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| P. Mateo Sagasta. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 20, 1898.
SAGASTA INTERVIEWED.
Spain's Premier Talks on the Present Situation.
NEITHER PEACE NOR WAR.
Merely a Suspension of Hostilities and Not an Armistice.
MADRID, Aug. 20.—El Liberal publishes remarks made by Senor Sagasta on the diplomatic and political situation, quoting the premier as follows:
"From a legal point of view, the present state of things is neither peace nor war, but merely a suspension of hostilities. An armistice would have allowed us to dispel better the obscurity of the situation; but the United States declined to agree to our making a step further in advance.
"The questions to be solved are numerous and complex. What we have done first is to lay down certain bases on which each minister may make any observation which study of the subject suggest. These will continue to be treated in daily cabinet councils, it being held that the bases in question are the fundamental instructions for the guidance of the various commissions in the forthcoming negotiations, to be supplemented and rectified subsequently by telegraph.
"In Cuba besides evacuation there are many other problems. Spain may abandon her sovereignty over the greater Antilles; but there will remain the question of edifice and all our properties. There are law suits before the tribunal affecting the interests of Spaniards. Where and when will these be decided? In Havana, where a large number of criminals have been condemned by Spanish tribunals, what is to be done with them? Then there are other questions for which we have to fix a basis of discussion and agreement regarding the Philippines. Besides these and other problems of greater importance there is a preliminary question to be discussed.
"According to international law, as a suspension of hostilities has been signed, the surrender of Manila ought to have no legal efficacy. How will that principle be understood by the United States? This causes us much anxiety and we give it great attention; but we are still awaiting the information demanded from General Jaudenes, which has not yet reached us, on account of the difficulties of communication between Manila and Hong Kong."
These remarks have all the appearance of being authentic, as they are in accord with information from other sources and in harmony with Senor Sagasta's usual style.
The public is still anxious for an explanation of Governor General Augustin's mysterious departure from Manila, but its curiosity is not likely to be satisfied for some time, the government declining to say anything.
It is rumored that the government will instruct the Cuban commissioners to present a strong case for the recognition of Spain's claim for compensation for the cession of public works in Cuba, the compensation to take the form of saddling upon Cuba the bulk of the Cuban debt existing in 1896.
The papers advocate strengthening of Cuban and Andelusian ports in anticipation of Anglo-Russian eventualities.
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| Admirals Sampson and Schley leading the fleet into New York harbor. |
IMPOSING NAVAL PAGEANT
Signalized the Return of Our Victorious Fleet.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20.—New York and the nation have to-day fitly signalized the appreciation of the republic of her victorious fleet. An imposing naval pageant of warships has been received in the harbor of the largest city in the country with acclamations of delight and admiration and the ovation from shore and from the great flotillas of all sorts of craft on the water and significantly given to the returning heroes some idea of the esteem and admiration in which they are regarded by the people.
Long before the sunrise gun was fired at Castle William, Governor's Inland, the people were astir and about. Crowds were hurrying to the river to be early on the scene. Long before the time when the ferryboats and streetcars are usually crowded great throngs of people hung on the straps, trod on each other's feet and jammed into conveyances, to points all along the river front. The New York and the New Jersey shores were crowded black with people. The river and bay were literally alive with craft and the craft alive with people, all cheering and good-natured.
First came Admiral Sampson's flagship New York, Rear Admiral Schley's flagship Brooklyn, then the Massachusetts, the Oregon, the Iowa, the Indiana and the Texas, and after came a moving mass of all sizes and descriptions of craft with flags waving and people cheering. The great battleships moved slowly and majestically. As Governor's Island was passed there was a tremendous report from the guns that did so much execution at Guantanamo and Santiago. The people on shore and afloat fairly went wild. They yelled and screamed, waved flags and jumped up and down in patriotic fervor. And so it was all the way to Grant's tomb where there was a final demonstration of patriotic fervor such as New York has never witnessed before. The pageant was viewed and cheered by hundreds of thousands of people. It was a magnificent and indescribable scene and one never to be forgotten.
OUR FOREIGN POLICY.
Expansion of Territory Discussed at the Saratoga Conference.
SARATOGA, Aug. 20.—The national conference on the foreign policy of the United States took up the colonial expansion and Carl Schurz of New York spoke at length, giving the views of the anti-expansionists whose cause he advocated.
Mr. Schurz was opposed by Judge P. S. Grosscup of Chicago, who is an earnest expansionist, and who spoke at great length. A discussion followed between Messrs. Schurz and Grosscup.
Among others who took part in the general discussion were Harry G. Garfield of Cleveland, F. B. Thurber of New York, John, W. Coughlin of Fall River, J. Davis Duffield of Fall River, F. Shack of New York and others.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
The Situation in Cuba.
It may be that the Cubans will give us far more trouble in Cuba than the Spaniards have. It may prove to be more difficult to establish a republican form of government there than it was to defeat Spain. At all events, the situation on the island is growing worse daily, and the letters from well-informed correspondents of conservative American journals are full of gloomy forebodings and unpleasant predictions.
The refusal of the American commander to turn Santiago over to the Cubans, possibly to be looted and certainly to be misgoverned, has made the islanders furiously angry. The plain duty of the Americans is to protect the lives and property of the conquered Spaniards; and because we are doing our duty, the Cubans, with repeated Spanish outrages fresh in their minds, are becoming as ugly toward their deliverers as they have been toward their oppressors.
