davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

one or two cf the Journals exchanges
seem to find amusement in a recent offer of
prominent wheelman of this State to the
five companies of wheelmen, each company
to be composed of fifty men, to be thorough
ly drilled in bicycle tactics and willing to
go to any part of the country threatened
by an enemy, or, if necessary to go abroad
to fight There is nothing in the offer to ex-
cite amusement. 1t shows that the spirit
of patriotism pervades all classes and that
those who have taken up wheeling as a.
recreation are willing, if need be, to make
it means Of military service. Moreover,
the proposition is entirely practicable in the
event of land war. The secretary of war
has received similar propositions from 9TH
er parts of the country and they have been
respectfully treated and placed on file for
future reference in case of need.
1t has been remarked that the next war
between the United States and foreign
country is likely to develop some new and
surprising methods in warfare. There is 10
doubt but it will, and if it involves the
movement of land forces the use of the BIZ
cycle will be one of them. Military authori-
ties have been quick to recognize the posi-
bilities of the wheel, and cyclist soldiers
will undoubtedly be feature of the next
land war. Experiments already made under
the direction of military authorities show
that corps of wheelmen to act as scouts,
to form flying squadrons and to perform
some of the duties previously done by cav
airy will be valuable addition to an army.
There is now on file in the War Depart
ment at Washington, report by Lieuten-
ant Moss, of the United States army, de-
failing the results of a tour he made
through the West with a corps of soldiers
mounted on wheels. The report shows that
a body of men mounted, and unham-
pered by the equipments Of cavalry regi-
ment can make astonishingly rapid progress
over fairly good roads. The Washington
Post of recent date says that an attache or
the War Department has prepared and sub
mitted statement showing the fighting eff
fectiveness of force of cyclists equipped
with rapid-fire guns of the latest approved
Maxim pattern. This gun can be mounted
on the rear of tricycle., between the two
wheels, and can be transported without diff
ficulty by skilled rider. They can be fired
by the rider, dismounted, at the rate Of
one thousand shots in two minutes, the tri-
cycle serving as gun carriage. The gun is
partly automatic in its action and requires
but two men to operate it, each couple
forming battery. 1t is easy to see that
such corps might do very effective service
and. in some respects, be superior to cav
airy. It is as certain as anything in the
future can be that in the next great land
war the bicycle will be an important factor
along with the balloon, diving torpedo boats
and electrical appl ances in the air and on
and under land and water.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

the artillery Numbered the mambs or in
surgents would not move. retreat soon
commenced, Recfo's cavalry harassing the
infantry clingirg tenaclousiy to the rear
until the column was thrown into panic
and set out full speed for the city.
SPANISH ATROCITIES
All day and all night they pressed for
ward reaching Puerto Principe early next
morning. their route marked by dead horses
and unburied bodies. Enough ammunition
was expended to have thrice wiped out the
Cubans, but the SpaniaIds showed an en-
tire lack of fire discipline they did not once
assume the aggressive, and of the artillery
the least said the better Without undue
bo1sting, a battalion of British regulars
ard squadron of cavalry would have
made short work of the Cuban force that
practically defeated an army corps. as such
are reckoned here. The Spanish brutes.
however, on their first advance had struck
terror among the peaceful country people.
Dulning every home they reached ana
macheting all they caught, fortunately very
rev. As they marched the first night the
news spread from farm to farm, and deli
cate women and children had barely time
to fly in their night clothes. fioundering
through deep swamps and hiding in the
woods TO escape the devastating horde. One
Old Cuban was taken and covered with bay
piece of biscuit, and on the breast paper
Med Food for thy journey to inferno. Q
NastIilDl, Two others We're tleQ 10 trees anu
shot. Yet the Spaniards complain bitterly
OF the "barbarous'' law under which Colonel
Ruiz was executed.
Since Gen. Blanco's ENJOYS hrbed Col.
Suervo and fifty men to surrender at Guira
Melena, while other emissaries to Col. Del
gado failing in their bribery, returned to
lead Spanish troops by night to his secret
camp, by which many Cubans lost their
lives, the law forbidding ENJOYS to treat
make proposals not based on absolute inde-
pendence, which is all the Cubans will ac-
cept. was enforced knew Ruiz personally
in Havana and regret his death, but as he
presumed on the friendship of Col. Aran-
guren, and openly addressed the escort of
cavalry. begging them to desert to the city,
where work and good food We're awaiting
them, his execution was a stern necessity
under the harsh rules of He knew
his danger, but in most wars deserters are
shot, and one trying to induce a wholesale
desertion could hardly escape the same fate.
Even If his execution were not justifable,
Spain has always shot Cubans. whether
officers or priyateS, that have fallen into
her clutches and she at least could not
complain of single case of recrmination.
Colonel Ruiz was warned, and practically
committed suicide.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

