davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-07-26
A Promised Change,


An esteemed New York contemporary,
whose comparatively recent conversion to
Hannaism seems to enable 1t TO keep up
with the meaning of Administration ma
neuyres, throws out encouraging hints OF
coming changes in the management of the
War Office. Observe this:
Under cur system the War Department al
ways has at its command the professional mill
tary knowledge and capacity it requires The
headquarters of the Army are at Washington
and from that point the General Commanding
the Army exercises the functions belonging to
him, relating to the troops in the field or in
garrison. The Secretary OF War also has as
virtual members of his staff, the professional
heads of all the staff departments and corps the
Adiutant General being practically his chief of
staff. We think Mr.. Elihu Root will be found
to have better all-round equipment for serving
the country Secretary of War than any SOL
der could derive from his soldiership. Certainly
there can be no doubt OF the importance Of the
legal questions arising out Of our military oc-
cupation and government both of the Antilles
and the Philippines.
We suspect our contemporary uninten-
tionally made the mistake of substituting
The times., 1899-07-26

plain statement of fact for prediction
in using the present for the future tense
in its correct definition of the re.ations
contemplated by the law between the Sec
retary of War and the Commanding Cen
eral of the Army Our New York con-
temporary is too keen an observer not to
be aware Of the fact that General Miles
is not now, nor has he been for year,
exercising the functions belonging to
him" as the General Commanding the
Army. We do not propose to impute to
our contemporary the base motive OF de-
liberately attempting TO misrepresent Gen
eral Niles present position. which would
devolve upon him full share of respon-
sibility for the miserable fiasco in the
Philippines. AS before intimated, we ac-
cept Its utterance as not intended for a
statement of fact, but as broad hint Or
inspired prediction OF the Administration
future conduct of the War Office. If the
Major General Commanding the Army is
to be allowed the free exercise OF his
functions there is very little doubt
that vigor and intelligence will be inject
ed into the military operations and ad-
ministration in the Philippines That
would mean the recall of Otis, not for
! paltry political reasons. but for good and
sufficient military reasons, he having dis
played his incapacity so conspicuousiy as
to have aroused the criticism OF military
experts in Europe as well as in the United
States.
We rejoice, therefore, at the prospect
of change of relations in the War Of
fee as well as of a change of commanders
in the Orient. Both will be entirely
satisfactory to the country, as the changes
will act as winnow to separate the chan
from the grain. and general sitting OF
things will result.
The times., 1899-07-26

by the message said to have beEn reserved al
Havana from Washington. 1t is not at all
improbable that they discern through their
ignorance the direct chain of cause and
effect in the coincidence-that fresh ex-
preston of insolence at Havana has pro-
duced a new exhibition Ct timidity at
Washington. II such be the case, these
Cuban politicians will awaken to disap-
pointing realization on the day OF our
proper reckoning with them.
1t would be harsh to remind the Assem-
bIea yeteranos de la Independeneia that
by the American code CT charity beggars
should not be choosers. And yet 1t seems
that their impudence and that of the host
of other similar organizations in Cuba,
warrants such forcible reminder. There
is no disposition in America. except among
the foolish and inconsequential sentiment
alists. not to give Cuba the fullest measure
of independence consistent with the char
acter of the Islands population. This does
not mean Immediately turning over the
country to the hordess of ignorant natives
who mistake independence for license to
rob, and loot, and nnp,ler. 1t is true that
the hysterical and unthinking sentimental
lists at home, of whom Mr.. Mckinley
strangely seems to be e,afraid, would thus
dispose of the island-would promptly con-
cede the unreasonable demands of the Gu
can rabble-but these foolish folk do not
! control the American Government.
But luckily for Cuba and the United
States, the power to erect a proper gov
ernment for the gem of the Antilles resides
in the mass of the American people, who
are not emotional. who arsl not timid, who
! are not unthinking, who do not spend their
time in spleneuc atrabiliar reflection on
supposititious misery. These are the peo-
pie who are going to decide. in their own
way and in their own good time, what the
| future OF Cuba shall be- The sooner this
hard fact finds lodgment in the muddy
brains of AntilIean politicians the better
/ it will be for Cuba and the Cubans.
The times., 1899-07-26
Growing InsoIence In Cuba.

