BRITAIN'S FOREIGN TOPICS, MOVEMENT OF POPULATION, MARY E. VAN DENBURG, DEXTER HOUSE, AND A. M. E. ZION CHURCH

 

Lord Julian Pauncefote.

John Hay.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, April 13, 1901.

BRITAIN'S FOREIGN TOPICS.

Abrogation of Clayton-Bulwer Treaty and Indemnity Question at Pekin.

   LONDON, April 13.—Negotiations on the Hay-Pauncefote abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty are progressing, though they have not yet passed the tentative stage, A representative of the press has been informed that they are being conducted on a quid pro quo basis and that no other method of abrogation would be considered by the British government. The foreign office hopes that a settlement satisfactory to both the United States and Great Britain will be arrived at before congress is reconvened.

   Great Britain has not yet definitely estimated the money indemnity she desires China to pay. A representative of the press is informed that the government adheres to the belief that little can be gained by insisting upon cash payments from China, and though the government regrets that this will possibly be a cause for delay, it continues to instruct the British minister to China, Sir Ernest Satow, to try and induce the powers to agree to a demand for greater trading privileges instead of money. The government is of the opinion that the opening up of those rich provinces hitherto closed to foreign commerce will result in much greater benefit to the nations concerned and to China herself, than the extraction of lump sums of money.

   Regarding Japan's attitude toward Russia opinion in Downing street inclines to the belief that Japan, in common with the other powers, is satisfied with what is termed as Russia's backdown, but that Japan will continue to keep a sharp eye on Korea, and have no hesitation in threatening hostilities should Russia menace that country.

 

AMENDMENT REJECTED.

Cuban Constitutional Convention Takes Action.

OBJECTS TO SEVERAL CLAUSES.

This Action Is Deeply Regretted by the Conservatives Who Realize That It Ties the Hands of Any Delegation Which Might Visit Washington.

   HAVANA, April 13.—The Cuban constitutional convention placed itself on record yesterday against the Platt amendment, by a vote of 18 to 10, on a resolution that the convention should declare itself opposed to the amendment "on account of the terms of some of the clauses and the way in which they are drawn, and also on account of the contents of others, especially clauses III, VI and VII."

   The Conservatives assert that this action is embarrassing, inasmuch as it practically ties the hands of any commission that might be sent to Washington.

 

Engineer of Department of Cuba.

   WASHINGTON, April 13.—Captain Harry F. Hodges of the engineer corps has been selected as engineer officer for the department of Cuba and ordered to report to General Wood at Havana. Captain Hodges has heretofore been stationed at Cincinnati. He relieves Major William M. Black.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Movement of Population.

   One of the subjects occupying the attention of the sociological students in Washington is the movement of population in the territory now covered by the American flag. It has been observed that Porto Ricans are moving to the Hawaiian islands; that Spaniards are moving to Cuba; that negroes from the South are moving to the Hawaiian islands; and that whites in the United States are moving to the Philippine Islands.

   At present there is need of relief from the surplus population in Porto Rico. So disturbed has been the condition of the island since the Spanish war and the agitation of the tariff question that it has been difficult for the people to get sufficient employment to maintain themselves. While a few of them have gone to Cuba, the most of them have gone to the Hawaiian islands where, since the suspension of Chinese immigration, there is a pressing demand for labor on the sugar plantations. It is in obedience to the same demand that Southern negroes have gone to the islands.

   It appears, however, that the Hawaiians do not look with as much favor upon the immigration of the negroes as upon the immigration of the Porto Ricans. The fear is that the negroes will make an undesirable element, and that when they come to mingle with the native Hawaiians the result will be a decided deterioration of the population. In fact the fear has become so great that there is talk of legislation that will prevent the influx of negroes. As the islands are American territory under the Federal constitution, which gives American citizens the right to go wherever they please, it is not clear how the negroes can be excluded.

   The demand for labor in Cuba is quite as pressing as it is in Hawaii. Were Southern negroes to go there in considerable numbers, the same protest would probably be made there that has been made in Honolulu. Yet Cuba is admirably fitted for them. Its climate is one that they are inured to. Moreover, they would find there a population more akin to themselves than in Hawaii. Should Cuba become independent, it would be possible for the government to exclude them just as the United States has excluded the Chinese. Should it become American territory, the Federal constitution would offer the same bar to action of this kind that it does in Hawaii.

   It is not known how many Americans have gone to the Philippines; but every mail steamer and every government transport that leaves the Pacific coast carries its quota of people that intend to make the Philippines their future home. Another interesting fact is that many soldiers have, as soon as discharged, taken the money belonging to them and invested it in some form of Philippine business.

