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| Admiral George Dewey. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, October 2, 1899.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Why Dewey is Honored.
It is eminently fitting that Admiral George Dewey should be honored by his countrymen. No welcome to him could be too enthusiastic, and no celebration of his home-coming too elaborate. He is deserving of the gratitude and praise of the nation because of one of the most remarkable victories in the history of naval warfare.
Our war vessels in Asiatic waters were congregated at Hong Kong on April 21, when Spain gave the United States minister to Madrid his passports. Three days later Great Britain, to which Hong Kong belonged, issued a proclamation of neutrality, and the other powers, except Germany, followed suit. When, therefore, Dewey received orders to "capture or destroy the Spanish fleet" in the east he found himself 5,000 miles from the home base, with all accessible ports closed against his fleet for supply or refitting in case of disaster. No large sea force had ever before been confronted by such a situation. Dewey accepted the only alternative possible. He boldly sailed for Manila on April 25.
Experts in naval warfare confidently predicted that the American fleet would meet with disaster. It was pointed out that the entrance to Manila bay was commanded by from fifty to sixty heavy guns, and filled with mines. It was shown that rarely had an attack from seaward on fortifications proved successful, and that the recent blowing up of the Maine was a forcible illustration of the menace of destruction from submarine mines. Again, it was argued that in a naval combat in a bay the advantage lay wholly with the defense, since occasional shallows would necessitate most skillful maneuvering on the part of the attacking vessels, every section of whose firing range was known to the enemy. Finally it was pointed out that Dewey's ships and crew were wholly untried in war, while the commander himself was of an age at which caution rather than daring was to be expected. The experts, therefore, came to the conclusion that, if the Spanish defense was even fairly efficient, Dewey could expect at best only a qualified victory, to be confronted afterward with the ugly problem of how a crippled fleet was to be maintained before an unconquered port until help could arrive from another hemisphere.
The courage and confidence with which Dewey disregarded the opinions of the experts and took the risks constitute one of his highest claims to distinction. In the darkness of the night he led his ships past the guns of Corregidor, fearlessly taking the risk of encountering mines, and on the memorable morning of May 1 he was in the harbor, facing the Spanish fleet and shore defenses. In the engagement which followed, the American plan of attack was so skillfully executed, and the patriotism, the valor, the discipline and the markmanship of the men behind the guns were so effective, that the victory was overwhelming. And although the entire Spanish fleet was destroyed, not an American sailor lost his life.
After the battle Dewey still further distinguished himself. For weeks, while awaiting reinforcements, he had to face, with his now illy equipped squadron, an unconquered city, with its troops and batteries. He was also called upon to exercise tact and self-restraint, combined with firmness, to show a German admiral his place without quarreling. He also restrained the insurgent forces without committing himself. He probably reduced Manila to submission before the arrival of American troops, but he preferred to spare the lives of the helpless non-combatants m the city, thus adding another wreath to his laurels. In particular he took steps to prevent any interchange of fire between the heavy guns in the [shore] battery, and the monitor Monterey, and thereby showed himself as merciful and humane as he was bold and decided in battle.
For his victory in Manila bay Admiral Dewey deserves all honor from his countrymen because he greatly added to the glory of the American navy, gave the United States respect and permanent place among the greater nations, and opened up in the orient a broad pathway of commercial expansion, and the great possibilities of an enlightened and beneficent civilization.
OFF FOR WASHINGTON.
Dewey Resting After the Two Days' Strain—Sees no Visitors.
NEW YORK, Oct. 2.—Admiral Dewey arose early this morning and began preparations for his departure for Washington at 1 o'clock. He was accompanied by the Washington reception committee, headed by General Miles, and the journey was to be begun without any formal ceremonies in a special train over the Pennsylvania railroad.
After a light breakfast during which he chatted with the members of his family, the admiral expressed himself as being much refreshed after the fatiguing incidents of the past week.
The Admiral saw no visitors this morning, but kept to his rooms attending to some personal business until about 11 o'clock when, with the party escorting him, he started for a drive before proceeding to the railway station.
Admiral Dewey has received so many letters of welcome and congratulation since his arrival in the United States that he finds it impossible to answer them as he would wish. He therefore asks the press to convey his acknowledgment of their receipt and his thanks for the kindness and good wishes of his many friends.
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| Emilio Aguinaldo. |
HIS REQUEST REFUSED.