One Of the multifarious organizations Of
Cubans, styling itself by the characters
tically high flown title of La Assembled
Veteranos de la Independence, has held
meeting and decided to telegraph 10 Pres
ident Mckinley asking in the name of the
Cuban people that he Immediately full
fill the promise contained in the joint res
olution of Congress and establish Cuban
Republic"
The cable despatch which brings this
news from Havana also recites that mes
sages have been received there from Wash
ington which have caused much satisfae-
tion among those who favor the immediate
independence of the island, the Information
being that President Mckinley has already
asked Secretary OF War Root to draft a
scheme of government for Cuba which
would be submitted TO Congress in Decem-
ber.''
Doubtless the Cuban politicians have ex-
tracted much satisfaction from the syn
chronism of the insolenee of the Assembled
veteranos de ID Independencia and the IT,
midity OF the Administration as represented
The times., 1899-07-26
DOMINION FIRE INSURANCE.
Heavy LOSSES This Yenr-Insurnnce
on Montreal Property.

Montreal. July 25.-The fire insurance
companies have suffered severely from loss
by fire thus far this year throughout Cana
da. During June the total loss was $780,
900. and the insurance loss S242, 500. From
January 10 May. inclusive. this year. the
total loss was si.097. f60 and the insurance
loss, 81. 2.io5,e 600, against a total loss OF
s., sos. l20. and an Insurance. loss Of 81 .693.-
OS0 during the same period in 1895
Insurance men claim that Montreal. in
comparison with other cities OF its size in
the United States. is only fairly insured
against loss by fire. Every year the various
companies file with the city a list Of the
amount of insurance premiums In Montreal
proper. The figures for 1888 have not been
completed yet. but the figures for 1892 TO
1898 show a continual increase. although
there was a slight drop in 1885, which was
more than gained in 1897 The net amour.
of premium upon which taxes were paid-was
as follows: 1892. 1896. I'll; 1898 1886. .395;
1894 1862, IA; 1895. 81, ,O21, ,S12; 1896. S1.oo0,
295; 1891 81, ,023. $3.50.
The local insurance, taken as an average
OF 70 cents ON the dollar, is nothing COM
pared TO the value at risk. Montrealers
have a tendency to underyalue in real es-
tate, which leaves the owner in bad shape
in case of fire. Among the English peo-
pie the insurance is fair. but the French
do not insure as heavily. The percentage
is very small. Take the amount OF pre-
miums on which taxes were paid in 1896.
81, ,000. .295. OF this amount the value Of the
risk insured was over s76, 900. eco. value of
property insured against risk in the city
proper.
a prominent agent says that the COM
panies were not making per cent If it
was not for the accumulation OF past
years the companies would not Go much or
be able to pay dividends. vast ma
jority OF the small houses throughout the
city carry no insurance
An average of the insurance OF the city
shows that about so or go per cent of the
residences carry policies. The churches
figure about so per cent About so per
cent of the stocks in business houses carry
insurance, while the business books
themselves average so to 10 per cent The
stocks in public warehouses and cold
storage are insured up to 100 per cent.
and in some instances over. The insur-
ance on railroads. not including rolling
stock. figures 20 per cent. The Grand
Trunk carries over S5OGo.o00 insurance.
outside of that on rolling stock
The times., 1899-07-26
Our Bumptious yeighbor.


