JAPAN WELL-PLEASED AND GOOD GOVERNMENT CLUB

Punch, September 29, 1894.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, April 23, 1895.

JAPAN WELL-PLEASED.

Emperor Proclaims a Policy of Peace and Progress.

EXTENDS HER HAND TO CHINA.

Words of Wisdom From the Throne Calculated to Calm the War Spirit Which Prevails There

—Notes From Foreign Lands Far and Near.

   YOKOHAMA, April 23.—An official dispatch says that Count Ito, president of the Japanese council of ministers, and Viscount Mutsu, the Japanese minister for foreign affairs, the two officials who negotiated the treaty of peace with Viceroy Li Hung Chang and his son, Lord Li, at Shimonoseki, were received in audience by the emperor on their return to Hiroshima. The emperor said:

   "The principal points of the treaty are entirely satisfactory and add more to the glory of the empire. I am highly pleased at the signal service rendered by you."

   The following imperial proclamation was issued:

   "Through peace national prosperity is best promoted. Unfortunately the rupture of relations with China forced upon us a war which, after the lapse of 10 months, is not yet ended. During this period our minister, in concert with the army, navy and diet, have done all in their power to further our aims in obedience to our instructions.

   ''Our ardent desire, with the assistance of our subjects in loyalty and sincerity, is to restore peace and thereby attain out object, the promotion of national prosperity. Now that peace is negotiated and an armistice proclaimed a permanent cessation of hostilities is near at hand. The terms of peace fixed by our ministers of state give us complete satisfaction. The peace and glory thus secured render the present a fitting time to declare to you, our good subjects, the object kept in our view and to enlighten you as to the course of our future policy.

   "We are rejoiced at the recent victories which have enhanced the glory of our empire. At the same time we are aware that the end of the road which must be traversed by the empire in the march of civilization is still far distant and remains yet to be attained. We therefore hope, in common with our loyal subjects, that we shall always guard against self-contentedness and ever in a spirit of modesty and humility strive to perfect our military defense without falling into extremes.

   "In short, it is our wish that the government and the people alike should work in a common end and that our subjects of all classes strive, each in his sphere, for the purpose of laying a foundation of permanent prosperity.

   "It is hereby definitely made known that no countenance will be given by us to such, as through conceit at the recent victories may offer insult to other states or injure our relations with friendly powers, especially as regards China,

   "After the change of the ratifications to the treaty of peace friendship should be restored and endeavors made to increase more than ever before the relations of good neighborhood.

   "It is our pleasure that our subjects pay due respect to these our expressed wishes."

AFFAIRS IN CUBA.

Insurgent General Maceo's Whereabouts Still Remains a Mystery.

   HAVANA, April 23.—The whereabouts of General Maceo, the noted insurgent leader of whom so much was expected, is unknown. According to one story his body was found in a putrified condition near Palmorita, Province of Santiago de Cuba, where the members of his expedition were beaten by the Spanish troops. Rumors are also current that Maceo committed suicide in consequence of the failure of his movements and because he had been sick ever since landing in Cuba. Maceo's party is said to be disorganized, 14 members of the expedition having been captured and all but four of the remainder being killed.

   Marshal Martinez de Campos, the captain-general of Cuba, is on board a steamer which is now off Santiago de Cuba, returning from his visit to Manzanillo.

A PUBLIC NEED.

   The saloons in this village must go and every man who sells liquor in defiance of law and the will of the people must stop this business. We have a right to demand this in the name of the laws of the state, the ordinances of the village and the voice of our citizens expressed in four successive elections. An aroused people will no longer brook the open and defiant violation of law that has prevailed in this community for years past. The village officers are determined to fulfill their oaths of office and do the bidding of the people. There are some of our citizens who have sympathy with the law breakers and apologize for them. We should expect better things of them; if when the law is at last vindicated and obeyed, and this wholesale corruption of public morals  ceases, they too will rejoice in the good done.

   There is one result, however, of the closing of the drinking places which we shall have to face. The men who have been accustomed to spend time and money in these places must have some place to go. Here will arise a great public need. Such a demand already exists and the demand will grow louder as the work goes on. With the saloons closed some will do that noble thing of spending more of their time in their homes and they will have more money to make home and family happy. But after all there must be something to take the place of the saloons in this respect. There must be one or more places to which men may go to meet friends for a little pastime, to get a cup of coffee or a good lunch, to read the papers, to smoke, if they must, and to enjoy such diversions as are not corrupting. There will be various attempts to meet this need, but we want to bespeak a worthy movement in this respect. Men of small capital and with no adaptation for the work will try to run temperance restaurants. They will keep them so poorly that they will fail. Something unquestionably good should be undertaken. A thousand or two dollars should be put into the business. Ample apartments should be well fitted up in the busiest part of the village. The best service should be secured, good refreshments should be furnished at a low figure and every one should find a welcome there and feel at home.

   Something of the kind should be undertaken not simply to meet a want but to make money. The right person or the right company could make a most gratifying financial success out of it. Call it a coffee house or a cafe or a "salon" as is a noted one in Chicago. (That word however sounds too much like "saloon.") Do not let it be conducted by the Woman's Christian Temperance union nor by any temperance society nor even by the Young Men's Christian association. Let it be undertaken as a reputable business enterprise for which there is a demand. It is a shame that in a town of this size, when liquor is voted a nuisance, there is not a place of public resort where a farmer, a stranger, or a business man can go for a lunch excepting places where liquor is sold. If there is such a place we do not know of it and we do not believe the public does. Thousands of such places are successfully sustained in this country and in England. Who will move in the matter in Cortland?