that they be given the right and the oppor-
tunity TO enter into a new contract with
some company when the present one shall
have expired at the time every right-think
ing individual intended it should expire
when It was entered into. The offer of the
City Company was so far in advance of
anything ever offered by any other that it
met with general approval, and the public
will be satisfied with nothing less favorable.
If Judge Meals decision is sustained by the
Supreme Court the whole matter will come
up for final adjustment in 1901, when the
city's interests may be properly secured. 1t
is not to be expected that either of the two
companies claiming the field will abandon
what they conceive to be their rights until
the Supreme Court has rendered final judg-
ment, but the people will be satisfied to
take up the subject de novo and care will
be taken that the successful bidder will be
compelled to give an adequate return for
the privileges it acquires.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
THE INCREASING STOCK OF GOLD.

The general surprise that gold has been
coming to us during the weeks that war has
been the talk is as great as the chagrin of
last six weeks the importation of gold has
aggregated $45, ,O0O-a movement without
precedent in the natural course of business
The balance of trade should have sent
gold here months dgo, and would have done
so had not the rates of discount been lower
in New York than in London. So long as
this was the case the European debtor gave
If the rate of discount had continued lower
in New York than in London gold would not
be coming to us now. But the improve
ment of business in this country has caused
an advance in the rates of discount so that
they are lower in London now than in New
York. Such being the case, the foreign
merchant hires money in London and sends
gold to pay his debts in New York. So long
as the trade balance is in our favor and the
rates of discount are the same our store
of gold will increase, to the great disgust
of the propaganda of silver monometallism
On March 81 the gold reserve in the treas
ury was STA, 701, 165-a gain of nearly s5,O0O,-
600 in fifteen days. For five years very lit
tie gold was paid into the treasury for Gus
toms dues. AS late as November the gold
constituted but per cent. of the collections
for duties. During March 176 per cent. of
the duties We're paid in gold. The banks
held 222.000OOO of gold at the close of Feb
ruary. Already the stock is so large that
conservative authorities assert that in the
event of war there is no danger of sus-
pension of specie payments unless Congress
should be so stupid as to issue additional
greenbacks to pay war expenditures. One
of the causes assigned for the eagerness of
the senators of the silver States for a war
with Spain is that they hoped that 1t would
force the United States to a silver basis.
This hope or expectation may explain the
unseemly haste Of the two Mormon senator's
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
PROPHETIC sPANIARDs.
Warming of Events on the Americl
Continent Given in 1888.

