davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
AS TO THE PHILIPPINES.

There is a still higher consideration
in regard to the Philippine Islands than
the material advantages which the
United States will gain by retaining
possession of the archipelago.
The rules and practices of modern
warfare will fully justify us in retaining
possession as portion of the indemnity
we can properly exact of Spain for
having brought on the war. We have
as much right, to say the least, to hold
on to them as Germany had to take
Alsace-L Lorraine and Schleswig-Hol-
stein; as France had to take Algiers,
Madagascar, Cochin China, Tunis, Ton
quin, etc.
We have larger trade interests in the
East than any European Nation, except
Great Britain. We are vitality inter-
ested in the settlement Of Oriental
questions, since we are the nearest civil
lied neighbors TO Japan and China, and
front them with an extensive line of sea-
coast. All this points to Our securing a
naval base directly in Oriental waters,
which the Philippines give lis.
Unquestionably the Philippines will
give us very large and profitable
market for our products.
But all these are minor TO a great re-
sponsibility and duty which have de-
volved upon us in consequence of
Dewey's glorious victory. Those fair
islands have suffered even more than
Cuba from Spanish barbarism and
SPANS rapacious barbarity. They
have suffered more, because they are
much larger and have five times as
many people.
For purely military purposes we have
broken the Spanish rule. We cannot,
at the close of the war, place those
people back under their former OPP
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
THE SERGEANT AND THE CONSTABLE.

THE SERGEANT AND THE CONSTABLE
an arrangement Civ EN- an hour mornin &
evenin answerin questions / think this
will keep me purity busy until the snow flies
agin.
Wheat is lookin surprisingly well, though I,
found sum bare plasis in the north field
think we'll have fair crop ov apples &
peaches. Your colt is CROWN up the purtiest
thing that ever went on four legs q jumped
an eight-rail fence. My hogs wintered in
good shape, 81 pork is risin. They have the
measles over on the Crick, & schools broke
up. Bill Scripp's out agin for Sheriff, &
spose lie huve 2 turn 2 agin & beat him.
Singler, that he'll never know when he's cot
enuff.
If anything. Abraham Lincoln's appetite
has bin improved by Wabash air. wuzzent
goin 2 have the wimmen folks wear their
selves out cOokin for him. So | fixed ND a
place for him in the old log house, & took
him over some sides ov meat few bushel
oy pertaters, jug Ov sorghum molasses, IL
every time mother bakeS she sends over some
lOaves ov bread. / jest turned him loose
there. He seems 2 be very happy, & we
hear him singin q yellin most all the time
when he's by hissef He's a good worker
when l stand right over him, & he'll lift &
dig as patient as an OK. But he haint no
more sense about gOin ahead by his self than
steer has, & the moment my backs turned
he stops work. line afeared I've got Job
on my hands maxim first-class farmer out
ov him. But if that's my share ov the work
that Providers has chalked out for me, there's
nothin left for me but 2 go ahead & do it
in fear & tremblin.
No more from your afeckshionate father.
2. S. Give my best respects 2 Shorty.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

81 Receives q Letter from His Father and
the Family-Troubles in Getting Home
with Abraham Lincoln-Matters on the
Old Farm.
One morning the Orderly Sergeant handed
81 the following letter:
Deer Son: | got hoam safely weke ago,
thanks all-protecting Provdens; likewize 2
about 175 pound of tuff q helthy Josiah
Klegg. Providers helpt rite along, but it
tux 80 year-old Injianny hickory & whit
leather 2 pull through sum ov the tite plasis
Abraham Lincoln is as strong as an OK, but
l never thought that anything that diddent
wear horns or chew the cud could be so
measly dumb. He kin eat as much as Buck
our off-steer, & | declare | don't believe he
knows any more.
We had only bin on the train long enuff
for Abe to finish up the whole of the 3 days
rations you provided us with 2 last us home,
when | notist that Blowhard Billings was on
board. He was still dressed in full uniform.
~ playin' Off officer yit, but | happened 2
recolleck that he was no officer no more, ~ it
wuz lucky that | done So He wuz loOkin at
me 81 Abe hard with them mean, catfish ize
ov him.
Abe change seats with me, 81 talk the inside.
Billings CAIN up. You know what thought
Ov him Ov old, q there's never bin any love
lost betwixt us, sence | stopped him cheatin
poor Eli Mitchell outen his plow-team. /
told him then that the coppers on a dead
nigger's eyes wuzzent saif when he was
around, 81 l woulddent trust him ez fur en-
could sling bull by the tale. He got mad
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