Aguinaldo Asks General Otis For a Conference.
HIS ENVOYS ARE NOW IN MANILA.
One of Them Interviewed On the Present Situation In the Philippines—He Says That the Insurgents Can Prolong the War Indefinitely. Other Manila News.
MANILA, Oct. 2.—Aguinaldo's third attempt to set his difficulties into the field of diplomacy is a repetition of the other two, with an impossible endeavor to obtain some sort of recognition of his so-called government. The Filipino envoys had an hour's conference with General Otis. They brought from Aguinaldo a message that he desired peace and wished to send a civilian governmental commission to discuss the question.
General Otis replied that it was impossible for him to recognize Aguinaldo's government in that way.
They presented a letter from Aguinaldo as "president of the republic," which was largely a repetition of his recent appeals for recognition. General Otis informed them that, while he was willing to correspond with Aguinaldo as general of the insurgent forces, he must positively decline to recognize him as a president of a civil government.
Another conference will be held. The Filipinos will remain two or three days. Their movements are quite unrestricted, but they are under the constant chaperonage of Captain Johnston of the Sixteenth infantry. They visited the hospitals and distributed money among the wounded Filipinos, after which they made calls and received visitors at their hotels.
Natives in their Sunday clothing thronged the plaza in front of the hotel all day, stretching their necks for a glimpse of the supposedly uniforms of the envoys. The assemblage finally increased to a thousand people. When the envoys emerged for an afternoon drive, the natives removed their hats deferentially, and a crowd in vehicles or on foot followed the carriage through the streets.
"We desire peace, but peace with independence and honor," said General Alenjandrino, while conversing with a representative of the press. He impresses one as a dignified and dispassionate [man], and as a keen man of the world. He was educated in Europe and designed the remarkable entrenchments from Manila to Tartac. While reticent concerning his mission, his conversation throws an interesting light upon the Filipino view of the American attitude.
"How long can the Filipino army and people withstand 60,000 American troops?" asked the reporter.
"Fighting in our own way, we can maintain a state of war and the necessity for a large army of occupation indefinitely. You Americans are holding a few miles around Manila, a narrow line of railroad to Angeles and a circle of country around San Fernando. But you are ignorant of the resources of Luzon. We hold the immense rich, productive northern country from which to draw. Our people contribute the money and food which maintain our army and this is done at a minimum of cost.
"It is an interesting question what the cost to the American people is of maintaining the American troops in the Philippines. We do not, of course, know the amount; it must be excessive. We perceive what an American soldier requires in this climate. On the contrary a Filipino exists with a handful of rice and a pair of linen trousers. We don't have to pay our soldiers and can practically hold up their wages as long as we desire. Even without our present supply of arms and ammunition we could keep your army occupied for years. With an expense that grows daily, how long will your people stand it? The Filipino people don't wish to continue the fighting. We have no army contractors. We have no business men making profits from the maintenance of our army. There is nothing in it for us, nor are our salaries large enough to keep us fighting for money and position."
Discussing the question of a recognition by the United States of the so-called Filipino government the general said:
"The freedom of the American prisoners who have just been turned over to you was decreed by the Filipino congress. Your government has accepted them. It will doubtless accept any others that our government may free."
He inquired concerning the percentage of sick American troops and when informed said he considered it small.
He asked a number of questions indicating a hope of anti-imperialist action by the American congress and inquired what would be the effect upon the national policy if congress should declare itself opposed to the prosecution of the war and whether anti-imperialists sentiment was growing in the United States.
Several inquires he made also regarding the nature and effect of a joint resolution of congress.
TROUBLE IN JAPAN.
Missionary Schools May Have to Close for Lack of Support.
YOKOHAMA, Sept. 14, via VICTORIA, B. C. Oct. 2.—The Japanese government having decided to keep its system of education strictly secular, follows the logic of its decisions by withholding its sanctions and privileges from all schools in which religion in any form is taught. This has, of course, been construed as an attack upon the Christian schools, which are in fact almost the only ones to suffer from the new policy. Some have been already closed, and all are being greatly depleted in attendance because of the superior advantages and privileges which purely secular enjoy. The missionaries in charge are placed in an awkward dilemma for, if they eliminate the teaching of their religion, they must lose the support of the home board upon which they are largely dependent, while if they attempt to carry out the main purpose for which they are sent here, their schools will inevitably languish and die for lack of native attendance.
THE Y. M. C. A. MEETING.
