PEACE TERMS ARE ACCEPTED AND SPLENDID TROLLEY RIDE WITH BAND

 

P. Mateo Sagasta.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, August 8, 1898.

PEACE TERMS ARE ACCEPTED.

Spain Accedes to the Demands of the United States.

HOSTILITIES TO CEASE.

Madrid Officials Believe That the War Has Ended.

   MADRID, Aug. 8.—America's terms of peace have been accepted. Senor Sagasta held a long conference with the queen regent. Her majesty approved the general lines of the reply of Spain to America's peace terms, which Senor Sagasta explained to her. This reply was later submitted to a full meeting of the cabinet council and completely approved of.

   The reply will be telegraphed to Senor Leon y Castillo, the Spanish ambassador to France, at once, so that M. Cambon, the French ambassador at Washington will receive it and present it to President McKinley as soon as possible. The government believes that the United States will accept Spain's answer, which will certainly reach the White House by Tuesday. As a consequence of the United States accepting the reply, hostilities will immediately afterwards be suspended.

   According to the most reliable sources of information, the Spanish note is couched in dignified language. It asserts that Spain bows to the force of circumstances, having done nothing to provoke the war into which she has been unwillingly led in the defense of her rights and territories. It expresses a willingness to appoint delegates to meet the American commissioners to discuss a regime for the Philippines.

   It is understood that both Senor Sagasta and Duke Almodovar de Rio, the foreign minister, told the queen regent that they felt deeply the painful duty circumstances imposed upon them. As the reply to the American terms was only submitted to the queen regent yesterday, all the reports of her previous approval of the American demands are necessarily without foundation. Premier Sagasta, it is understood, will remain In power, although it had previously been stated that as soon as Spain made submission he would get out in favor of some other politician.

 

STEPS TO BE TAKEN.

Opinion of the Judge Advocate General of the United States.

   WASHINGTON, Aug. 8.—Major Morrison, judge advocate general of the United States army, summarizes the steps likely to be taken in peace negotiations by the United States as follows:

   First—The president and government at Madrid will agree on an armistice for the cessation of hostilities.

   Second—The arrangements to suspend war pending the drafting of a treaty will be communicated by both governments to their armies in the field as speedily as possible.

   Third—Until the commanding generals are officially notified they will proceed according to their orders.

   Fourth—The United States can continue to send troops to Porto Rico or Santiago. An armistice terminates aggressive warfare, but it does not prevent either party sending troops to the territory already occupied by its armies.

   Fifth—The blockade of Havana need not necessarily be raised.

   Sixth—As to Manila, the terms precedent require that the United States occupy the city and bay, and the armistice will be followed at once by an order from Madrid to allow General Merritt's troops to occupy the city.

 

Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

NOT RESPONSIBLE.

Turkey's Reply to Demands Made by the United States.

   CONSTANTINOPLE, Aug. 8.—The porte has replied to the American demand for compensation for losses sustained by American subjects during the Armenian massacres. The reply is the same as that given to other powers, repudiating all responsibility for the losses.

   In the course of a farewell audience of Dr. James B. Angell, the retiring American minister to Turkey, the sultan referred to the war between the United States and Spain. He said he was much impressed with the naval operations and the terrible execution of American guns and had ordered the purchase of similar guns for Turkey.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Some Naval Lessons of the War.

   It is too soon yet to focus all the side lights which will have been shed on the problems of naval warfare by the outcome of the Spanish-American conflict. The failure of the enemy's navy to justify many of the expectations which had been formed of its effective fighting strength precludes some of the light which might have come from a great naval battle on the side of sea tactics and strategy. This probably would not have been much greater, however, in the case of armorclads than of wooden ships, for the broad principles which won at Salamis, Lepanto and Trafalgar will always hold good.

   Some things have been made clear. The apprehension felt over the power of the torpedo boat as a sea weapon has been greatly allayed. The battle which annihilated Cervera's fleet proved conclusively that a multiplicity of rapid firing guns, well served, is a pretty sure defense against such a fighting factor. The torpedo boat is, like the cobra, deadly in its stroke, but easily killed before reaching the striking distance. One mysterious terror has received a douche of cold sea water. Only by a union of great skill and daring in the service of torpedo warfare and under most favorable conditions, can it be raised to its Nth power. Again, the importance of increased speed in our battleships has been signally enforced. The Cristobal Colon would unquestionably have escaped had it not been for the Oregon, an unusually swift battleship, and the fast Brooklyn. All the foreign admiralties are planning battleships with minimum speed of from 17 to 18 knots, and yet our naval department fatuously lays out its new ships for a minimum 15 knot speed and rejects the chief engineer's recommendation for the most improved boilers and engines, because they will take up too much room. The need of a greater ratio of armored cruisers with a very high speed has also been made clear as noonday. The great Nelson's cry was ever: "Frigates, more frigates! I have sail of the line enough." High powered, armored ships with their lighter heels and greater firing radius are likely to be quite as valuable an element in triumphant sea fighting as the slower liners with their maximum battery strength. Not fewer battleships, but more armored cruisers should be the shibboleth of coming naval estimates, if we crave a well balanced navy.

   The most notable lesson of all is the tremendous potency sheathed in the phrase, "The man behind the gun." More than ever now that the agency of attack involves the skillful command of the most complex, ingenious and nicely adjusted mechanism, do the discipline and intelligence of the purely human factor count. The knowledge of our men and officers, trained by practice to the most prompt and efficient work, has excited the admiration of the world. Here we have had the biggest odds against the Spaniard. And in this element of preponderance we could probably challenge the world for a match.