IT CROPS out that the Powers have g
most acute disrelish to our establishing
ourselves in the Philippines and becom-
ing a close neighbor to the japanese
This means the most serious menace to
the plans of Russia, France and Ger
many, to dismember China, and seize
its immense trade for themselves, shut
ting out other countries. The countries
which would be most hurt by this would
be Great Britain, Japan and the United
States, each of which has very much
larger trade with China than have
Russia, Germany and France put to-
gether. Japan has insisted that the
Chinese trade should remain open to the
whole world, and her attitude has been
the strongest obstacle to the consum-
nation of the Russian and German
plans, for she was right on the ground
with her feet, while the Europeans had
to operate at a long distance. Great
Britain strongly supported Japan, but
she was also at q considerable dis
lance, and was hampered in various
ways. Now we appear very promi-
nently OH the scene, and change the
whole face of the situation. We have
an immense seaboard directly opposite
China. 1t is filled with active, enter
prising people, who have great trade
with China, and are eager to make it
still larger. The Philippines will give us
most commanding position in the
Chinese Seas. Our relations with
Japan have always been very amicable.
She feels she can trust us as she can no
other power. From Manila and San
Francisco we can give her moral and
physical support against the aggressions
of Russia, France and Germany, which
will make her policy effective. 1t is
not surprising that Commodore Dewey's
victory carried dismay to ST. Petersburg,
Paris and Berlin.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

IT is unfortunate that the Governors
of States could not agree TO accept the
suggestion of the War Department to
number their regiments consecutively
from the highest number sent into the
war of the rebellion. This would have
preserved the history Of and identity OF
those glorious old regiments, and pre-
vented much confusion. The War De-
partment has not followed its own sug-
gestion, however, in the numbering of
the corps. There is no reason why the
corps for the present war should not
have been numbered from the 18th up
ward, and so left unconfused the desig
nations made famous by the first seven
corps in the rebellion.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
Work of the Pension Office.

| The report of certificates issued for the
week ending May Il shows
Army invalid: Original, 81; increase and
additional, PSI; reissue, IS; restoration and
| renewal, y; duplicate, u; accrued, 12O;
total 500.
Army invalid TACT June ~ 1901: Original,
592; increase, 161; additional, Il; reissue,
Is; restoration and renewal, 81; supple
mentals, ?; duplicate, 10; accrued, 113;
total 1,0O1.
Army widow, etc.: Original, 116; increase
| and additional, 2; reissue, 2; restoration
and renewal, 2; duplicate, 3; accrued, 3:
| total 12S
Army widow, ETC. TACT June 81, 1S90):
Original, 215; increase and additional, 1;
| reissue, 4; restoration, 2; renewal, 3; sup
plementals, 1; duplicate, 2; accrued, s;
total. pa.
Navy invalid: Original, 8; increase
and additional, 3; restoration and re-
newal, 1; tOtal,,7.
Navy invalid (act June 81. 1890: Original,
2S; increase and additional, s.; reissue, 5;
accrued, 2; total. 43.
Navy widow, etc: Original, 2; reissue, I,
total, 3.
Navy widow (act June 81. 1Sso): Origi
nal. A;
Army nurses: Original, 2.
Indian Wars-SurvivOrs: Original 1: in
crease and additional, L; accrued, 3;
total 5.
Indian Wars-Widows: Original, 8.
Old War Invalid: Accrued, 1.
Mexican War-SurvivOrs: Original. I; in
crease and additional, 6; duplicate, 2;
accrued, II; total u.
Mexican War-WidOws: Original, II; in
crease and additional, 4; total, Is.
Totals: Original, 1,040; increase and adj
ditiOnal, 511; reissue, so; restoration and
renewal, 5S; supplementals, A; duplicate,
80; accrued 262. Grand total. /. 975.
The total issue for the week ending May
was:
Original, 900; increase and additional,
39T; reissue, 81; restoration and renewal,
81; supplementals, 5; duplicate, %; 40.
cruod, PAT. Grand total, LIS.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

