ROW IN THE REICHSTAG

Reichstag, Berlin, Germany.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, March 14, 1896.

ROW IN THE REICHSTAG.

Explorer Peters Denounced as a Murderer.

HIS CRUEL ACTS IN AFRICA.

Accused of Hanging Natives For No Reason but His Own Pleasure—England's Operations In Egypt. Other News From Foreign Lands.

   LONDON, March 14.—A dispatch from Berlin describes a stormy scene in the reichstag. It arose through Herr Bebel, one of the Socialist leaders, accusing Dr. Carl Peters, the African explorer, while he was imperial commissioner to Africa in 1891, with causing a negro and negress to be hung without trial to the nearest tree, because they had taken a fancy to each other, of which Dr. Peters, being himself intimate with the negress, disapproved.

The German officer refused to execute the sentence. Nevertheless the sentence was executed.

   Dr. Peters proclaimed officially that the negroes were hung as spies. After that the English Bishop Tucker declined to receive Dr. Peters, saying that he would have nothing to do with a murderer.

   Dr. Peters thereupon wrote to Bishop Tucker, contending that he was married to the negress, according to the African custom, and therefore had a right to put her to death for adultery.

   Dr. Kayser, director of the colonial department, in reply to Herr Bebel, expressed doubts whether African travelers could be judged according to European standards. He tried to mollify the house by referring to Herman Wissman's spotless character, but although he gave a long explanation to the effect that an investigation had showed that the negroes were guilty of theft and other offenses and that Dr. Peters could not be incriminated, he failed to satisfy the house.

   Dr. Kayser then said further that the government deplored the facts, but it was difficult to pass judgment in such cases. It had been intended to place Dr. Peters at Tanganyika, believing that such incidents could not occur under Wissman. But it was discovered that Dr. Peters was so unpopular that he was not appointed.

   Dr. Kayser's speech met with frequent interruptions and shouts of "Murderer!" "Robber!" "Scandalous!" etc.

   The officer who refused to carry out Dr. Peters' sentence upon the two negroes was Lieutenant Bronsart von Schellendorf, who declared that it was simple murder.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

England's Operations In Egypt Give All Europe Food For Thought.

   LONDON, March 14.--The important announcement that the Egyptian troops would advance up the Nile forthwith to occupy Dongola was officially confirmed by the foreign office.

   The Times also said editorially of this announcement with a good deal of ostentation:

   "It need hardly be said that the advance upon Dongola will greatly benefit the Italians, and the British government must have had this desirable object in view in assenting to the British advance."

   Taken in connection with the evidences that Count Goluchowski has succeeded by his visit to Berlin in strengthening the ties of the existing dreibund, Great Britain's diversion in Egypt in favor of a member of the dreibund is regarded as extremely significant.

Armenian victims at Erzerum.

MASSACRE AT BIRIJIK.

Further Details of the Horror Received From Constantinople.

   NEW YORK, March 14.—The Armenian Relief association has just received from Constantinople detailed information concerning the massacre at Birijik, which was reported some months since as having taken place on the 27th of October of last year.

   Birijik is situated on the Euphrates, almost due cast of Aleppo, in the line of communication between Aleppo and Mosul.

   The assault on the Christian houses commenced at about 9 o'clock in the morning and continued until nightfall. The soldiers were aided by the Moslems of the city in the terrible work. The object at first seemed to be mainly plunder, but after the plunder had been secured the soldiers seemed to make a systematic search for men, to kill those who were unwilling to accept Mohammedanism.

   Every Christian house except two, claimed to be owned by Turks, was plundered. Ninety-six men are known to have been killed, or about half of the adult Christian men. The others have become Musselmans to save their lives, so that there is not a single Christian left in Birijik today. The Armenian church has been made into a mosque and the Protestant church into a Medresse seminary.

   The women and children were loaded up like goods upon the backs of porters and carried off to the houses of Moslems. Christian girls were eagerly sought after, and much quarrelling occurred of their division among their captors.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Mexico and Cuba.

   Seventy-five years ago the 24th of this February, Mexico finally declared her absolute independence of the Spanish government, so that Feb. 24 is to Mexico what July 4 is to the United States. Being a tropical land, Mexico's proclamation of independence was made in winter. In colder climates most revolutions begin in summer. We congratulate our sister republic with all sincerity and heartiness. In some respects she is doing better financially than we are. Her government is just as wisely administered and her president is just as patriotic as ours. Mexico is building railroads and developing her wonderful resources in a way that must in time make her as rich as she was in the days of the ancient Aztecs. Best of all, she is striving to lighten the dense cloud of ignorance that envelops and weighs down her common people. In this may she be most successful!

