Cortland
Evening Standard, Monday, May 2, 1898.
SPANIARDS
DEFEATED.
Admiral
Dewey Attacks the City of Manila.
WASHINGTON, May 2.—Washington is rejoiced.
Not since the dark days of the great civil conflict of a third of a century ago
have the people of this city been so profoundly moved by news of war as they
are now. The first battle of the Hispano-American war has been fought and
victory lies with Commodore Dewey's squadron under the stars and stripes.
That was enough to set the people of
Washington almost in a frenzy of enthusiastic rejoicing. For days they, in
common with the people throughout the country, have been awaiting news from the
Philippine islands, as everything pointed to a battle at Manila that might be a
decisive conflict of the war. When the news came indicating a great victory for
the American squadron, the enthusiasm of the people was let loose and the
streets of the city have rung with cheers ever since.
The first news of the battle received in
Washington came in a brief cablegram from Madrid. As the time wore on, the
cable continued to sing the news of victory for the squadron of Commodore Dewey
and the interest grew into tremendous excitement.
Good, as well as bad news spreads rapidly,
and soon the streets were crowded with people all discussing the one exciting
topic of the hour. While victory has been expected, the news of it—coming as it
did come from Spanish sources—gave vent to the patriotism of the people which
has been pent up for days. It was a spontaneous outburst of patriotic feeling
that scarcely knew bounds. Commodore Dewey's name was on every lip and his
praises were sung in the rejoicing of the people.
Officials of the navy department were
reticent in discussing the conflict in the absence of official information, but
they made no pretense of concealing their great gratification. Secretary Long
declined to comment upon the subject, but it was evident that he felt relieved.
When Secretary Bliss was shown the first
dispatch, briefly recounting the victory of the American squadron, he
unhesitatingly expressed his gratification at the result and gave utterance to
the hope that Admiral Dewey's fleet had not suffered greatly.
Secretary Alger declared that it was a
"glorious victory," but in common with other officials of the
administration declined to make extended comment upon it.
The absence of any statement of specific injury
to the American vessels, in the Madrid advices, was construed as convincing
indications that they had not suffered appreciable injury and this was
especially pleasing to the naval students of the news. Not only was the
preservation of the American ships and men considered in itself a happy
outcome, but it was commented upon as indicating clearly that Commodore Dewey
and his assistant officers and the men under their command had discharged
splendidly their several duties in directing and executing the fight.
An opinion freely expressed by naval officers
is that the very decisive victory of Admiral Dewey's fleet will mean probably
an early end to the war without further naval battles of importance. The
American fleet, it is suggested, is how supreme in the waters of Spain's Pacific
possessions, and indications were strongly towards the slipping of the
Philippines from her control. It was said that only by quickly yielding to our
demands in Cuba could their loss possibly be averted. Spain, it was argued, is
confronted with a situation which promises naught save disaster in case she
elected to force more fighting.
The superiority of a superior fleet has been
demonstrated in the Pacific, and the same, it is contended, would be inevitable
in the Atlantic in case a clash comes. Many officers think this view will
prevail with the Spanish government, and believe an end of the war upon the
basis of Cuban independence is to follow [soon], and that, too, without further
notable opportunities for the American navy to prove its power and distinguish
itself.
SPANISH
ACCOUNT.
American
Squadron Retired After Suffering Severe Damage.
MADRID, May 2.—Advices from Manila say that
the American squadron under Commodore Dewey appeared off the bay of Manila at 5
o'clock Sunday morning and opened a strong cannonading against the Spanish
squadron and forts protecting the harbor. The Spanish second class cruiser Don
Juan de Austria was severely damaged and her commander killed. Another Spanish
vessel was burned.
The American squadron retired having also
sustained severe damage.
A second engagement followed in which the
American squadron again suffered considerable loss and the Spanish warships
Mindanco and Ulloa were slightly damaged.
During this engagement the Cavite forts
maintained a steadier and stronger fire upon the American squadron than in the
first engagement.
Admiral Bermejo, the minister of marine, has
expressed himself as highly pleased with the heroism of the Spanish marines,
and has telegraphed congratulations to Admiral Montejo and the valorous crews
of the Spanish squadron under fire of superior warships.
An official telegram received at a late hour
from the governor general of the Philippines
says:
"Admiral Montojo has transferred his flag
to the cruiser Isla de Cuba from the Reina Maria Christina. The Reina Maria
Christina was completely burned as was also the cruiser Castlllar, the other
ships having to retire from the combat and some being sunk to avoid their
falling into the hands of the enemy."