THERE is one thing most commend
able about Roosevelt and his rough
riders. They are largely made up of
young men of wealth, education and
social position, who are acting like true
Americans, and enlisting directly in the
ranks, to take whatever comes to a
private soldier. They are the most fiat
tering contrast to those who are taking
advantage of their wealth or parentage
to get soft positions on the staff, where
the only service that they need actually
render is to wear their uniforms at re-
ceptions. The peoples heart is with the
Roosevelt crowd. 49,
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

THE French press is known to be the
most corrupt in the world. Many
prominent papers live by open black
mail. This lends color to the report
that the hostile attitude of number of
prominent Partisan papers is directly
due to the fact that they formed syndi-
cate with reference to the war with
Spain, and sent a representative to
Washington to secure large price for
their support. Of course, the PROPOSE
ton was treated with the contempt it
deserved, and hence the abuse of every
thing American.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

EUROPEAN critics who are anxious
not to see any good in us are making
much of 81 the degeneracy of the Ameri-
cans" as shown by the large percentage
of reflections by the Examining Surgeons.
This shows the usual European ignorance
of American matters. The large per-
centage of reflections is caused by the
very high standard adopted for the
present war. Five men are eager to en-
list where one man is needed, and this
enables the Surgeons to be exceedingly
choice in their selections of recruits.
They are protecting the Government by
taking every precaution to pass none
but men who are physically fawless.
An unsound man is a very bad invest
ment for the Government, and besides
doing it little service in return for his
cost, he is liable to cost enormously
to take care of when he is sick. It is
supposed that the coming campaign
will be very trying to the physique
of the soldiers, and, therefore, unusual
precautions are taken to get men
who promise to endure every
test. Everything indicates that the
army which will march to Cuba will
be physically far the finest body Of
men that the world ever saw gathered
under the banners of war. If the lower
standard of European armies were
adopted by our Surgeons 80 out Of
every 100 young Americans found on
the street would pass muster.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

me. He said it WIZ aein the rules for
passengers to ride in the baggage-cars, but
Abe could so in there, same rs dogs. prize
poultry, q household pets. | tried , joke
with him, tellin him that in sum plaiSis L
wuz considered n household pet, but he said
Ide have , git another mug on me before he
could believe it.
One of Zeke Biltner's hogs ditched the
train jest before we got home, q turned the
baggage-car over. Sum crates ov eggs wuz
smashed over Abraham Lincoln & he wuz a
sight to- behold. He wuz awfully scared,
though, & begged me 2 let him go the rest Ov
the way on foot. He said he wuz thousand
years older than when he left his ole massa,
q could understand what he meant.
| found your mother q the girls bright &
clipper q jest tickled death to see me safe
back. They axed me so many questions
about you & Shorty that my head buzzsd
like beehive. 1t is hard git away from
them 2 tend 2 my Spring work, but I've made
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

IT has remained for Gen. Wesley
Merritt to give the first exhibition of
Regular Army jealousy and pique. So
far, everything has gone on very
smoothly, largely because the Regular
Army has had things mainly its own
way. But Gen. Merritt thinks that he
has not been given a big enough thing
In assignment to the command of the
Philippine Islands, and refuses to 90.
on The plea that he is not given enough
Regulars, and that the force assigned to
him is too small for his rank. There is
no use wasting time discussing the
matter. Gen. Merritt is a very good
man, but there are hundreds of Others
quite as good, who will be glad of the
opportunity he foolishly throws away.
He may not be the man for the place,
after all. 1t is much bigger job than
be was ever entrusted with before.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
Deaths in the Illinois Home.