   Mexico's happy celebration of her natal day brings to mind the suffering and struggle of her sister Spanish colony, Cuba. Today Cuba's only regret is that she did not throw off the Spanish yoke when the other colonies did. Mexico was the first. Mexican revolt against Spain was begun by one man, a "country priest" of blessed memory, Don Miguel Hidalgo. This was in 1810. Hidalgo was overthrown. Tender and merciful Spain put him to death after she caught him. But Hidalgo's cause lived. With varying results the brave Mexicans struggled on till 1821, when they issued their second declaration of independence, Feb. 24. Thereafter the war was waged more fiercely than ever till 1824. In that year Mexico's liberty was finally established, and in 1825 every country of Europe except Spain acknowledged her independence. Thus it will be seen that it took Mexico 15 years to free herself wholly from the bloody yoke of Spain.

   In 1868 Cuba rebelled and fought ten years for freedom, till 1878, then was defeated by Martinez Campos, the man who has just been sent home to Spain because he was not cruel enough. This time it looks as if Cuba were [sic] going to gain her independence.

AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

The New Stations of The Cross Erected Last Night.

   As announced in yesterday's issue the service of the blessing of the new stations was carried out with all the pomp and ceremony of the Catholic church last night.

   Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., of Syracuse, bishop of the Diocese erected them, assisted by the following priests: Rev. M. J. Hughes and Rev J. J. McDonald of Binghamton, Rev. G. S. Mahon of Oxford, Rev. C. V. McGuire of Marathon and Rev. J. J. McLoghlin of Cortland.

   After the solemn blessing of the stations Rev. G. S. Mahon of Oxford ascended the pulpit and preached an eloquent sermon on the subject "The

Stations of the Cross, Their Origin and the Devotions Attached Thereto."

   The church was crowded on the occasion by a large and appreciative audience. The new stations were lately imported from Europe through the agency of Messrs. Stolzenburg & Co. of New York by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden. They were secured at a heavy expense and are of artistic value. They will enhance the interior beauty of the church.

A Big Drift.

   Eight years ago during the March blizzard there was a drift so large just this side of Taylor that a tunnel in the road was made through it and Mr. A. B. Nelson drove a top cutter through it, and others made use of the tunnel for some days. Mr. T. L. Corwin started to come from Taylor to Cortland yesterday and in the same identical place found another tremendous drift (no tunnel this time.) The snow was so deep that he did not dare to try to get through it and he turned about and drove around by way of Cincinnatus and East Freetown to Cortland.

"Michael Strogoff."

   "Michael Strogoff" was well played before an appreciative audience at the Opera House last night. The play is a well known play, the plot being laid in Siberia and its production was good. Several young men of Cortland have been engaged to take the part of soldiers and escaped convicts. At one time quite a ripple was noticeable through the audience when one of the local amateurs in his haste to get off the stage ran directly into the arms of a leading actress. None the less entertaining was the scene in the third act when a bomb was thrown onto the stage among the convicts and one of them appeared as unconcerned as though it were a doughnut while the others were horror stricken.

BREVITIES.

   —The Y. M. C. A. Bible class to-night at 8 o'clock.

   —New advertisements to-day are—C. F. Brown, for $1.50 each, page 6.

   —Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald has sold his black mare, Thistle Dolly, to Mr. Frank Miller of New York, price $350.

   —The friends of Mrs. Phebe Phillips will be pained to know that she has had a partial shock of paralysis and her condition is very unfavorable.

   —There will be no services at the different churches to-morrow night on account of the meeting at the Opera House in the interest of the Armenians.

   —The |small building next north of Tanner's meat market is being repaired and refinished for occupancy April 1 by H. Banks, the barber now located on Port Watson-st.

   —Mr. R. M. Hilsinger received to-day a new ten horse power portable engine and boiler from Auburn which he is placing in position for use at his gristmill and repair shop on North Main-st.

   —Mr. H. S. Miller, in whose Bible readings in the First M. E. church for two weeks past so many have been deeply interested, will give a reading tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon in the Presbyterian church at 3 o'clock, All are invited.

   —Mrs. D. J. Chadwick on Thursday night severely burned one of her hands. In lighting the lamp the large paper shade caught fire and before it could be extinguished burned the hand so that it was badly blistered and quite painful.

   —John and Harry Dillon, Cortland boys, are with the "Girl Wanted" company, which appears at the Opera House shortly. They have gained considerable reputation in the past year, through the composition of the successful songs, "Put Me off at Buffalo," "What Right Has He on Broadway," "Do, Do my Huckleberry Do."

   —The engine on an eastbound freight train on the Lehigh Valley R. R. became disabled last night on the Chittenango Valley hill, this side of Perryville. East and westbound passenger trains were considerably delayed, and the special train carrying the railroad officials who were inspecting their purchase, was compelled to stay at Perryville and did not reach Cortland till 8 o'clock this morning.