   As yet the Southern negroes have not turned their faces toward the Philippines. Were the suggestion of Bishop Turner of Georgia that negro criminals in the United States be deported, some of the islands might be used for this purpose. This wisdom of such a policy may, however, well be questioned. Were the Philippines to become inhabited to any extent with American criminals, the result could not fall to be disastrous. The experience of every nation that has established criminal colonies has been most unfavorable to the plan.

 

WALKED FROM PREBLE, N. Y.

Poor Woman Whose Mind is Unbalanced from Trouble.

   Mary E. Van Denburg, who walked all the way from Preble to Cortland yesterday clad in very scanty attire with a thin blanket over her shoulders, is now at the Messenger House. She does not have a very distinct recollection of how she came here nor why she started out, only that she wanted to get away from Preble because she thought a conspiracy was being planned to poison her.

   Mrs. Van Denburg is an elderly lady with silvery hair and gives every evidence of refinement, but trouble has weakened her mind and she imagines all manner of things. She stated this morning that paris green had been placed all around the house she lived in at Preble, and that for two weeks she has been on fire. This fire she attributed to her shoes which she took out in the back yard at the Messenger House yesterday and set fire to. The scheme had its effect and to-day she does not feel as though she is on fire.

   Before starting from Preble she bathed in rock salt brine to keep from getting a cold and that it might also act as a tonic, which she says is first class. In all probability it was this bath of strong brine that made her feel as though she were on fire. She carried with her from Preble a package containing two small pieces of Babbitt's soap, which she claims has no equal. She had with her besides this a silver spoon and a cup with which to dig up fresh snow which she ate on the way down. When she reached the hotel her feet were blistered.

   Mr. Mourin [innkeeper] says concerning the woman that she is in trouble. He has known her for a long time, but feels that he cannot harbor her at the hotel because she is not in her right mind. He will take immediate steps to get her placed in the proper keeping.

 

The Dexter House stood near corner of Main Street and Clinton Avenue, Cortland, N. Y.

THE DEXTER HOUSE

Being Repainted, Refinished and Refurbished for New Proprietors.

   F. E. Mable & Son of Syracuse have taken possession of the Dexter House and are putting this hostelry through extensive repairs that have been begun on the upper floor and will be continued throughout the whole building. Modern hotel conveniences will be placed in the building. Steam heat will go to all the rooms in the house, and a system of electric call bells will be established. The house will be treated to fresh paper and paint, and new carpets are to be placed on the floors. The hotel will be opened about the 20th  of this month when the proprietors will be pleased to welcome all their friends and acquaintances, both old and new, to an inspection of the hotel. Mrs. P. L. Levis of Philadelphia, who owns the building, is here to supervise the work that is being done upon it.

  

BURNED AT MIDDAY.

Another Old Barn on the Randall Flats Destroyed.

   About twenty minutes before 1 o'clock to-day smoke was discovered issuing from the barn situated on the Randall lot some distance from South Main-st. A telephone message was sent to Fireman's hall and an alarm of fire was rung calling out the department. The barn was so far from the water supply that nothing could be done to check the flames. The barn contained about twelve or fifteen tons of hay. There was an insurance of $200 on the barn and $300 on the contents. The barn was one of the oldest buildings in Cortland having been built more than seventy-five years ago. The fire is supposed to have been the work of tramps. This is the fifth barn upon this property which has been burned in the same way within the past few years. One near Pendleton-st. still remains.

 

A. M. E. Zion Church.

   The following is the program of Easter services to be given at the A. M. E. Zion Mission to-morrow evening at 7:30 o'clock:

 

 

BREVITIES.

   —The Cortland City band are rehearsing for a concert to be given the middle of May.

   —McDermott's orchestra played at Marathon last evening for Mrs. Ketchum's final reception given by her dancing class.

   —Mr. S. Earle calls attention to the fact that it was thirty-six years ago to-morrow night since President Lincoln was assassinated.

   —Quarterly meeting services will be held by Rev. W. W. Wellington at Elm Stump church Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21.

   —Yesterday afternoon the railroad stations were crowded with Normal students who were going home for their spring vacation. All looked happy except the baggage masters.

   —In the absence of the pastor of the Homer-ave. M. E. church to-morrow morning the pulpit will be supplied by Rev. Geo. E. T. Stevenson of the Memorial Baptist church. There will be no service in the evening.

   —The forty-fifth anniversary of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis R. Harmon occurs to-morrow. Anticipating that event the classes of both of them in the First Baptist Sunday-school made an unannounced visit to them to-day, taking along a sumptuous dinner.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Glann & Clark, Shoes, page 6; Home Telephone Co., Telephones, page 5; McKinney & Doubleday, Wall Paper, Bicycles, page 8; C. F. Brown, Paints, page 7; W. J. Perkins, Paint and varnish brushes, page 6; J. H. Gunn, Groceries, page 7.