Warming of Events ON the American
Continent Given in 1888.
John c. Wilson, in Louisville Courier-Jour-
nal.
inclose you extract from communication
made by Count Amanda to the King of Spain
shortly after the treaty of Paris in 1888.
The count, among other things, says: THE
independence of the English colonies has
been acknowledged. This is for me an oc-
casion of grief and dread. France has few
possessions in America: but she should have
CONSIDERED that Spain; her intimate ally,
posed to terrible shocks. This fed
eral republic is born pigmy, SO to speak.
1t required the support and the forces of
two powers as great as Spain and France
in order to attain independence. A day will
come when it will be a giant, even a colos-
suS, formidable in these countries. The first
movement of this power, when it has
rived at its ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, will be to OBJ
tain possession Of the Floridas in order to
dominate the Gulf of Mexico. After having
rendered commerce with New Spain diff
cult for u.s. it will aspire to the conquest
of this vast empire. which it will not be
possible for US to defend against formida-
BILE power established on the same continent
and in its neighborhood.
Your Majesty must relieve yourself Of
all possessions on the continent of the two
Americas, preserving only the islands of
Cuba and Porto Rico in the northern part
and some other convenient one in the south
ern part to serve as seaport or trading
place for Spanish commerce. In order to
accomplish this great thought in a manner
placed in America-one as King of Mexico,
another as King of Peru and the third as
King of the Terra Firma. Your Majesty
will take the title of Emperor
While the above is remarkably prophetic,
it also discloses the innate cowardly IN
stincts of the school of Spanish statesmen
to which the late De LONE peionged
Strikingly in contrast with the views of
the count is the deliverance of Emilio Cas-
telar, Spains enlightened statesman. On
June % 1871, in the Spanish Cortes, he said:
America, and especially Saxon America,
with its immense virgin territories, with its
Republic, with its equilibrium between sta
bility and progress, with its harmony be-
tween liberty and democracy, is the CONT
nent of the future-the immense continent
stretched by God between the Atlantic and
Pacific. where mankind may plant, essay
and resolve all social problems. Europe has
to decide whether she will confound herself
with Asia, placing upon her lands old affairs.
and upon the affairs old idols, and upon the
idols inmovable theocracies, and upon the
theocracieS despotic empires, whether
she will go by labor, by liberty and by the
republic to collaborate with America in the
grand work of universal civilization"
Spain has gone counter to the policy of
her eminent statesman, and now finds her.
self beyond the pale of civilization, with a
complete realization of the warning words
of 1783.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
Spanish Patriotism and Courage.

Philadelphia Record.
The great mistake of the jingoes is in
their contemptuous disparagement of the
Spanish nation. Senator Money, of Missis-
sippi, for example, asserts that the Span
ish have accomplished nothing in war worth
mentioning for q century. The lingo sena-
tor has read history to little purpose. One
of the most memorable modern exhibitions
of national patriotism and courage was the
uprising of the peasants and burghers of
Spain against Napoleon and his invading
armies. Although these armies were com
posed of disciplined troops, familiar with
victory and led by Napoeons ablest mar
shalS, the Spanish volunteers were more
than a match for them. While the burghers
obstinately withstood sieges the peasants
hung on the rear of the French armies, cpt
off their supply trains, surprised their cut
posts and occasionally won important en-
gagements in the field. These rude peas
ants in fact, compelled the retreat of Ma
poleon from Spain and opened the way for
the march of the British army into France.
To them belongs the honor of making the
first check to the victorious career of Ma
poleon, and of thus powerfully contributing
to his downfall.
1t would be a great error to assume that
because of their poverty the Spanish people
are no longer capable of making war While
it is true that they are no match for this
country in financial resources or in mill
tary power it will not do to disparage their
patriotism and courage. These are virtues
which have never been denied them, what
ever else may be said of their national
character
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
THE TAGGARr WARNING.