The Reina Maria Christina was a steel
cruiser of 3,520 tons and 3,970 indicated horse power. She was about 282 feet
long. She was built at Ferrol in 1885 and
carried six 6.2-inch Hontoria guns, two 2.7-inch guns, two 2-inch quick-firers,
six 3-pounders and two Maxim guns.
The cruiser Castilla was a wooden vessel of
8,342 tons and was 246 feet long. Her indicated horse power was 4,400. She was
built in 1881 at Cadiz. Her armament consisted of four 5.9-inch Krupp guns, two
4.7-inch, two 8.7-inch, four 2.9-inch, eight quick-firing and two Maxim guns.
 |
| Admiral George Dewey. |
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
Victory
at Manila.
The United States squadron under Commodore Dewey engaged the Spanish squadron yesterday at Manila. According to advices of
Spanish origin, and coming through Spanish channels, the latter was practically
destroyed.
The complete destruction of the Reina
Christina and Castilla by burning is admitted. These were the largest two of the
Spanish vessels, and the most heavily armed. The Don Juan de Austria and Ulloa
are mentioned also as burned.
The Christina was the flagship of Admiral
Montejo who, it seems, saved himself by transferring his flag to another
vessel. But for the shift it is admitted the admiral would have met death with
the captain and crew of the Christina.
In view of the known penchant of the
Spaniards for making a good case for their side, and the incentive of making
out that the first battle resulted in their favor, the conclusion is
inevitable, as it is reasonable and gratifying from the official report of the
governor of the Philippines, that Commander Dewey achieved a sweeping victory.
How sweeping, at what expense in loss of life and injury to ships, can not be
authentically known for some days. But by the Spanish representations the
opposing fleet is annihilated.
The good ships engaged in this fight were
the Olympia, Baltimore, cruisers, and the Boston, Raleigh, Concord and Petrel,
gunboats.
This brilliant victory, won in the far away
eastern Pacific, will inspire the officers and men of the fleets in the Atlantic.
It justifies the confidence, felt not only by Americans but by observing naval
authorities in Europe, that the superiority of the American warships, and the
"men behind the guns," would be demonstrated whenever the ships of
Spain and the United States engaged in battle.
By the same signs that point to a crushing
defeat for Spain, there is reason to believe that the ships and men of the
United States suffered little. Else would the governor of the Philippines not
fail to enlarge upon the "losses of the enemy."
◘
In its contest with Spain the
United States has a vast advantage from every point of view. In population,
fighting strength, wealth, material resources and position, the advantages are
tremendously one-sided. Spain, by the latest statistics available, (Statesman's
Year Book, 1898,) has a total population (census of 1887) of 17,565,632; the
United States (census of 1890) 62,222,250. Spain has a million and a half of fighting
age; the United States 10,000,000. Spain is bankrupt; the United States has a
plethoric treasury and unlimited credit. In Spain the female population exceeds
the male by nearly half a million; in the United States the reverse is the case
by a majority of a million and a half. The census valuation of property in the
United States in 1890 was $65,037,091,197—an increase of $22,000,000,000 in
ten years. Corresponding statistics as to Spain are not available.
In population Spain compares well with the group
of states embodying New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The
nine states here included have an area of 162,065 square miles, and a
population (1890) of 17,401,545; Spain has an area of 197,670 square miles and
a population of 17,565,632. While in area Spain is larger than these nine
states by 35,500 square miles, it lacks 64,000 square miles of making one
Texas. The naval strength of the two countries is more nearly equal than any
other features of their equipment. Spain is here at a great disadvantage in
distance from the bone of contention.
 |
| William Rufus Day. |
SENATOR
DAY'S RISE.
From
Country Lawyer to Head of the Cabinet.
CHARACTERISTIC
OF OUR SYSTEM.
Foreigners
Amazed at the Rapid Advancement of Our Public Men—They Rarely Fail to
Succeed—Judge Day Is Unassuming, but Has a Long Head.
WASHINGTON, May 2.—(Special.)—Few Americans
make as big a leap forward in a short time as Judge Day of Canton, O., has made
in the last year. Though a new man in public life, unheard of outside his own
immediate neighborhood a year or two ago, he is now at the head of the American
cabinet. He is the ranking member of the government council, occupying a post
which has been the aim and ambition of many veterans in the public service. It
is a big jump from being a country lawyer in Ohio to rank with Salisbury, Von
Bulow, Sagasta and the great men of the world's governments. But just such
leaps forward are characteristic of American public life. Our system is one
that brings men to the front with a rapidity which amazes foreign observers,
and it is fortunately another characteristic of Americans that when the fates
thus press them onward they rarely fail to meet all reasonable expectations.
