The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-12
WEDNESDAY, APRIL u, 1899.
TWELVE PAGES.
Yesterday and a Year Ago.

" that concern the esta blishment of
friendly and diplomatic relations
with the government of Spain were wit
messed within the walls of the white
house. AS the result of what happened
there, peace is restored for all legal,
diplomatic and practical purposes, and
our war with Spain gets it's finishing
touch, The date was Tuesday, April
IL; it recalls men and events that were
nppermost in the attention of the
American people on Monday. April H.
1S9s-just one year ago yesterday
So significant have been the events of
THE twevemonth that the incidents of
that eventful Monday seem good deal
more than a year old. So many are the
names of the men made conspicuous
by the operations of our army and
navy. that the public has quite forgot
ten some of the individuals who were
conspicuously in the eye of the civilized
world one year ago yesterday. The
contrasts suggested by the two dates
are many and striking. There is irony
in the coincidence that the first ami
Nersary of the news of Lees departure
from Havana should find Shafter put
ting In s'best ticks before a board Of
hnquirysin the effort to shield Secretary
Alger's criminal administration of
the war department in time of war.
One year ago yesterday morning
Senior Polo Barnabe, Stuart L. Wood
ford, Blanco and Fitzhugh Lee were,
with President Mckinley, the person.
ages of principal importance at Wash
bngton as we'll as at all the capitals in
Europe. On that morning the news
was that Lee had left Havana, amid
the jeers and Kisses of the Spaniards,
who shouted yankee swine" as the
Meet of American ships pulled out of
the harbor. year ago yesterday
morning the public had anticipated
news to the effect that the president
mad sent war message to congress.
The news turned out to be not of that
purport: Senior Polo came across The
.1'natural order of events with IAN i'm
portant official document which an
Counced that the queen regent had
granted an armistice; that. in addition,
ample guarantees had been given that
Cuba should be wisely and well gov
erned and that the islands administra-
zion should be las liberal as that en-
5oyed by Canada"
These items in the experience of one
gear ago yesterday every reader will
recall. A year ago this morning the
news was that the president had sent
h1s message to congress, having added
to 1t brief reference to the state na
per in regard to the armistice. The
truth was--and the American people
recognized 1T at the time-that the
president was really put in a corner
by SPANS granting of the armstice
He had demanded that it be granted.
1t is a popular belief to this day that
hhe president had permitted Minister
Woodfofd to promise certain things in
case his demand for an armistice were
complied with. And there was also
widespread in our own country the be-
sief that if one or two of the powers
had taken up this point in the pending
controversy, we Americans would have
had a very large problem to deal with.
However, everything went our way
president said that the war in Cuba
must be stopped; that recognition of
belliserency would simply add TO our
burdens; that recognition Of Cuban in
dependence was a plan that could not
Doe defended; that the annexation of
Cuba would simply be criminal ag-
gression.
Those were momentous days. Events
of tremendous import came in rapid
succession. What a gratifying thing
1T would be if yesterdays formal proc
5amation of peace with Spain. after a
awelvemonth of glory for OUT army and
navy, carried with 1t the assurance that
this republic is a peace with the world.
Unfortunately, we are in arms with the
savage hordes Of the distant Philip