THE SLOT MACHINES SUPPRESSED.

   We are very glad to say that the slot machines, used so widely in the saloons of this place for gambling purposes, have been removed, so far as we can see. This is a matter of gratification to all who are interested in the public morals of the community.

NOT A TEMPERANCE CAMPAIGN.

   The Good Government club wants it well understood that they are by means merely a temperance organization. The temperance issue was settled for the present before the club came into existence. On the various phases of the temperance question there are differences of opinion among its members, and it was so understood when the club was formed. We would not say that there are not some of the club who are themselves drinking men, and certainly large numbers of citizens who are not total abstainers voted the Independent Citizens' ticket simply because they wanted the law enforced in the interest of public morals and good government. The mission of this club is to promote good government in every way possible. The prevailing intemperance is a constant danger to the public welfare; no one doubts that. The open violation of the excise law destroys respect for all law; that cannot be questioned. So to secure the enforcement of law against the illegal sale of liquor is one of the important things that the club seeks to do, but that is only one. The community is beginning to wake up to the fact that a general reform is abroad and that we are to have a municipality that shall be an honor to our people.

THE SEWERS.

Work Will be Begun in Earnest Next Monday.

   The firm of Doe & Deloyea, which has the contract for putting in the sewers, have associated with them the firm of Deler, Scott & Bears of Port Huron, Mich. Mr. P. Scott of this firm arrived in town Sunday night and is registered at the Messenger. The work will be completed under his personal supervision.

   Mr. Scott told a STANDARD reporter last evening that work would be commenced next Monday morning with a gang of sixty men and as fast as material for building arrives more men will be employed till the force reaches one hundred men.

   The uncompleted main sewers on Pomeroy, Elm, Pendleton, Washington and Grant-sts., will be pushed through and at the same time four other gangs of men will work on the sewers which run into the main line.

   There will be no change from the original contract and the job will be finished in the name of Doe & Deloyea. Mr. Scott said that with anything like reasonable success the work will be all completed by the first or fifteenth of September at the latest.

To Build a New Bridge.

   The adjourned hearing before Highway Commissioner Rindge yesterday at 4:30 o'clock relative to the granting of franchises to the Cortland and Homer Traction Co. was attended by upward of fifty representative citizens of Cortland and McGrawville. Mr. P. S. Page of Scranton was present. Mr. H. L. Bronson, in behalf of the Traction Co., asked for a further adjournment to give the company time to secure the right of way through either Elm or Railroad-st. and their extensions to the river, in which case the company will build their own bridge. The only bone of contention seems to be as to whether the company shall cross Port Watson bridge. After a short informal discussion, it was decided to adjourn the hearing to Thursday, May 2 at 10 A. M., in the office of H. L. Bronson.

Street car at D. L. & W. R. R. station in Cortland.

BREVITIES.

   —The first hail storm of the season this afternoon.

   —The Y. M. C. A. penmanship class meets to-morrow eight for the last time this season.

   —Two drunks were before Justice Bull this morning. Each was sentenced to three days or three dollars.

   —The Ladies' Aid society of the Universalist church will hold a meeting tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock.

   —The village has purchased one of the celebrated Climax road machines, which are manufactured at Marathon.

   —The electric street car crossed the frog at the D., L. & W. station this morning and went as far as the Beef Co.'s building.

   —At the quarterly conference of the First M. E. church last evening initiatory steps were taken to re-fresco the church, A committee was elected to enquire into the cost and to report at a subsequent meeting.

   —Promptly at 7 o'clock to-night some fire alarm box in town will be pulled for the purpose of training the new [horse] team, which is to draw the Excelsior Hook & Ladder truck. Only the members of the Hooks will be required to respond.

   —Rev. G. H. Brigham will deliver a memorial address to the old soldiers and Sons of Veterans of Cortland in the Y. M. C. A. rooms Sunday afternoon, May 26. A special effort is being made to make this a meeting long to be remembered.

   —Six extra Pullman coaches were attached to the 4:20 train yesterday afternoon. They were filled with members of the Royal Arcanum on their way from Hoboken to Syracuse. The train was in charge of the popular conductor Henry Darling, Engineer Al Phelps controlled the throttle.

   —Dr. E. M. Santee this morning received a letter from I. B. Potter of New York City, chief consul of the New York state division of the L. A. W. in which that gentleman accepted the doctor's invitation to be in Cortland May 25 and act as referee at the race meet of the Cortland Athletic association.

   —We learn on good authority that some of the members of the Cortland fire department have proposed to No. 3, that its minstrel troupe give one entertainment in that highly critical town. All the expenses to be paid by Cortland, and half of the proceeds to go to No. 3, are the terms Madam Rumor whispered in the hearing of a News reporter.—Ithaca News.

   —Tornado Hose Co. of Ithaca last Saturday night held a minstrel show. According to the Ithaca Journal, a Tornado minstrel, more than a half century of age, reflectively comments: "I have concluded that I am too old to ever attempt juvenile parts again. When it comes to the pass that my dog don't know me and refuses to let me into my own house; and when it robs my wife of an hour's sleep at midnight to scour the blacking off my face with a scrubbing brush and sapolio, I think it high time to leave monkey work to younger men who have neither dogs, wives nor scrubbing brushes to contend with."

[A warm welcome to CC blog reader Catalina Charles and a reminder to our readers that we "cherry pick" our blog articles from regional newspapers based on historical and local importance—CC editor.]