Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS. |

The presidents proclamation formally
announcing the terms of the American
occupation of the eastern part of the
province of Sauago de cuba has been
very well received here. Most of the ar
Suments against our prosecution of the
war which have been heard at the for
eiGn legations have been based upon q
theory widely entertained in Europe
that as we had the Cuban revolutionists $
Tor allies, we must be going to turn the
island over to them as fast as we con-
Quered any part of it. The proclamation
shows this idea to be inaccurate The
present governing class are left practi-
cally in control, the only difference be-
ing that they will exercise their author
ity under the direct supervision of mil
itary governor and always in subsection
to the government Of the United States.
1t may not be possible to transform all
the present magistrate and consta bu-
larry in Cuba into good republicans at
once. with full fledged American notions
OF the meaning of liberty; but the presi-
dents desire was to make whatever
changes he had to with the least possi-
BILE disturbance of the existing order and
to avoid any such radical measures as
would give color of justification to To-
cal controversies and riotous conduct.
The proclamation Is explained by men,
Der of the administration circle as an
advance hint of the presidents policy
generally. and will be found to tally per-
fectly with his attitude toward the whole
Cuban question before the war came on.
What he demanded in Cuba and all he
demanded was peace and the rcstorat tion
of order. When Spain protested that
peace would come soon with the suppress
sion of the rebellion, he waited patiently
for that to be finished; when that was a
failure and the Cubans insisted that
peace could be obtained only by the re-
moval of the Spanish troops from the
island, he called upon Spain to with
draw her troops, and his request was de-
MED. Now having been compelled by
circumstances to carry out his plans by
force, he is doing nothing beyond driv-
ing the Spanish troops out of Cuba.
When the last soldier has left the island
will be found for all civil purposes with
regularly organized municipal govern
ments, and these will be permitted un-
doubtedly to remain undisturbed except
as individual cases of malfeasance may
require change of officers here and there.
II is this machinery of administration
which will probably be used in arranging
any plebiscite which may be held to de-
termine the will of the people of Cuba as
to their future government. Meanwhile,
the renewed protests of the property
holding f,1o n un inst t1Irninp tho iSIa nd
over to the insurgents has not gone un-
hedeed here. Everyone who knew the
situation in Cuba was aware of the
widespread feeling on that head among
all responsible citizens; but recent de-
velopments have greatly strengthened
the presidents convictions.
OUR CANADIAN RELATIONS
Hon. John A. Kasson one of the members
of the Canadian commission from the
United States. views with much gratif-
cation the appointment of the commits
sion and the prospect of it's speedy as
sombling for work at Quebec THE re-
lations between the United States and
Canada for the past 30 years." he said,
have not been worthy the name Of
craftsmanship. Rather they have been
a reproach to the two nations. Every
thing that either has done within that
period has been met by the other with
a desire and determination to do as
much harm in return as possible. They
have acted like quarrelsome neighbors
living on adjoining farms, and in con-
stant friction over the line fence, and
the depreciation of stock. The time for
entering upon the work of the commits
sion is most propitious. Recent events
have demonstrated the desirability If
not the necessity of the English speak
ing nations being friends if not allies,
and both parties will enter upon the
considcra tion of the subject referred to
the commission in the best possible spr-
it. We held five meetings. covering
nearly week. and finally agreed upon
a protocol, which has been approved
by the respective governments, followed
by the appointment of the commission
OF ten, five from each country. to deal
with the question at issue, In the spirit of
reciprocity of give and take, without
which nothing can be accomplished"
Being asked to state his views Of the
probable outcome Of the conference. Mr..
Kasson said: 1T is impossible to fore
cast that. There are three distinct men,
tai operations involved. First, the ac-
tion of the commissioners Of the United
States; second, that of the Canadian
and British commissioners. and third,
that of the united body. hope for good
results. To secure them there will have
to he liberal concessions on both sides.
And then, when we have concluded our
work. should an agreement bn reached
1t will have to be ratified ny our senate
and the British government We want
several things from Canada. and to got
them will have to concttlc something
A NAME TO RE REMEMBERED
The death of "Cerro GordO" Williams
should not pass without a special word
He was IS years old, and his nickname
was derived from his magnificent brav-
cry in the storminE Of the height Of Ger
ro Gordo in Scott's advance on Mexico
For Williams, who left his practice as a
lawyer at the Kentucky bar to cammand
a company in the Mexican war,
was made a colonel because of that ac-
ton, and was in command of the Fourth
Kentucky volunteers afterwards, and
present at the taking Of Mexico. His
name was practically forgotten, and to
say John Stuart Williams would not
bring him to mind. After the Mexi-
can war he resumed his practice of law
in Kentucky, where in Montgomery
county he was born in 1920, and also bred
fine cattle and horses. He was Whig
in politics, and when the rebellion broke
out he opposed the secession Of Ken |
lucky. He did not. however. go with
his state" he on the contrary raised a
brigade for the Confederate service,was
commissioned brigadier general in 1867.
and was in General Joseph F.. Johnstons
army when it surrendered. Immediately
on his return he urged the cause Of the
Union: though active in politics, he was
not elected to the place of United States
senator. which he had desired. until 1878.
when he was chosen, and served 1879