Adj't E. L. Higgins reports the following
deaths in the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors
Home, Quincy, ILL.,, during the month of
April: Ezra Walter, Co. G, 12Sth ILL.,; judi
son A. Irish, Co. f, 65th H.; John Brann,
Co. C, Sd La, Mexican war; Albert Stone,
Co. ii, 10Th H.; VIM. T. Crossthwait, Co. d.
both H.; Henry Ehrlick, Co. ID, sth Ill.
Cav; Bertrand t. Webb, Co. G, 1st N. Y.
Art; Kingan Conneriy, Co. X, 6ist H.;
Fred. Gauger, Co. E, 18th Mo-; Joseph Bes-
wick, Co. III, 7th Mo-; George K. Watkins,
Co. D, Gath ILL.,; Elias Van Court. Co. E, 10th
I'LL. Cav.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

In few days an army of at least
10000 men will enter Cuba, and the
war will be pushed to a close with
American energy and rapidity. Then
the Americanization of the island will
begin. and the Queen of the Antilles
will bask in the sunlight of prosperity
as warm, as genial, as productive as that
from the heavens which makes her fer.
tile fields smile with redundant flowers,
fruits and harvests.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

BEFORE Mr.. Evans discharges those
100 clerks, he had better turn them for
awhile on those $4,000 cases which
Lochren dropped Tor reduced, which
were appealed 70 the Secretary of the
Interior, and which were turned over to
the Commissioner dof Pensions some
months ago for discrimination. What
has he done with them?
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ?

AT the hour of going to press-Tues-
day, May 17-all interest is concen-
trated upon the Spanish feet under
command of Admiral Cervera. After
about two weeks of tantalizing hide-and-
seek this has finally been located in the
Gulf of Venezuela, about 900 miles
from Cienfuegos. The two American
squadrons are probably now somewhere
south of Cuba, seeking to find it and
| bring it to battle. When it will do this
is only conjecture. 1t may be in a day
or two, or it may be weeks away. The
Spanish Admiral has shown himself
cunning in turning up in unexpected
places, and he has fast ships, while our
battleships and monitors are dull sailers.
1t is desirable to bring these into the
game, so as to leave as little as possible
to chance and make the destruction of
the Spaniards complete. The Spaniards
have their feetness. qualified by the
factor of coal. They can only carry
enough for two days fast steaming, and
then must seek some quiet waters to re-
fill their bunkers. They must depend
for their supplies upon golfers which
are in constant danger of capture by
our gravhounds. We have probably to-
day every mile of the Caribbean under
observation by our fast scout-ships, so
that the Spaniards can make no more
moves which will not be at once reported.
The game of pussv-wants-a-corner can
not be kept up very long, until the
Spaniards are forced into position
where they must fight or surrender.
Then the beginning of the end will be
near.
1t will be the last effort of the Span
iards Blanco and the Captain-General
of Porto Rico, seeing gone their last
hope of bel Up reaching them from Spain,
will have to surrender without resistance
to the troops which we shall pour into
the islands.
BY the end of the month troops will
begin to pour into the Philippines, and
they will be reduced TO firm possession.
The talk of sending out fleet from
Cadiz to recapture the Philippines or to
ravage our northeastern coasts is the
veriest nonsense. 1t is only intended
to amuse the Spanish people and the
European diplomats The fleet there is
utterly unable to make a sea voyage,
the Spaniards have not the means to
equip it, it could not take coal enough
with it to make itself effective when it
reached this side of the water, and we
should have plenty of time to intercept
it after finishing up with the fleet now
in the Gulf of Venezuela. The same
reasons are against its going to the
Philippines And if it went it would
leave the Canary Islands. the Balearics,
and the great ports of Corunna. Cadiz,
and Barcelona entirely at the mercy of
swift ships, which we could send across
the ocean.
The first of June will probably see the
utter collapse of the Spanish power.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

TIE Spaniards in Habana are said
to be greatly enraged because of the
non-arrival Of the Cape Verd fleet.
Let them be patient. 1t will be there
in a few days-at least all that is left
Of it-with the Star Spangled Banner
hoisted on each ship above the Yellow
Miasma of Old Spain.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