Persistent stories are affoat in effect that all
hope has bsen abandoned by the Administration
Of securing a provisional Alaskan boundary line
The trouble. according to these stories. does
not seem to he with England, but with the
bumptious and irritating ol'ssinacy Of Canada.
There IS without doubt a persistent desire on
the part of This colony Of Great Britain to
have its way. right or wrong. and regardless
of the wishes and advice Of the mother country.
1t is quite possible al=,, that Of its officials
may, in their hotheaded coarse, commit some
overt act which viii cause serious trouble, but
there is no possibility OF resulting between
this country and Great Britain, although It is
quite within the bounds Of probability that the
warm friendship which exists between the two
nations may be badly strained, but the tics
which bind are too strong TO be severed entirely
by unruly behavior on the part Of oze Of the
possessions of England. II may be preJic;ed
that. should Canada Preeipi;ate seriOus crisis,
she Will be sharply brought to book BY England,
and further negotiations ard business coluscted
with tine boundary dispute taken from her hands
by England asd settled without regard to the
wishes of Eer recllcitTant colony.
The times., 1899-07-26
rbe LINN Free Port.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Sir Charles Tup-
per. after all. have not wrought in vain Il
was reported last night that our Govern
ment is disposed to concede to Canada a
temporary free port on the Lynn Canal,
above Pyramid Harbor. in Alaska. II the
report be true the fact will be accepted
with anything but satisfaction by the coun
try.
Assuming, what is certain. that our right
to the Lynn Canal is not to be successfully
questioned under our treaty with Russia.
and the acceptance of the line delimited
therein by the Cars and Great Britain
since 1926 at least. it is the height of i'm
pudence for the Canadians to demand a
British seaport within American territory.
II such a claim can be considered and con-
ceded as tenable, as would happen under
even a temporary arrangement in Alaska,
there is no apparent reason why the same
thing might not be demanded near Port
land, Me-, or on the Hudson River.
But it is said that the Canadian free port
is to remain under American sovereignty!
Then why call or tolerate it as anything
but a port of the United States in any
sense whatever? AS an act Of interna-
tional comfy We can conceive that the
Administration might establish a new
American customs station at Klukwan, or
wherever it is intended TO do the crawfish
act, and allow Canadian goods and pas
sengers free entry pending further nego-
tiations. But the entry should be through
a custom house under the Stars and Stripes
and every package and each immigrant
should be labeled, by the temporary cour-
tesy of the United States of America
If surrender to Canadian impudence shall
exceed that, there viii be a most indignant
protest from the American people.
The times., 1899-07-26
van wyck and the strike.

tfrom the brooklyn Easle-D
1t has been worthy Of note for the past week
that we have had government here which
seemed to believe that its business was to gov
ern. Robert A. Van Wyck, its official head, de-
serves commendation for his course during the
progress of the strike. He has assumed that
the business OF the railroad corporations was the
operation OF cars, and that the authorities of
the city should protect the working men who
desired TO receive the wages paid by the coFpo-
rations for this operation. So far rs has been
known, there has been attempt on the part
of the mayor of the police officers to tell
anyone how his orderly business should be con-
Quoted. The advice of the mayor has not been
intruded on the railroad corporations. and the
officials OF these corporations have not had fire.
quent consultations with him, they had with
the mayor OF Brooklyn in the prolonged and
bloody strike here few years ago. Municipal
operation of railroads failed in that strike. In
this strike the municipality has confined Itself
to its legitimate field, and the cars have been
run and order has been preserved with pretty
good success This policy has been pursued
with deliberate intent by Mayor Van Wyck. He
has kept himself constantly informed of the sit
uation. that government under him might not
be made mockery and deluson. He has rec
ognized that he was the mayor of the whole
city, rather than the mayor OF those knights OF
Labor who refused to work for The railroad cor
porations
The times., 1899-07-26

full losses of this movement have rot ys.
been reported, bat they exceed half hun
dred. the Thirteenth suffering the most Sc
yerely. Probably The policy OF leaving gar
risons in conquered territory viii be re-
peated here aud Paranque and Bakor viii
be occupied. This Is necessary II territory
lying along the bay from Manila to Cavi,e
is 10 be kept clear OF insurgents. as this
has always been a region Of chronic in
surreetion.
The times., 1899-07-26
NEW FREIGHT LINE TO BRAZIL
Valuable cencession- Secured by nm
American Comnnny

american company
New York, July 25.-Fos several months
Santos 6 Co. of 10 Whitehall Street. have
been carrying on negotiations With the Of
heers of the State of Para set the purpose
OF establishing a new line OF steamships
from New York to the city OF Para. The
company asks for a guarantee of per cent
interest on si.o00. 600 In order to insure the
success OF its project
The mstter was kept quiet till our Consul
at Para made it public in Informing the
American Government OF the bill passed by
the Para State Congress approprating $50
900 for the proposed company. and the will
ingness of the Rio Janeiro authorities to
add thereto s2co.c0e for the same end In
speaking of the necessity OF such line.
one OF the firm said I'VE shall in the
eventual success OF the scheme carry fro
zen meat to Para and Rio Janeiro; there
will be other produce carried. but such IA
the lack of knowledge displayed In that
country in the raising of beef cattle that
all the meat is tough and unfit for food.
the animals being raised for their hides
alone. We have found added he. that
Americans are too much given TO neglect
ing the opportunities which are open in
Brazil. Para is a city Of 10o. .0a9 irhabi
tants; there are at present only three lines
running to that country and those are more
like tramp lines than a regular service.
The company will start with three JtsaEl-
ers, making tri-weekly trips.
The times., 1899-07-26
Hardly Worth u Loss of Temper.