Two Hundred Men Hear Mr. Stevenson's Talk on Cuba.
The 2 clock meeting at the [Cortland] Y. M. C. A. rooms yesterday afternoon was a very large one. Over 200 men gathered to hear the talk of Rev. George. E. T. Stevenson, pastor of the Memorial Baptist church, upon "Personal Reminiscences of the Santiago Campaign." Mr. Stevenson spoke in an informal manner that was very taking and what he said was both interesting and instructive. He told of the Christian work in the army, and the effect of Christianity upon soldiers, as leading up to the question "Which Choose ye, Christ or Whiskey?"
The singing was conducted by E. L. Dodd, with Mr. French at the piano, and Robert I. Carpenter with his violin. A testimony meeting was held at the close of the regular meeting and many took part.
Memorial Baptist Church.
Large congregations on Sunday listened with attention to two fine and profitable sermons preached by the pastor. The morning sermon was "Qualifications for the Lord's Supper," the text being found in Cor. ii:28. This was followed by the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. This was a solemn and joyous occasion six receiving the right hand of fellowship. The evening subject was "Life's Fare" and the text was found in Jonah i:3. This service was followed by baptism.
Sunday-school immediately after the Lord's supper which was very interesting and profitable.
Y. P. S. C. E. society met at 6 o'clock. Topic, "Our Own Church: What Can We Do for Her?" Ps, exxii:1-9, led by Mrs. Ella Chatterton.
The Phoebe Helpers will give a chicken pie supper Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 5 to 8 o'clock for 15 cents. Everybody is cordially invited to come and partake of the good things. The waiters in attendance will see that everybody gets enough to eat.
Thursday evening regular church prayer-meeting at 7:30, followed by teachers' meeting at 8:30 o'clock. Everybody has a cordial invitation to these meetings which are very profitable and interesting.
Friday evening the members of the church will give their pastor a reception in the church parlors, to which everybody has a cordial invitation.
Butler-Nixon.
A very pretty home wedding occurred at the residence of Mrs. Mary Nixon, Copeland-ave., Homer, Sept. 27, 1899, the contracting parties being Mr. Eugene Butler and Miss Belle Nixon. The room was decorated with palms and cut flowers.
At the appointed time Miss Edith Ring commenced playing the wedding march, when Will Nixon, a brother of the bride, and his cousin, Fred Nixon, walked into the parlor followed by the bride and groom. The ceremony was beautifully performed by the Rev. W. J. Howell of Cortland, and after the presentation of the wedding ring be pronounced them man and wife.
When the congratulations were over, the guests sat down to an elaborate lunch which lasted an hour and a half.
While Mr. and Mrs. Butler were preparing to depart, the guests were busy decorating the carriage with white ribbons, and many accompanied them to the depot where they bestowed on them the customary shower of rice.
The presents were numerous, beautiful and useful, and about $25 in money. They will make their home in Schenectady, where they will be glad to welcome their many friends.
There were forty-six in attendance, those from out of town being Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nixon, Mr. Frank Nixon and Mrs. Jennie Adams from Manlius, Mrs. Edwin Horton and Mrs. William Filmore from Walworth and Mr. Fred Butler from Cortland.
JAMES H. NOLAN.
Death of a Well Known Cortland Citizen This Morning.
James H. Nolan, the local manager of the Empire State Telephone and Telegraph company, died at 10 minutes past 12 o'clock this morning at his residence on North Church-st. after an illness of seven weeks. He was in Rochester when an attack of stomach trouble came on, and he went to St. Mary's hospital, where he remained a week before being able to come home. The real difficulty was not located until he returned to Cortland and went to the hospital, where a few weeks since a specialist from Auburn operated for an abscess in the stomach. Mr. Nolan did not recover as his friends had hoped, though there was some improvement, and last Thursday he was removed from the hospital to his home.
Mr. Nolan was 40 years of age, and was born in the town of Venice, Cayuga county, where his boyhood days were spent. For the last twenty-three years he had been in the employ of the Empire State Telephone and Telegraph company, being located at Auburn at first, but for the last eleven years at Cortland, where since 1892 he has been the company's very efficient and capable general manager. His courteous manners have made for him friends wherever he has been, and his business abilities have been of inestimable value to the company in Cortland, where through his efforts and ingenuity its interests have been carefully looked after and the public has been given a telephone service second to none. As a man and a citizen he was liked by all, and the position left vacant by his death will be a difficult one to fill.