On account of the way France is
" acting up" we may not make any ex-
hibition at the. French Exposition of
1900, but we are making an exhibition
worth dozen Worlds Fairs.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

ADMIRAL DEWEY began his instruc-
ton In the art of naval warfare under
Admiral Farragut, and he seems to have
been very apt pupil.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

Money sent US otherwise than by registered letter
postal money order express order, or draft on New
York will be at the risk of the sender
Agents.-THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has many
volunteer canvassers and they generally honest
and faithful; but persons who confde their subscrp-
tions to them must be their judges of their
responsibility. The paper will be sent only on The
receipt of the subscription price
Addresses. Renewals, etc--AddreSses will be
changed often desired, but each subscriber
should in every case give the old well the new
address
(OrreSp0ndence--Corres is solicited
om every section in regard TO Grand Army, Sons Of
Veterans Pension and Military matters, and letters
90 the Editor viii always receive prompt attention
Write on ONE SIDE of The paper only. We do not
return communications or manuscripts unless they
ARE accompanied by request to that effect and the
necessary postage, and under circumstances guar
antee their publication at any special date.
p Address all communications 10
rTHE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, Washington, D. C.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

FRANCE is at her old tricks. When
ever We have been in any trouble
France has taken the opportunity to be
nasty to US The exception was the War
Of the Revolution, when she saw that
Great Britain was in trouble, and by
helping US would hurt her old enemy.
She was particularly mean to us during
the rebellion, and had to eat humble
pie for it afterward, but not nearly as
much as she should. Had it not been
for DIR. Secretary Stewards pottering
diplomacy, Grant, Sheridan, Thomas
and Rosecrans would have hustled the
French out of Mexico inside of six
months after Appomattox, and the
rebels would have been glad to help IL.
In the work.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

WONDER how the arnica crop is in
spain this year? Spanish pride needs
heaps of it, and more every day.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

THERE are no full Admirals in the
Navy. The rank of Admiral was
created to reward Farragut, and put
him on a level with Grant, who was
created a full General. At the same
time Porter was created Vice Admiral.
He succeeded Farragut as Admiral. and
Rowan succeeded him as Vice Admiral.
At their deaths both these offices ex-
pired, and left as the highest officers in
the Navy Rear-Admirals, who rank
with Major-Generals of the Army,
Commodores rank with Brigadier-G Gen
erals; Captains with Colonels, Com
manders with Lieutenant Colonies
Lieutenant Commanders with Majors
Senior Lieutenants with Captains; Jun
Tor Lieutenants with First Lieutenants
Ensigns with Second Lieutenants
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
PEN PICTURES FROM CUBA.
Miss Kathleen Blake to furnish spec
ial contributions to The National
Tribune from Cuba.

Not content with two special CORE
,spondents already in the field, we have
secured the exclusive services for the
United States, of Miss Kathleen Blake,
war correspondent of the Toronto Nail
and Empire. This gifted writer is well
known in her profession under the nom
de plume of "Kit," and her sparkling
style has made the woman's page
of the Nail and Empire famous. As
a correspondent in Europe and
as an author Miss Blake has
added fresh laurels to her crown
within the past two years, in connection
with the Queens Jubilee and other inter-
national spectacles.
She goes to Cuba as the only woman
correspondent accredited by the Secre-
tary of War, all other applications of
this sort having been refused. She will
go with the invading army into Cuba,
and readers of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
will have rare treat in the pen pictures
she will send back to US for publication.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
THE FIGURES.

The following are the comparative
figures at the battle Of Manila, May l.,
1898:
American. Spanish.
Vessels 5 II
Displacement 1908 tons. 1882 tons
Weight metal at one
discharge =. 6,032 pds. 1913 pds.
Torpedo tubes 8 20
Men :. 1904 1,734
This is without counting the mines
and the guns and men on shore.
Possibly, the Spaniards have some
different ideas now as to the discipline
and personnel of the American navy.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19

tN1tssD Al WASHINGTON pOsTOs AS sEoONOolAss NATTER.