have been given from their head
quarters that great caution must be eX-
ercised at all their mass meetings, which
as yet have not beenvery numerous. The
Liberals, Conservatives and Agrarians.
are holding meetings all over the en-
pre-. and in Berlin it is possible to at
tend at least one every night.
The Liberals are soLsplit up and divided
| that they can hardly be called a party
in the strict sense of the word. and 1t
Will be no great surprise if they lose a
number of seats during the election.
Ihey lack common standard around
which all can rally. and until they get
one their Importance in German politics
Will not amount to much. Richter is
i stu their strongest man. but he is no
longer able to keep them together, and
leads in the Reichstag only a small frac-
! ton of their number
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

The Catholics are opportunists They
things as make for their power as a po-
litical organization, sometimes with the
Conservatives and sometimes with the
Liberals, but always with their own pri-
vate ends VI view; and these ends are
closely allied with church matters, The
advocate certain reforms which they
think will attract the workingmen, but
all the parties do this to some extent and
it is not their tactics in this direction
which makes them so strong. 1t is their
ability TO stick together through thick
and thin which has made them powerful,
and their leader, Herr Lieber, could be a
minister tomorrow if he wanted to be
and would sign certain agreements with
the government He is occasionally crit
icised by the more Independent members
of his party and 1t was thought that he
would not be able to hold it together af-
ter Windhorst's death, but he is now
what seemed impossible. and there is
now no man in the Reichstag whom min
listers try more diligently to answer in
debate. Let Lieber critcise one of their
bills, and minister gets up Immediately
to explain matters.
| The Social Democrats are looking for
ward to large gains, and they are prob
| ably doing more real electioneering than
any other party is. LieblSnecht, one of
/ their main leaders, is to be released from
! prison. where he has been spending sew
! era1 months on account of a conviction
| for lese majestic, on the 18th of this
month and his friends are now prepar-
! ing a great ovation for him. Bebel, the
other most important leader, speaks from
| time to time at meetings and is in con-
slant communication with the smaller
Socialistic leaders throughout the coun-
try, but. as before said, everything is
being done rather quietly, and the most
| of the open agitation is probably to be
postponed until just before election day.
| The present strength of the most i'm
portant factions in the existing Reich
stag will be seen in the following table.
which gives for the sake of comparison
what it would be if proportional repre-
sentation were carried out
Membership
| which
| would
result for
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

Although the New York Stock Elk
change is supposed to be peculiarly open
to panic from war alarms, on Saturday
there was a distinctly bullish move
ment in the market. and the entire list
rose from one TO two points. There was
not any particular reason for it, eX-
cept that people begin to realize that in
admi -lstering much needed spanking
to Spain. that viii not amount to war
on any scale sufficient to disturb Ameri-
can business or values.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

CFrom the New Orleans Times Democrat)
The comon sea polyp is said to be more tena-
cious OF life than any other creature Ii one be
cut in two, two polyps are the result. \ scien-
tiic Investigator recently slit lengthWIsc into
six sections, and all six continued to live They
may he turned inside out and still enjoy them
selves as well Us before
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
4 simple Feat-
lFrnm the chiessa Even.rs Poi.

(From the Chicago Evening PostJ
From Lacrosse. Wis, comes th- story ct man
who drives pins with bullets bu- we do not see
why it should occasion any particular surprise
Il is very simple. You hold tie PIN steady WITH
one hand and taking the bullet between the thumb
and frrefnaer Of the other band son pound Gu the
head Of The pin till the job is dome u IS not very
satisfactory, but neither is it very dl-icult.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

Nevertheless, the election will not pass
off without it's interesting features. not
the Ieass of which will be the intended
participation in it on the part of some
of the more advanced women of the
country The constitution says that
every German l"Jeder Deutscher') who
has passed his tWenty-ffth year and is
nc. an idiot, pauper, nor a released
penitentiary bird can vote for members
of parliament. Frau Schulrath CaUer. a
well-known leader of German women
who desire a more emancipated life than
is now permitted them by German men.
proposes to test this law and see wheth-
er the expression "Jeder Deutscher''
does not include that of ''Jede Deuts-
che every German woman. She claims
that in Roman law. which is the basis
Of German law a masculine term like
that of ''Jeder Deutscher'' includes the
feminine also, unless there is a special
statement TO the contrary, which she
says is not the case in the law in ques-
ton. In other words, she sees no law
full reason why she should nos vote as
we'll as the men, and her plan is for her
and some of her women friends to test
the matter by actual experience. They
propose TO ask to be registered at the
registration offices so that they can vote
on the day of the election.
"Of course, it will be refused. Frau
Cauer says, but that is what we want
because we can then take the matter in
to court and find out from the learned
Judges what 'Jeder Deutscher' means
Competent lawyers tell me THAI it in
cludes Jede DeUtsche and we can
carry the case up to the supreme court
if necessary
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28

The battleshiD Oregon and the gun
boat Marietta are Fastening from the Pa
cifc station to re-enforce our fleet at Tor
tugas The Spanish torpedo boat Te-
meraris has left Monteviedo, Uruguay,
in great haste and there is a SUPPOSE
ton that she has gone to intercept our
two returning vessels. Their destruction
would be a fine addition to the Spanish
bapr