No intimation is given to the public of what
opinion on the Alaskan boundary dispute Sena.
tor Fairbanks formed from personal observation
and study the ground His frequent and
prolonged conferences this week with Secretary
Hay and the President indicate that the Ad-
ministration places much dependence on Senator
Fairbanks judgment and advice in this delicate
matter. Everyone will hope that some entirely
amicable solution of the problem will be found.
Canada seems to be somewhat obstreperous; and
we ought TO maintain firmly the rights we Sc
cured from Russia. But at the same time, we
do not wish to get into any serious quarrel with
Great Britain over few leagues, more or less,
OF ice!bound coast or barren tundra.
The times., 1899-07-26
OmcinI Courtesy and Dsscourtesy.
T., -. L. li-h .noial nnritir,n Ii aye

OmcinI Courtesy and Dsscourtesy.
Few men in high official position have
been more vigorously or more properly as
sailed of late in the press than Mr.. Lyman
]. Gage. II is to be said to the credit OF
his manhood that he has been none the
less courteous to the reporters for papers
which have criticised his civil service or
other action, because the journals they rep
resent have been, from his own point Of
view, unfriendly to him.
In the end no Government officer will
ever suffer personal loss by acting like a
gentleman, especially in his attitude to the
young men who are the automatic agents
of newspaper policies for which they are
not responsible in the remotest degree.
1t is pity that Secretary Gage has not
sincerer fiatterer in the sense of imita-
ton, in one of his subordinates whose name
escapes US; but it is something like Van
dercheek We seem to remember that this
person has been referred to in public print
as one who had the nerve to be the pioneer
/ in applying the spoils system to ap-
! pointments in the Treasury Department
Without distinctly recalling the circum-
stance It may have related to the case OF
somebody's son who was employed as an
unclassifed laborer. after the issuance OF
the Presidents order, transferred 10 6
lucrative classified place without examina-
tion, and then favored with an increase OF
pay; all within about ninety days.
Mr.. Gage may or may not be at bottom
what his friend, Mr.. Traceweli, calls him
''in principle friend of civil service re-
form" In any case it viii do him no harm
to compel at least one of his understrap-
pers to join the "Civil Manner Reform
| League"
The times., 1899-07-26
some interesting GarricI< Letters.


A magnificent collection OF autograph letters
Of celebrated actors and actresses is TO come
into the market shortly The most interesting
feature OF it is perhaps the valuable series oi
letters and manuscripts Of David Garrick. They
consist Of over sixty items and form probably
the finest collection OF letters from Garriek's
pen that has ever been offered. They show not
only that lie was in communication with per
sons Of all ranks and degrees, but that he could
on occasion prove 4 really delightful and inter
csting correspondent. There is one letter in the
third person to which special interest at
taches IL i in which Garrick Acknowledges
the receipt Of an autograph of Shakespeare and
his ten thousand thanks to the gentleman yho
has done him the homer Of best0wing such
jewel on him.. The Shakespeare autograph
was bought by the British Museum for l65
Guineas, while this particular letter Yas sold
ten years ago for s4i, which is the highest price
ever paid for GarIick autograph The whole
sereis is TO be offered zen bisp's al a reserve
price Of 500. Ii that is not realized the fet.
.ters viii be sold separately
The times., 1899-07-26
a Great Electrical Display.
lFrom the Western E!eelEician.l


