The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-25
NEWS HND COMMENT

The correspondence which accompanied
the treaty of peace between Spain and the
United States, sent by the president to
the senate and since relieved of the veil
of secrecy, has, says the Washington cor
respondent of the Boston Transcript, al
ready leaked out in parts, but by no
means wholly. Some of the papers in this
volume are so characteristic and fun of
human nature that the history of the
Philippine incident cannot be properly
epitomized without reference to them.
| The share the American ConsulS in the
Orient had in the Philippine business has
been suspected, but never before set forth
in full, and it is now possible to under
stand why l., Spencer Pratt was super
seeded at Singapore. why no encourage
ment is given to the idea of the pro-
motion of Oscar +. Williams In our for
eign service at Manila or elsewhere, and
why some significant prophecies have
been made in high quarters that Rounse-
vile WildmanS semi-diplomatic career
at Hong Kong will soon be ended. We
cannot read the consular correspondence
of Mr.. Wildman without feeling assured
that it was he who did all that brought
about the victory of Admiral Dewey and
the capture of the Philippine archipe-
lago: but when we dip into the corre-
Spondence of Mr.. Pratt we are con-
vinced that our first impression must
have been wrong and that Mr.. Pratt did
it all. This impression remains vivid only
until we have read the correspondence Of
Mr.. Williams, and then we have no longer
any doubt that both Wildman and Pratt
usurped credit which belong to Williams.
and that Williams was the one only and
original and all-inclusive imperialst in
the group.
"On Dec. 12" writes John r. McCutch-
con from Manila, "a strange looking YES
sci with sides Ieddened with rust and
with only one mast standing steamed
gayly out of CaEoCaC bay and dished
merrily out oward the China sea. 1t
was the protected cruiser Isla de Cuba,
which had been sunk May and was sue
cessfully raised a short time ago. Now
she Is off under her own steam and quite
alone for the repairs she is to get at the
Hong Kong dock She was the first
Spanish ship of thoce sunk last spring to
be raised BY Naval Constructor Capps
and Mr. Jack of a Hong Kong construc-
tion company, and was soon put in condi-
tion for her trip across the China sea, 1t
is remarkable that i'm supite OF the fact
that her engines We're under water for
seven months they were found in excellent
order and needed only a little cleaning be-
fore the cruiser struck out for 70O-mile
voyage alone. The Isla de Luzon, a sis
I
Juan de Austria also have been success
fully raised and will soon follow the
Cuba to Hong Kong for repairs. These
three ships were the most modern of the
Spanish vessels here i'm the east, and, al
though not nearly so big as the Castillo
or Reina Cristina, they are more valu-
able 1t will cost about 100000 to put
the three ships in perfect shape, but when
this Is done they will be worth over ST.
600 O00." Since this was written all three
of the ships have reached Hong Kong in
safety.
Santiago, writes a Chicago Record cor
respondent, has no means of street trat-
fic save by ancient carriages or hacks,
and a street railway undoubtedly would
be a paying institution. The climatic
influences are 81 ch as to make the in
habitants lazy, no matter whether they
have lived there lOrg or not, and they all
detest walking. 1t costs 81 to ride in "A
carriage to any part of the city, no mat
ter If the distance is one block or twenty
blocks. on account of the hills and the
hot climate street railway would neces-
Cssanly have to be operated by electric
ity or other mechanical power, as it
would be impossible for mules or horses
| to pull the cars up the grades. There Is
! only one railroad running in or out of
Santiago. 1t is the Sabinilla and Marcia
| railway, and runs from Santiago 10 san
Luis, a distance of 20 miles A rail-
road across the island Of Cuba from Hav-
ana to Santiago, touching Cienfucgos and
other principal points will doubtless be
| among the first evidences of American
! enterprise.
According to Sir Robert Ball. the Brit
| ish astroucn er, we row know the eXisS-
ence Of 30,OOO,OO0 stars or suns, many OF
! them much more magnificent than the
one which gives light TO our system. The
majority OF them are not visible to the
eye or even recognizable by the tele-
scope, but sensitized Photographic plates
| have revealed their eYisterce beyond all