This is believed to be due to the wonderful adaptability of the average American.
At any rate, the manner in which our citizens suddenly called to high posts in
the government or the diplomatic service so conduct themselves as to stand
comparison with the veteran and trained men of other governments is a source of
constant wonder to foreigners.
Able
Americans Diplomats.
It does not follow, therefore, that because
an American has had little training for high office he is going to fail in it. Certainly
it does not fail in the case of Judge Day. As secretary of state he is likely
to gain a very high reputation. Nor can it be said that he lacks experience. For
a year or more he has virtually been secretary of state. He has had full
management of the difficult Cuban question for the president, and surely
that has been a hard enough school.
It will be remembered by your readers that in
this correspondence I have several times in the past made the positive statement
that Mr. Sherman was soon to retire from the state department. At the time
those statements were made in your paper their truthfulness was questioned, but
your correspondent knew absolutely what he was talking about, and he knew that the
resignation of. Mr. Sherman only awaited a favorable opportunity. It was impossible
without doing injustice either to the president or to Mr. Sherman to make
public in detail the facts upon which my statements were based, and it is not necessary
to give them now.
This is not by any means the first time that
an American citizen comparatively unknown has leaped to the highest ranks of
public service. Abraham Lincoln was little known and had had almost no
experience at all when he was chosen president of the United States. Later Mr.
Olney of Massachusetts was appointed secretary of state by Mr. Cleveland
without any previous experience in the state department or with diplomatic
affairs. Yet he made one of the ablest secretaries of state this country has
ever had, and in a tilt of brains and courage with the great premier of England
came off first best in the Venezuela affair. There have been many other such
instances—so many that it has become an axiom throughout the diplomatic corps
of the world that it is impossible to tell how much strength or shrewdness an
American is going to develop in high office by studying his past career.
"The Americans—they are full of surprises," said an experienced
foreigner of high rank, with a shrug of his shoulders.
The new secretary of state is a slender man
of florid complexion, very quiet in his manners, given but little to talk about
anything and then speaking in a low tone, never demonstrative, but always alert
and quick. His training is that of a lawyer, and as a lawyer he had the
reputation out in Ohio of being the quietest and most successful man in the
business. He was known as a wise counselor, and it did not much matter what the
case in hand was. He was said to have a long head, to be not only shrewd, but
farseeing, and his advice was valued far beyond that of many men who were more
showy in court or public.
Secretary
Day a Poor Man.
Of course it is true that Mr. Day owes his
rapid advance in public life to the close friendship which has existed for many
years between him and the president. While Mr. McKinley was a mere congressman or
a private citizen or governor of Ohio he still valued Judge Day's counsel very
highly. More than any other living man the new secretary of state has been the
confidant of the president, both before and after the inauguration. Secretary
Day is not only a man with a "long head," as we Americans express it,
but he is a close student. He keeps up his reading. Even throughout the period
of tension over the Spanish affair, when the state department was the center of
interest and action, Mr. Day spent many of his evenings in reading upon all the
points of international law and precedent involved. In other words, it was in
this way that he developed the American characteristic of quickly mastering any
field of activity to which he was called.
The new secretary of state is a poor man,
comparatively speaking. Probably his whole fortune and that of his wife could
be called only a modest competence in Canton, O., while in Washington it is of
course a very, small sum indeed. Mr. Day as assistant secretary of state has found
it necessary to live modestly in order to keep within his income, and as
secretary of state I doubt if he makes any great departure in the way of taking
a larger house or of increasing his monthly outlay. It will of course be
impossible for him to live within his salary. Not more than one or two cabinet
officers in a dozen are able to do that. But the late Judge Gresham
demonstrated that the dignity of the office of secretary of state need not
suffer through failure on the part of its incumbent to entertain lavishly or
keep up a style of living which meets foreign ideas in such matters. Mr. Blaine
was the last secretary of state we have had who cared much for society. Mr.
Gresham disliked it, Mr. Olney was much too busy with other affairs, and Mr.
Sherman was never in all his long experience at Washington what might be called
a society man.
WALTER WELLMAN.
BREVITIES.
—The regular meeting of Grover Relief corps
will occur to-morrow, May 3, at 2:30 P. M.
—A. F. Kinney of Truxton has made a dozen
baseball bats for the use of the Cortland team this season.
—At the meeting of the town board this
morning, Albert Goldsmith was appointed constable in place of James Fitzgerald,
resigned.
—A meeting of Grover post, No. 98, G. A. R.,
will be held to-night. The report of the Memorial day committee will be made at
this time.