The Marion county Democratic convention
started out with show of decorum but as
it continued in session the rough and noisy
element asserted itself. Because of its tur-
bulent and vicious character the second
session was adjourned before any action
had been taken. 1t is generally admitted
that the last session was the most disrep-
utable political gathering ever witnessed in
Indianapolis. At no time was the conven-
ton q fairly representative body. There
were few reputable men among its dele
gates, but they bore no ratio to the num-
Der of good citizens of this county who
persist in voting the Democratic ticket.
The last session was dominated by the slum
and hummer element
The Republicans, who will hold their pri-
mSries on Friday night and their conven-
ton on Saturday should see to it that their
convention shall in every respect be a con-
trsst to the three sessions of Mayor Tag
CARTS convention. The convention should
be representative body. If it shall be
such it will be an assemblage of intelligent
men who will proceed in a rational manner
to discharge the duties incumbent on them
as representatives of the Republican party.
To make it such a convention, Republicans
generally must attend the primaries and
take part in the selection of delegates. If
they will do this delegations can be Sc
cured which will insure the selection of 2
ticket that will be acceptable to the party.
To complete the work which the conven-
ton of Saturday has to do, in a satisfactory
that ballots can be taken rapidly and accu-
rately. Cheering during a ballot never
helped candidate. Shouts after the an
nouncement of the vote of delegation help
no one, and waste as much time as is
necessary to call the roll of another dele
cation. The noise which makes it neces-
sary to call a delegation second time de-
feats the purpose of the convention. con-
vcnticn which begins and proceeds in an
orderly manner will escape the evils of
protracting a session late into the night
Enthusiasm is WE'LL but shouting is not en-
thUsiasm. The enthusiasm a convention
should seek is general commentator of
ticket by intelligent voters.
The executive committee has wisely di-
v;ded the work by referring the judicial
nominations to q subsequent convention.
This is we'll; what is worth doing is worth
doing well. The government of Marion
&C Unity for two or four years is a matter
of too much Importance to put into the
hands of body which has little thought
of results or of anything else except to have
hilarious season and to make disgusting
spectacle of itself, as did the crowd which
the Taggart officials ran into Tomlinson
Hall
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

and of the yellow newspaper owned by Mr..
Hearst, the silver mine millionaire.
In spite of the largely increased volume
of business compared with a year ago
money was never so plentiful and so cheap
to borrowers as now. Trust companies, life
insurance companies and savings banks are
loaning money on first-class securities at
lower rates than have ever prevailed in this
country. If Congress should vote an issue
of 212-per-cent. gold bonds in denominations
of $50 and its multiples $4,000, 600 would be
taken as popular loan in less than thirty
days at home. Producing two-thirds as
much gold annually as the whole world pro-
duced dozen years ago, and with the con-
ditions of foreign trade which now exist,
we have ceased to be borrowing nation.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

The stock of gold coined or issued in the
United States was sos. ,O37 March 1, 1898,
compared with $685., 672,099 March /. 1897. The
number of standard silver dollars THE last
March was 45S 100, 247. which is 11,7S1, $50 in
excess of the number coined a>year earlier.
This means that three and half millions
more of standard silver dollars were coined
during the year which ended Feb. rs, 1898,
than during the whole period previous to
the "crime of 1873" During the same year
the volume of treasury notes issued under
the act Of 1890 to purchase silver bullion was
reduced SIPS 600. Those notes have been
Cancelled and silver dollars have taken their
place in the money of the country. March l,
1897, the country's stock of money was
s., 366 1917 ,124, of which $3.50 705 OIL in the
treasury. March l, 1898, 81, 1896, ,9OS was the
amount of the country's stock of money
with $G702l9,649 in the treasury.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
when Soldiers Desert.
New York Evening Post.

New Evening FOSI.
A soldier in the army goes about the BUSH
ness of desertion with great care, com
plaiSance and circumSpectiOn. A soldier
aces not often have much money when ne
the money-consuming canteen is never far
from the quarters. AS often as not he will
leave all of the truck in his chest behind.
for there is nobody answering to the char
acter of the bum-boat man to help him in
getting away. He will always wait for pay
day, so as to have few dollars for ani-
mediate expenses. Then he quietly walks
to the railroad station and puts as many
miles between himself and the post he has
quit as his money will carry him. BY the
time he has reached the station his bunkies
have Swooped down upon his chest and
looted it of everything of value, for the de-
serter has told them of his intention 10
go and has left explicit directions as to the
distribution of his gear. He does not hand
it around before going, because by DONG so
he might excite the suspicion or the nrst
sergeant, who generally has Keen eye
in such matters. When the first sergeant
does begin to grow SUSPICIOUS ana LOOKS
through the chest of the absent man nc
finds, probably, an old worn-out pair or
trousers and a battered campaign hat;
A few years ago there was a corporal VINO
marching order-blanlSet, havefsack, KNAPP
sack, overcOat, suit of underwear pair or
socks, towel comb ana Drhsn' itEslnn, ca III,
plate and rffle-but he was unique.
Not many years ago a recruit at DAVID ;
Island (noW Fort Slocuml, N, u, received
word that his mother was dying in a little
town in New Jersey. He showed the cap
for leave Of absence long enough to go to
his mothers bedside The captain. who
feared that the telegram was bogus, de-
clined TO let the recruit go. The recruit APP
nealed "a the commanding officer, who re-
fused TO let him so, on the same ground
So. in the middle Of winter, the recruit
swarm the heavy tide that runs between
David's island and New Rochelle and made
his way to the bedside. of his mother in
time TO close her eyes. She had hardly died
bafore q SQUAD of soldiers from Davids
island came to the house after the deserter.
The recruit emptied two charges Of buck
shot into the squad, fortunately killing
none of them but he was taken. The young
mans punishment was light.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
The Junto's Mistake.
New work. Evening Post.