 

The Bubonic Plague.

   ◘ Less than two years ago a genuine alarm spread through the civilized world growing out of the threat of the plague; which was focalized in Bombay, India. It presented exactly similar features to the "black death" which traveled from the Levant at different periods in medieval times and transformed many parts of Europe into vast graveyards. Its ease of infection and rapidity of march gave emphasis to the danger. All the advances of medical science and sanitation, all the barriers of an elaborate quarantine system, it was feared, might not be fully proof against that tramp of death. The ignorance and fanaticism of western Asia and of eastern Europe, still operative on the verge of the twentieth century, lay there, an unfenced road and breeding ground. But, as it happened, the menace died away to an echo.

   Much was then learned of the nature, agencies of transmission and treatment of the bubonic plague. Professor Koch of Berlin has just announced the result of some further investigations of this awful scourge. We learn from him that there are four centers of this plague, where it is endemic, ceaseless in its ravages, though most of the time limited in its operations. To the three already known those in the province of Hunan, China; in Tibet and on the west coast of Arabia, near Mecca, Dr. Koch adds a fourth in the German hinterland of Africa. From these centers of  propagation the disease is liable under favoring conditions to march again, like the armies of Genghis or Timor, as communication between the countries of the world becomes more and more intimate. But forewarned is forearmed, and the powers of science and government need not be caught napping. But that danger has not ceased to exist from centers of endemic operation is now assured. It is also claimed that considerable progress has been made in the direction of artificial immunity by inoculation. We fear this is as yet quite problematical. The only true safety is in vigilance and prevention, the attitude of being constantly on guard against surprise.

 

William Rufus Day.

DAY TO RETIRE.

Will Resume the Practice of Law in Canton.

   NEW YORK. Aug. 8.—A special to The Herald from Washington says: In connection with the probable selection of Secretary Day as one of the peace commissioners. It is stated that he will at an early date retire from the office of secretary of state and after concluding his labors as a member of the commission, resume the practice of law in Canton. Although this is the first public announcement that Secretary Day intends to retire from public life, it has long been known to his intimate friends, that when he accepted the portfolio he did so with the understanding that he would resign his office immediately after peace had been restored between Spain and the United States.

 

Postcard showing trolley cars near Cortland House, Cortland, N. Y.

SPLENDID TROLLEY RIDE.

Whole Length of Electric Road—Illuminated Cars—Band—All for 25 Cents.

   The most delightful feature of the firemen's convention without any exception was the trolley ride from the park to Homer Tuesday evening in the illuminated cars moving swiftly along the cool fresh air, while the city band in one of the cars furnished splendid music all the way. No one who took the ride can forget it and much has been said about it since.

   Superintendent Mooney has determined to give the public at large an opportunity of enjoying such a ride. If the weather be favorable to-morrow night trolley cars will leave the Messenger House at 8 o'clock sharp for a ride the whole length of the road. The open cars which are illuminated with the red, white and blue incandescent lights will be used, and the band will accompany the party. The ride will be first to the north end of the trolley line in Homer, then up to the park, where there will be a short stop to permit any who desire to do so to get ice cream or other refreshments at the pavilion, then to McGrawville and finally back to the Messenger House in Cortland. The fare for the round trip will be 25 cents.

   If it be decided wise, from the weather point of view, to attempt the ride to-morrow night posters will be pat up to-morrow by noon announcing the fact, and tickets will be on sale at Brogden's drug store. If it should be rainy the ride will occur later. The number of tickets will be limited to the seating capacity of the cars to be used, about 300. People who desire to go will in consequence do well to secure their tickets as soon as the notice appears that the ride will occur.

 

"A Boy Wanted."

   Chas. E. Blaney's big extravaganza success, "A Boy Wanted," will be at the Cortland Opera House, Friday evening, Aug. 12, and will afford an entertainment said to be the strongest and brightest ever written by that brilliant author whose successes, viz: "The Electrician," "A Hired Girl," "A Boy Wanted," "A Railroad Ticket," "A Baggage Check," are all playing to enormous business.

   "A Boy Wanted" is filled with brisk action, bright dialogue and situations, singing and dancing. It moves swiftly from one thing to another, and keeps the audience constantly amused. A company of twenty-five performers make the largest and strongest farce-comedy company en tour. Prices, 35, 50 and 75 cents. Sale at Rood & Co.'s Wednesday at 2:30 P. M.

 

BREVITIES.

   —It is estimated that 1,000 pairs of rubbers were sold in Cortland on Thursday, the last day of the firemen's convention.

   —New display advertisements to-day are A. S. Burgess, Bathing Suits, page 8; Gardner, Attention, page 6; Warren, Tanner & Co., Clearing Sale, page 7; Opera House, "A Boy Wanted," page 5.

   —Prompt action averted a conflagration at the home of J. A. Maynard, 82 Lincoln-ave., last evening when a kerosene lamp exploded, setting fire to rugs and tablespread. Mr. Maynard threw the lamp out of doors, and quickly extinguished the flames.

 

Drowned in Cincinnatus Lake.

   Thomas Kelley and Arthur Ticknor of Smithville Flats were drowned in Cincinnatus lake Saturday evening about 6 o'clock. The men were out fishing and the boats were upset in an effort to exchange boats. Both were supposed to be good swimmers, but neither appeared to be able to get hold of the boats or to swim out.

   Mr. Kelley was about 50 years of age and leaves a wife and seven children. For ten years preceding last fall he had served his town on the Chenango board of supervisors. Mr. Ticknor was about 30 years of age and leaves a wife and one child.