The American people can see now how wisely President McKinley guided the action of congress when he sternly opposed a recognition of the Cuban republic. Had the republic been recognized, General Shatter would have been obliged to turn captured cities over to its officers at once. As it is, he can govern the cities himself—not without arousing the animosity of the Cubans, of course, but without violating American pledges.
There have been threats that the Cubans would try to take by force of arms the Cuban cities now under American military rule, beginning the attack as soon as the American garrisons were weakened. This course would compel a reversal of the American policy. Instead of freeing Cuba for the Cubans we would be forced to govern it permanently ourselves and join the island to the American possessions.
The best thing the Cuban leaders can do is to recognize the facts as they are; to be reasonably patient; to disband the army and send the men home to resume labor on the plantations; and to pledge themselves in the most solemn manner to assist the United States in whatever measures it may adopt for the ultimate establishment of a republican form of government.
It is as clear as anything can be that the United States will have to annex Cuba if the Cubans do not behave themselves.
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| Dr. Lydia A. Strowbridge. |
HAMMOND FAMILY REUNION.
Pleasant Gathering Held at McGrawville Yesterday.
The twenty-third annual reunion of the Hammond family was held at McGrawville yesterday, and in common with all previous reunions of the family was a very pleasant event. The reunion was to have been held at the home of Henry Hammond, but owing to the rainy weather was held in a large hall. Over seventy were present, including from a distance Dr. and Mrs. James Allen of Richford, Mr. and Mrs. Merton Hammond of Bridgeport, Ct., Mrs. Edminster and granddaughter of Brooklyn, Mrs. Acker of Syracuse, and Mrs. B. F. Wheeler of Binghamton.
After a hearty interchange of greetings, the dinner was served and a brief business session was held. The register reported fourteen births, ten marriages and seven deaths since the last meeting.
Officers were selected as follows:
President—S. S. Hammond of Freetown.
Vice-President—Henry Hammond of McGrawville.
Secretary—Mrs. L. A. Strowbridge of Cortland.
Registrar— Mary Allen of Richford.
Treasurer—Samuel Hammond of Marathon.
Executive Committee— J. H. Hammond of Marathon. Dr. James Allen of Richford and Samuel Hammond of Marathon.
The afternoon was made more pleasurable by the singing of Arthur Borthwick and the vocal and instrumental music by Misses Hattie and Lola Strowbridge.
The reunion of 1899 will be held at the home of Mrs. L. A. Strowbridge in Cortland.
THE MAIN-ST. PAVING.
TRACKS NOT TO BE TAKEN UP UNTIL AFTER THE FAIR.
Friendly Relations Now Existing Between Village Authorities and Traction Co.—The Original "Franchise''—Question of Payment.
Owing to the heavy rains, the work of excavation for the new asphalt pavement on Main-st. is to-day nearly at a standstill. But few men and teams are at work. The Traction company has requested that the street railroad tracks on that part of the street now torn up be not disturbed until after the Cortland county fair next week. The request has been granted. This will in no way hinder or interfere with the work as there is plenty to be done without taking up the tracks.
Mr. H. Bergholtz of Ithaca, the vice-president of the Cortland & Homer Traction company, was in town to-day and was interviewed by a STANDARD reporter relative to the attitude of the company toward the paving question in general. Mr. Bergholtz said the company was entirely in favor of the new pavement, and would in no way interfere with or hinder its progress. Mr. Bergholtz added, however, that the company would refuse to pay for that portion of the pavement between the rails of the track and 2 feet outside of each rail. He did not believe the conditions which existed between the Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad company from which the Main-st. line was secured, and the village were such that the village could compel payment for this portion of the pavement. The company and the village might have a friendly lawsuit over the matter, said Mr. Bergholtz, but that of course is a question that will develop later.
It is stated on good authority that the Traction company has already waived all matters of difference which are liable to arise between the company and the village in the paving matter, reserving alone the question of the payment of the tax for the improvement.
In this connection it is pertinent to say that the old Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad company derived its right to construct its tracks from the following instrument, which is on file in the county clerk's office:
We, the undersigned trustees of the village of Cortland, Cortland county, N. Y., and commissioners of the highways of the said village by virtue of being such trustees, do hereby consent that the Cortland & Homer Horse Railroad company have the right to construct its railroad from the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira depot in said village through Main-st. to the north bounds of said village.
HARRISON WELLS,
C. C. TAYLOR,
G. W. BRADFORD,
D. E. SMITH.
Dated April 14, 1882.
It will be noticed that the above says nothing about the operation of a railroad. From its form, this instrument appears to be only a license, and the court of appeals has repeatedly held that a license is always revocable at the pleasure of the party granting it. The courts have also held that a corporation cannot grant a perpetual franchise, and that such a franchise, if granted, is void. The village is proceeding upon the theory that under the franchise now held by the Cortland & Homer Traction company, that company will be compelled to pay for a portion of the paving, as on Railroad-st., and of course the Traction company will dispute this proposition, claiming that the franchise which applies on Railroad-st. does not apply on Main-st.
TO GLEN HAVEN, N. Y.
Stage to Make a Second Trip Each Day Till Oct.1.
During July, August and September the Scott and Glen Haven mail stage will make an afternoon trip each day except Sundays in addition to the usual morning trip. Stage leaves Glen Haven at 1:30 P. M. and arrives at Homer at 4:30 P. M. Leaves Homer returning at 5:30 P. M. and arrives at Glen Haven at 8:30 P. M. The stage will carry both mails and passengers. W. C. Hayes of Glen Haven is the driver. This will give a good opportunity for Cortland business men to go up on the evening stage when they cannot get away during the day.
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