New York Evening Post.
The Junto evidently made the greatest
mistake of it's life in coming out into the
light where people could see it. It's true
role was secrecy and the issuing of patriotic
bulletins. In fact there is something nee
essarily dark and mysterious about the
very term Junto. Its personnel has TO re-
main obscure I'm order that its name and
acts may strike terror, its victories on
paper obtain credence. and its bonds find
guilible purchasers. The moment it's MEM
hers come out into the daylight, it is all
M with them The magic Junto vanishes
like an exhalation. and IN its room we see
a set of patriots very like those mythical
Cuban ''rnaiors." filled with bullets whom
Buffalo Bill exhibits at his show. But the
Junto resolved, in an evil hour, to show
itself in public. and ii is generally be-
lieved that the mere sight of them IN Wash
ington has already made the recognition OF
Cuban independence impossible. II they
will only continue to exhibit themselves and
tell conflicting stories about their bonds,
they may yet complete the disllusionment
of the American people and prevent the
war.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

The decision Of Judge Neal on the matter
Of the street-railway companies viii be sat
isfactory 10 the people of Indianapolis. He
declares that the charter of tho Citizens
Company terminates in 1901, and that the
City Companys charter is rot Valid If
this opinion shall be sustained by the SUI
preme Court it puts the city Of Indianapolis
IN a position to make contract with the
company which will offer the most favor
sble terms It is matter of Indifference
70 the local public who gives the city its
street car service, whether it be local
o. foreign company, 80 long as the service
Il satisfactory and an equivalent secured
Tor 70 franchise. What they do demand Is
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

Representative Lentz, who asserted in the
House, on Wednesday, that the Presidents
message was withheld to promote the inter-
ests of stock gamblers, is one of the MEM
bers who has had the advantage of the best
educational institutions in the country, hav-
ing been graduated from the University of
Michigan in 1882 and from the Law School
of Columbia College in New York in 1883.
This goes to show that liberal education
cannot keep q man from being demagogue
of the is&kal VARIETY
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

The Criterion.

The most unobservant must have some
realization of the fact that the year 1898 has
so far been singuarly rich in news. There
seems hardly to have been day when the
newspapers have not had more sensations
than they could print. The Maine has been
blown up; there have been earthquakes
here, and floods there; and the shadow of
war has hung heavily everywhere. The
days when one took time to read slowly and
deliberately the foreign cable letters that
analysed, for the millionth time. the chances
for European war. seem very, far in the
past; our eyes now nots oniy the IeVerlsh
to the noise of cannonading The reverse to
the picture is that we run the risk of key
ing our appetites TO such sensations that
the normal cause of things will never again
satisfy us. And to have a decade or so of
years like 1898 would be wearing on the
nerves.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12

There is a marked difference between the
opinions of the New York Journal and
President Gompers, of the Federation of
Labor. Tammany's new organ declares that
war means destruction and destruction
means consumption; consequently, the
greater the destruction of war the greater
the consumption, and the more labor will
be needed to supply the demand of con-
sumption. War means TO the yellow paper
more work and more wages. President
Gompers on the other hand. looks upon war
as a great evil. and particularly great
evil for wage earners, since they will fur