An interesting feature OF the electrical display
in connection with the National Export Exnssi.
sition in Philadelphia next fall will he the MAN
Of special illumination OF the City Hal adopt
ed f1r the period Of the exposition. The build.
ing is a very imposing structure, the highest
point being 5T4 feet above the ground, AMI AZ
present there is rim OF lights around the tes.
OF the statue OF William Penn which surmo,In;,
the structure. II i claimed that these lights
can be seen at distance OF thirty miles. Be
fore the exposition opens a rim Of arc lieht,
will be placed around The rim Of Penn's hat,
over 800 feet above the pavement. and long
strings OF incsHdescent lights will ruu from
there to the root OF the building Every cor
nice viii be studded with lights and ali sida.
Of the massive building will be emblazoned by
designs in eoleFed lghtL
The times., 1899-07-26

Ah Yu, one of the Cinnamon who stood
by Dewey when he sank the Spanish feet
at Cavite, has been pensioned for disability
incurred in the naval service. His country
men suffer under many disabilities in the
United States for which there is no pension
and little sympathy. But here is one who
is entitled to be called an American, and
he might well wag his pigtail contemptu-
ously at Hoar and Atkinson and say: "Ah
Yu?''
The times., 1899-07-26
The Largest Emerald in the world.
(From the Manufacturing Jewellery

u
\ vase cut from 4 single emerald has been
preserved in a cathedral in Genoa Italy, 6Dl
yelts. Its dimensions ere: Diameter 12I. inches;
height, - inches. Every precaution Is used 10
ensure sise keeping. Several locks must he open-
ell 10 reach il, and the hey OF each lock j. in
the po-s.~s;on Of a difertnt man. Il Is pub
licy exhibited very rarely. and then only by
order Of the s-na,e. A precautionary decfe.
Wa passed in li76, iorbiddng all persons 10 ap-
proach the priceless treasure too closely An
antiquarian advances the theory that it was one
uf the gifts made solomon by the Queen ~
Sheba, and has written hook 10 prove his as
sumption It Is diicult in these IrIltter-af act
days 10 believe 50 large emerald had ever
been found, ard il would be interesting n hear
the verdict Of gem expert ateer be had care
fully examined the vase.
The times., 1899-07-26
Another Good Reason.

CFrom the Chicago Journal.)
And another good reason for sending General
Miles TO the Philippines is the story gathered
from the men of the Second Oregon by the ''san
Francisco Bulletin to the effect that the hor-
rible canned beef has appeared on the American
firing line. Miles can fsht bad beef just well
as he can fight APACHE Indians
The times., 1899-07-26

We are greatly delighted to learn that
the results Of the Peace Conference at
The Hague are not proscriptiye of our
right to useethe Du1ndum bullet in war.
AS our technical delegates have wisely
explained although the Dumdum bullet
inf1icts a barbarous and horrible wound
it viii stop man and set him to wrlthing
in terrible agony. even if it only hits him
on the shin. It shares with its explosive
congener the honor of discouraging military
attacks in force, and is only second in its
praetical efficiency to the practice of pois-
oning wells and shipping yellow fever
clothes into an enemy's country. Why
any Christian nation should object TO
these devices, which. everybody must see.
tend to prevent people likely to suffer
from them from engaging in hostilitie5,
it is extremely difficult to understand. We
should thank our delegates at The Hague
for their patriotic and humane attitude.
Give us Dumdum bullets and DENLY In
the Philippines and nobody knows which
the unfortunate natives will regard as the
most ultimately deadly.
The times., 1899-07-26

In announcing that he will first have to
ask permission of the Mexican Congress
to leave his country before giving favor
able answer to any of the numerous press
ing invitations he has to visit the United
States President Diaz shows an under
standing of how Republics are run, any
The times., 1899-07-26
He Carries Credentials.

Senator (utherHTse and better known as Boss
Platt for the secord time recently has to
the defence of the administration. 1t is very
evident that the senitur carries blank commits
sious in his pocket. dHIy signed, for all Federal
Offices in New iprk 40
The times., 1899-07-26
willing to Oblige.

(trom Juuge.J
Mrs Tawkfast-John, dear, II I should die
would you follow me to heaven?
Mr. Tawkfast-Yes. my dear; at least, l should
enquire for you there.
The times., 1899-07-26

A proper sense of gallantry should cause
Uncle Sam to respectfully turn his head in
the other direction when John Bull lays
across his knee his little Daughter Of the
Shows and begins to spank her.