—In Justice Kelley's court this afternoon, a
jury was drawn in the case of Giles O.
Rood against Charles Stone, and an adjournment was taken.
—New display advertisements to-day are—C. F.
Brown, Painting, page 8; Relder &
McLaughlin, Jewelry, page 5; Baker & Angell. Shoes, page 8.
—Reports from the condition of Mr. George T.
Latimer, who is in a hospital in Syracuse, are not encouraging and it is feared
that his strength will not hold out much longer.
—Town Clerk H. H. Pudney has received the
March bulletin of the state board of health, which given the death rate in
Cortland for that mouth as 10.75 per 1,000 inhabitants.
—Mr. C. R. Arnold and others are in Cortland
delivering the Biographical History of
Cortland county, which was prepared last summer. It is a fine work. Further
notice of it will be given later.
—Daniel Atwood, who resides on Duane-st. was
arrested Saturday night on the charge of public intoxication. This morning he
pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned until to-morrow night.
—A regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will
be held on Tuesday, May 8, at 2:45 P. M.
Consecration services will be led by Mrs. Edith Cotton. A business meeting and
a Sabbath observance program will follow.
—The board of village trustees will hold an
important meeting to-night in the office of the clerk, W. C. Crombie. It is
expected that the question of a natural gas franchise will be taken up and
considered.
—Prompt action averted what might have
proved a serious fire in the Sager building Friday night in the rooms occupied
by G. A. Johnson, agent for Wanamaker & Brown. A lamp fell on a pile
of sample clothing, but Mr. Johnson smothered the flames quickly.
THE CORTLANDS WON.
TOOK A
GAME FROM THE SHAMROCKS SATURDAY.
They Played
Well and Were Victorious by the Score or 12 to 9—Shamrocks Put up a Good Game
Too—The Fans are Enthusiastic and Believe Cortland
Has an
Aggregation of Ball Players.
The Cortland State league baseball team had
its first real practice Saturday afternoon, and the practice was in the form of
a matched game with the Shamrocks of Syracuse, and the score at the end of the
game stood 12 to 9 in favor of Cortland. There was a good sized, crowd that
braved the chilly winds to see the game, but they were not disappointed, for
all saw that there is a large amount of latent baseball power in McGuirk's men.
The
game opened with Hanscomb of Cortland at the bat. The first ball thrown was wide
of the mark, but the next was near the plate and the handsome left fielder sent
an easy grounder down to Third Baseman O'Neil who fumbled it and consequently
Hanscomb was safely perched on first. Delaney hit the ball, but it went to
short and he was retired at first, while Hanscomb meandered down to second.
Ketchum, the Cortland boy, who has been under the training of Captain McGuirk for
two weeks, sent the sphere over into short center for one base, sending Hanscomb
to third. McGuirk took first on four balls, and then came "Hi Sky"
Polhemus. He took a glance at Benham's hill, and then lightly tapped the ball
over into the right garden for two bags, scoring Hanscomb and Ketchum. Roussey
and Wise flew out, and the side was retired.
Friel went into the box for Cortland, and in
the first inning the visitors scored two runs on a triple by O'Neil and a
single by Boynton. The side was retired, however, by a neat double play, in
which the actors were Friel, Roussey and McGuirk. The locals went at Moriarity
in the second for three hits by Wise, Hanscomb and Ketchum, which, aided by a base
on balls by Friel and a costly error by Boynton, netted four more runs. The
Cortlands did not score again until the last inning, when the score was 9 to 6 against
them, and McGuirk urged his men to do the best they could. The net result was
six more runs and the victory.
The fifth inning came near being a hoodoo for
Cortland, for it was in that inning when the visitors went at stick work with a
vengeance, getting four safe hits and six scores.
Gildea
went in to pitch in the fourth inning, and he showed both speed and control.
The game was very cleanly played for so early in the season and Cortland
fans may well congratulate themselves and the players on the showing they made,
for it must be borne in mind that Saturday was the first real good practice the
Cortlands have had, while the Shamrocks have been playing all the spring. Wise
behind the bat was quick, sure and steady, and also did well at the bat [sic].
Delaney at third also comes in for his share of compliments as well as Short Stop
Deisel and Second Baseman Roussey. McGuirk covered first base in good shape,
and held his team down closely to good hard and steady work. The outfielders, Hanscomb,
Ketchum and Polhemus, covered their territory very satisfactorily. Ketchum led
in hitting, getting two singles and a double out of five times at bat. The next
scheduled game is with Syracuse university to-morrow afternoon at 3:45 o'clock.
The score:
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