St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-08-17

Porto Rico has large export trade in
that article, which under Spanish rule
was protected by a high tariff Under
our present laws coffee Is admitted to
the United States free of duty, and If
that particular feature should be made
applicable to Porto Rico, 1t is asserted
that the practical destruction of the
coffee plantations on the island would
be the inevitable result. What may be
done hereafter for the relief Of this
situation cannot now be foretold.
Regiment of Crackaj jacks.
New York, Aug. 16.-After the rough
riders had all been landed and started
for the detention camp in Montauk,
Colonel Roosevelt was met by the news
paper men. They endeavored to get him
to tell about his experiences. He re-
fused to talk about his own achieve
ments, but gladly spoke of the work Of
his men. He said they were all brave
and went into danger without hesitation
Colonel Roosevelt was asked about his
reported wounding and replied: "The
wound on my right wrist was from a
shell, but was only a scratch anyway"
He said he was in the best of health, and
he looked it
Protocols Reference to the Philippines
Not Pleasing to Spanish Public.
Madrid, Aug. 15.-The city was pa
trolled by police Saturday night, but
perfect tranquility prevails. The publ
cation of the protocol produced keen dis
70 To, he
Philippines, where it had been hoped
Spain would preserve her sovereignty
intact. Clause three of the protocol dis
pels this illusion. Echoing public feel
ing the Independent and opposition pa
pers bitterly criticise the clause as at
fording pretext for curtaiing Spanish
sovereignty in an archipelago, where
control or interference of a foreign
power would make the natives ungovern-
able. The Herald wants to know how
America proposes to make the Cuban
and Philippine insurgents submit to a
suspension of hostilities and keep them
in leash until evacuation of the islands
by the Spaniards Is completed. The
National says: I'VE would rather lose
the Philippines altogether than submit
to American tutelage." The other pa
pers discuss the probability of the abo-
lition of the colonial office, declaring that
the total loss Of the Philippines would
be preferable to American partner
ship or CONTROL"
Fault Is found with clause four be-
cause 1t limits the action of the mixed
commissions to the West Indies in refer
ence to the details Of the evacuation,
whereas most Spaniards expected that
most of them would be decided upon be-
fore the sailing of the commissioners.
The adversaries of the present cabinet
find fault with the protocol because the
| fifth clause allows until October for the
meeting of the peace commissioners and
stipulates that when a definite treaty
Is concluded it shall be ratified accord
ing to the constitutional rules of each
country, thus furnishing Sagasta with
plausible pretext for adjourning the
convocaton OF the cortes until he has a
treaty of peace to put before them. The
ministerial organ suggests that America
herself, from motives of internal policy
or International considerations, has not
yet formed definite conclusion on the
Philippines question.
Public opinion attaches great i'm
portance to the Spanish commission in
Paris making a resolute stand in defense
of SPANS territorial rights in the Philip
| pines. The government, therefore,
wants to send strongly competent body
| of delegates.
| on Sot ttr do Of
council was chiefly devoted to the con-
sideration of means for restoring COM
| mercal, postal and teegraphic COM
munication with the colonies. French
diplomats are requested to sound the
disposition of the United States govern
ment on these matters and also to ascer-
tain whether the United States, until
the evacuation of the West Indies is com.
pleted, will allow the Spanish authorities
and Spanish administrative tribunals t,
continue to act. The French conduct o.
the negotiations for peace is regarded as
clever stroke of French diplomacy
considering the immense French inter-
ests In Spanish financial and commercial
undertakings. 1t Is understood that
high Spanish decorations will be con-
ferred upon those concerned.
The press advocates dividing the ma
tional war subscription among the
repatriated troops.
Trouble with the Cubnns.
Santiago, Aug. 16.-Trouble with the
Cubans is breeding. Their attitude i:
one of sullea hostility toward America
The better class in Cuba favors the an
neXation Of the island to the United
States, and a majority of the masses
are ready and anxious to work and &C.
cept the shelter and protection afforded
by an American protectorate; but they
are influenced by certain class of rabid
orators and breeders or sediticn and re-
belion against anything smacking OF
law and order.
This infammatory class demands and
urges the recognition of Cuba for Gu
bans and spurns all offers or suggestions
tending to prosperity under an Amer
lean protectorate, and eXcites popular
discomfort. This Is exactly the class
that pushes itself most into evidence and
whose views and opinions are most over
heard and published. Cubans are ad-
vised to repudiate all offers of peace or
cessation of hostilities, and to look upon
the armistice as an agreement between
the United States and Spain on their
own account and not binding upon the
free and independent state of Cuba
whose liberating army not only repu-
dates pacitication, but will ignore the
armistce to the point of continuing t.