Catoctin clarion., 1898-10-27

consideration, either as payment for the
Philippines, or assumption Of a portion
of Spain's bond indebtedness, although
such an outcome of the negotiations at
Paris appears to be receiving serious
consideration in European capitals.
All of this sort of thing Is part Of the
game of Spanish diplomacy, intended
to affect the position of this government.
AS such it is all absolutely wasted.
Should the Spanish Commissioners de-
cline to conclude the Treaty of Peace,
upon the terms submitted by the United
States, the war would at once be re-
sumed. and this government is far bet
ter fixed to rush the fighting than it was
the day the protocol was signed, and
is determined to do it. The bugaboo of
European interference would not pre-
vent the carrying OF the fighting into
Spain Immediately, and Spain would
very soon be compelled to accept terms
of peace far more humiliating than
those it now has an opportunity to &C
cept.
The President greatly enjoyed his
Western trip. and nothing but praise
for the hospitality. prosperity, and the
patriotism OF those with whom he came
in contact everywhere he went; and if
his back bone had needed any stiffening
on the Spanish question, which so far
as appearances 20, it did not, the senti.
ments he heard expressed would have
done the business. Others who accom-
panied him say that the almost univer.
sal sentiment everywhere they went,
among those Of all political parties and
of all sorts of men, was in favor OF our
taking the whole Philippine group.
Japan has changed its Minister to
the United States again. Japan kept
one minester at Washington for long
series Of years, until he became one of
the most popular diplomats in the Corps,
but since he was recalled, it has hardly
allowed one minister to remain long
enough to get acquainted with people
and customs. However, the new min
lister, Mr.. Jutero Komura, will not have
that lesson to learn, as he is graduate
of Harvard University and thoroughly
acquainted with Americans and Ameri.
can customs, official and private.
The annual report of the director Of
the Mint, on the production Of silver
and gold by the world, d,tring the cal
endar year 1897, has been submitted to
the Secretary of the Treasury. 1t
shows that the production Of silver, " as
the greatest ever known, the value
being 1886. 1905 although many Of
the most productive silven mines in the
| United States, were not worked during
that period. The value of the gold pro
duced was slightly in excess Of that Of
silver, $297,5O4,sOO.
Another bureau official-James A.
Dumont, Supervising Inspector General
of the Steamboat Inspection Service
has condemned the clyi, service rules
as applied to his office, in the most un.
qualified terms. MIR. Dumont in bis
annual report to the Secretary of the
Treasury says, the placing of the EN-
ployes of his office under the civil ser
vice rules, has been positive detriment
to the service in various ways. And
he gives numerous instances to show
that the men who have been appointed,
after troublesome delays, have been less
efficient than those selected before these
appointments passed under the civil
service rules. lie says the civil service
method keeps the steamboat inspection
service in more or less crippled con-
dition nearly all the time.
The following extract from a report
sent to the Department Of State, by
United States Consul Ragsdale, at Tient-
Elm, China. city with more than mill
ION inhabitants, with an annual com
merce of $42, ,250,0OO, shows that China
is fast waking up to modern methods,
Notwithstanding its misgovernment
"The Imperial Chinese Railway is with.
out doubt. one of the greatest enter
prises in Northern China. Already
three hundred and twenty miles of the
road has been constructed, eighty miles
double track, and one hundred and
twenty-five miles are now under con-
struction. The Company has sixty
four engines of Chinese make. four Bel.
gian, 81 American and 3S English
From 5000 to 10000 men are constant
ly employed, AZ of whom are foreigners.
They have extensive shops at Tong
Shan, where cars of all kinds are built.
| Tho oro,, t;o, ond hr;doa f;mhars .ro