Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-10-22
no. WOODSTOCK VT.SA SATURDAY. OCTOBER p.

French press Is siSni ic mt Of widening
confidence by the Spanish as to the atIi.
tude they have assumed in the Legotia.
tions here and tn .rut ring assurances
If Spain's desire for arbtra ton may have
had a meaning. The Spaniards may not
have sought tn promote sympathy. but
had they desired 20 lay down a basis
upon which to set up-a plea to Europe
to prevent what it Is sought to present as
her ravishment. the surface indications
could not have been more favorably dis
posed for that purpose.
When Spain approached these nego-
tiations she was confronted by wall of
fast agreement, which she, however. re-
garded as possible of break or puncture
at the point OF Castillian diplomacy.
Thus she poised and launched against
the protocol structure of seeming solid
fty the keen lances of her finesse, but
they have fallen broken at her feet, and
now Spain's commissioners ask time to
assure themselves of their previous mis-
judgment and also to reform their lines
son for the request for delay is believed
to have been to allow an interchange of
with Madrid and to for
mulate a final attitude on the Cuban mat.
ter. This attitude of the Spaniards, to
be developed Friday, will be watched
with no little interest. Their alterna-
tives are few. They may accede to the
American attitude themselves assume
the Cuban debt. and go forward to con-
sider the next protocol point. or they
may formally ask for arbitration; or, as
an extremity, which is not likely. may
retire from further negotiations.
Manzanillo, Oct. 20.-Colonel Parron,
the former Spanish commander here,
who so narrowly escaped collision with
the United States troops Oct I, when
Colonel Ray occupied the town told
the correspondent of the Associated
Press before finally leaving Manzanlllo
for Spain that in some respects the loss
of Spain's colonies would not prove an
evil. Hereafter" said Col
onel Parron. 1.-The youth and strength
OF the country will not have to be given
up, to the extent of 80 percent Of the
whole, for military service in pestilen-
tial climates. The death rate will de-
crease, the manhood of Spain will be
and agriculture and com.
merce will make the land rich, so that
In the course Of the next century Spain
will be once more a colonial power"
With regard to the future of Cuba he
was not inclined to talk much, except
to say that he thought the interests of
all, as affairs had turned out, would be
best conserved by the United States an
nexlng the island. though the greatest
happiness to the greatest number would
have been secured, in his judgment, by
the retention Of Spanish rule and Span
sh customs, to which Cuba had become
Used.
THE Cuban insurrection sprang up"
said Colonel Parron, through the over
kindness of Spain and the efforts of a
few foreign renegades like Gomez and
The agitators who inhamed lot of lazy
ex-slaves and malcontents such as can
De found in any country, but for whom
in Cuba there was a good prospect of
living in one of the richest countries on
the face OF the globe without any work
and without much fighting. Moreover,
IS rule, the revOlutionists were in alb
snlutely impregnable positions. Still, If
rs many Spanish soldiers had been killed
,y Cubans as was represented by the
American press, we would have lost
more men than we ever had in the
sland; but, thank God, we still have
ew thousand left"
Colonel Parron suggested that as
spain will not have so many colonies to
ook after, she will reduce her army
in the course of the next
ew years; not by wholesale dlsbanding
If regiments, but by omitting to fiji the
places Of those whose time expires and
Who go into the reserve.
New York. Oct. 2O-Lieutenant-C Col
mel Rowan, who has arrived from Ha-
Jingle Cuban has disarmed, not even in
he Santiago district, but do not be-
ieve there will ever be a serious disa-
,reement between the Cubans and this
country. Throughout the interior of
he island heard nothing but gratitude
by the people for the part we
played in gaining their freedom. All
eem to realize that sooner or later their
Ountry will become part Of the
United States, and have no idea that
hey can maintain an independent gov
rnment for long, but they want to be
rec and try their hand at self-govern-
uent for limited period from a mere
standpoint"
Santiago, Oct. 2O-Bishop Crespe. who
3 undoubtedly man of considerable
wealth, is calling upon his faithful for
unds to enable him to return to Spain
With his belongings.
The free ration distribution IL about
O be much curtailed. In future all able.
'odied persons applying for rations will
ave to cut q specified amount of wood.
Even women must perform some task.
+ in good health they will have to make
lOthing for the destitute or do washing
r some light work. The absolutely free
alton Is found TO be demoralizing.
WaSniHStOn, oct. LU.-lne war Qe-
artment gave out the following
The secretary Of war. on
eing asked about the report that Col
mel william J. Bryan, Third Nebraska.
las been refused leave of absence and
.ept with his regiment, authorized the
tatement that Colonel Bryan has asked
10 indulgence whatever of the war de-
'artment, so that none has been refused
i'm. Any reports to the contrary are
Without foundation in fact.
San Francisco. Oct. 20.-Private James
4. Wall, First New York, is in the gen.
raj hospital in Honolulu. paralyzed
rom head to foot. His condition is due
0 a dive in shallow water, his head
oming in contact with rock at the
ottem. He will recover.
There are $50 patients in the military
ospital Malaria, rheumatism and
ysentery are the principal ailments.
does not help matters
ny. The rheumatism patients are
rom northern latitudes. The malaria
~ tho ,poct MARI G tltlp tO the ha bits Of