Mr. Nolan was a charter member of Cortland council, No. 233, Knights of Columbus, which organization will attend the funeral in a body. The funeral services will be held from his late residence on North Church-st. Wednesday morning at 8:30 o'clock, and from St Mary's church at 9 o'clock. Interment will be made at Moravia.
On Aug. 22, 1898, Mr. Nolan and Miriam McConnell of Cortland were married. Besides by wife, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Michael Nolan of Moravia, by sisters, Mrs. Alvin Green of Venice and Miss Ella Nolan of Moravia, and three brothers, David Nolan of Venice, Michael Nolan of Auburn and Edward Nolan of Rochester.
Held for the Grand Jury.
At the conclusion of the examination in police court Saturday in the case of The People against Warren McGee, the 16-year-old lad charged with burglary in the third degree at Kingman's bathing house, Police Justice Davis held the defendant for the next grand jury, and in default of bail the boy was committed to jail.
BREVITIES.
—Ithaca has a colored band of fifteen members,
—Grover post. No, 98, G. A. R,, will meet to-night at 7:30.
—The board of village trustees bold a regular meeting this evening.
—The regular meeting of Grover Relief corps. No. 96, will he held to-morrow, Oct. 3, at 3 P. M.
—The office of the Homer & Cortland Gas Co., and B. B. Terry's hitching barn have both been connected with the telephone exchange.
—Pecos tribe No. 357, Improved Order of Red Men, is making arrangements for its third annual party which will be given on Thanksgiving eve in C. A. A. hall. McDermott's orchestra has been engaged.
—The graduating exercises of the present class of trained nurses at the Cortland hospital will occur at the hospital to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. There are two graduates: Mrs. Thornburn and Miss Powell.
—A regular meeting of W. C. T. U. will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 2:45 P. M. Consecration service will be led by Mrs. F. M. Snyder. At the business meeting an extract from "The Pilgrim's Christmas'' will be given.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Bingham & Miller, Underwear, page 8; Model Clothing Co., Overcoats, page 7; F. D. Smith, Stoves, page 6; Warren, Tanner & Co., Capes, jackets, etc., page 6; Baker & Angell, Shoes, page 7; Brogden, Cough cure, page 7.
President John H. Farrell of the New York State Baseball league announces the reserve list of the different clubs of the league. The list is as follows:
Rome—W. H. Fox, W. E. Manis, George Hanley, Arthur Ross, William Hayes, James Tamsett, John Shea, James Jones, T. H. O'Brien, E. McDonald, James Maguire, F. F. Rudderham.
Utica—George Villman, M. J. Woodlock, John Malarkey, H. J. Simon, W. O. Gilbert, Ben Ellis, W. G. Mills, William Hallman. Jerry Hurley, John Reynolds, E. P. Luzon.
Oswego—James Honeymoon, Andrew Roth, L. Johnston, John Wentz, Charles C. Cargo, Charles Donahue, Charles Hamburg, C. H. Boylan, C. F. Pedrose, Dave Barber, Pitcher Single.
Albany—Harry Clayton, H. Ahern, C. Bernard, R. Ganley, J. Rafter, J. J. Duffy, Robert Talbot, L. Lehme, E. J. Hooker.
Troy—Mal Eason, George Brown, Ernest Crabill, Harry Bey, R. McManus, A. Werner, W. Heine.
Cortland—J. Lawler, W. G. Gannon, W. E. Conroy, M. Neville, F. McFall, M. J. Mullen.
Schenectady—W. Sorber, James Downey, Zuiser, E. Mackey, Stanley Yerkes, J. Deering, G. Kalkoff.
Binghamton—Ed Wheeler, J. Hart, Ed Hill, M. A. Wolfe, C. Molesworth, D. T. Pickett, P. O'Brien, J. J. Toman.
Here is a handsome compliment from Sporting Life for Fred Ketchum, Cortland's fast centerfielder who was sold to the Louisville National League club at the close of the season. Ketchum is getting two and three hits a game and is making more scores than any other man on the Louisville team. Soon after joining the team he injured himself in sliding to a base and was out of the game two weeks, but is playing regularly now. The paragraph referred to is as follows: "In Ketchum Louisville has secured a corking good man. He is a fine fielder, strong thrower, hard left-handed hitter and very fast on his feet. He will surely make the regular team for next season."
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