Evening star., 1948-05-02
Fifty Years Ago.

The Star for April 23, 1893, forecast the
retirement Of John Sherman from the Office
OF Secretary of State because Of
Shermon breaking down of his health
P.t;,;r, and inability to keep up with the
strain of the present situation"
President Mckinley, it was explained, had
noticed his friends condition but Mr. Sher-
mans attention was never called to what he
himself had not observed" A physician was
"the only person" who had presumed to sug-
gest resignation so that younger and stronger
men" might aid the Chief Executive burdened
as he was by the demands of the war with
Spain. The fact was that Mr.. Sherman held
"anti-expansionist views" which, together with
"a growing and humiliatng weakness Of
memory" handicapped him in the position he
held.
An editorial published by The Star on April
Is. 1898. said: The street railroad companies
of the city have an excellent
flo9sin opportunity to contribute to the
T,,n.;t display of flags on the principal
thoroughfares by decorating their
cars with the national colors Some of the
individual motormen and conductors have al
ready done so, but inasmuch as the companies
profit materially from the excitement and
interest in the war, which carry thousands
into the streets and lead them to the use Of
the cars, it is reasonable to suggest that the
corporations themselves do the decorating.
The rapid transit trains would make a fine
show spinning along the streets with flags
streaming from the corners of the cars"
Notice was sent to "all nations and powers"
that the United States no longer was at peace
with Spain under date
Notice to of April 26. 1898, and
Other Countries The Star for that day
chronicled the activities
of Congress, the different Government depart
ments and many other agencies in the line OF
preparing for hostilities The appointment of
Capt. A. T. Mahan to be head OF the Strategic
Board of the Navy a sign of the times
His fame as naval statesman and historian
still was to be won, but the advisers of the
President knew his qualities we'll enough to
recommend them for full employment Will
liam r. Day meanwhile succeeded Mr.. Sher-
man as Secretary of State and John Bassett
Moore was named Assistant Secretary. Mr.
McKinleys brother Abner, 1t was mentioned
in passing. had arrived at the White House
to help in any way he could
Opinion in Great Britain was not friendly
to the United States half century ago. Some
London newspapers were sharp
Epolish ly critical Of American pro-
Criticism cedure. The st. James Gazette
was quoted in The Star of April
27, 1898, as saying: Neither Spain nor America
are in the least prepared for war 1t will be
autumn before the mobs of men with muskets
are At to trust in the field. They are no more
at war, in the modern European sense. than
would be the squabblings and filibusterings OF
a couple of South American republics"
Economic results of the conflict meanwhile
began to be manifest. The Star for April %.
1885, reported: THE Cuban war
Motive has done one big thing for this
Cioor country. 1t has compelled recog-
milton, indirectly, of the values OF
Florida lands for the production Of the finest
tobacco in the world. During a recent trip
to the South, Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson
was Astonished to discover that 100000
Havana cigars were actually grown and manu-