The Saint Paul globe., November 29, 1898, Image 1

About The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
VOL. XXI.— NO. 333.
PATHWAY OF THE
WORLDS COMMERCE
Tne Llnkino of the Great Empires ol the Bast
Witu Those ol the West.
ROME'S POWER AND ITS EFFECT ON TRADE
Byzantium as the Gateway Between the Orient
and Western Europe Rise and Fall of the
Venetian Trade The Part Played by Italy
The Importance of Discoveries Made by
the Portuguese Trade's Accomplishments
in 3,000 Years.
11.
ROME'S INFLUENCE ON COM-'
MERCE.
There was little gain to the world at
large from what was known as the
commerce of Rome. The Romans were
almost continuously engaged ln wars
of conquest. Rome was at one time the
world's capital, and as such became a
sort of natural storehouse and center
of distribution of everything the earth
yielded. But wealth accumulated rap-
Idly from the revenues officially ex
acted, and these frequently assumed
the offensive qualities of extortion.
But, while the Romans themselves were
indisposed to apply themselves to the
labor necessarily Incident to the con
duct of commerce, they did much to
stimulate Its development by official en
couragement. In this connection the
roads of the empire were improved to
facilitate transportation, and bridges
and aqueducts, as well as cities them
selves, were built. When Roman pow
er became supreme a system was pro
vided for the safe conduct of traffic,
which had the effect of allaying con
tentions and jealousies between com
munities. The syritem of banking and
monetary exchange now practiced by
the world generally was founded by
Rome, where government and private
and loan banks existed. Rome reach
ed the zenith of Its trade Importance
during the flrst century B. C. ; lt sank
almost abruptly at the beginning of the
sixth century A. D.
BYZANTIUM AND ARABIA.
Byzantium, which was located on
the site now occupied by Constantino
ple, became the capital of the Eastern
empire at the beginning of that era
ln history known as the middle ages
and after the destruction of Rome. The
location of the capital ln the great
harbor of the Bosphorus rendered It
especially favorable for maintenance of
commerce, both with the East and the
West. Here the representatives of both
the Eastern and Western civilization
■were brought together.
It was ln the Justinian era, 627 to
665 A. D., that an Important Industry
was Introduced Into the Byzantine em
pire. It ls recorded that some mis
sionaries returning from China each
carried tubular canes in which were
concealed the eggs of silk worms. The
worms from these eggs were distrib
uted over many sections of the em
pire, the white mulberry tree upon
which they fed came into cultivation,
and from this incident the manufac
ture of silk fabrics ln the East had
its beginning. The trade of the By
zantine empire and of the states of
Arabia continued with much activity
and ln a rare uniformity of proportion,
and was particularly conspicuous for
Its uninterrupted progress from about
£50 to the beginning of the eighteenth
century, when it gradually declined in
Its volume. But Constantinople was
a mart rather than a manufacturing
center, and from Its ports the products
of both the East and the West were
distributed, meeting here ln exchange.
Tiie commodities consisted of every-
TODAY'S BULLETIN.
Pago.
1 I '■.immcrce of the World.
Spain Glvea up Philippines.
Death ln the Great Storm.
French Army Gains the Day.
I— State Normal School Scandal.
Local Democrats to Get Together.
The Steenerson Murdvr Trial.
J-Xew_ of the Railroads.
New Central Union.
4— Editorial.
Trade of the Twin Cities.
B— The Corbett-Sharkey Fiasco.
Contest for Surveyor General.
Frank Phlscator Married.
6— Cash Wheat ln Chicago, G6^c.
Bar Silver, 69ftc
7— Much Unthreshed Wheat,
Twelfth Regiment Band Stranded.
S — Snow Nuisance and School Sanitation.
Robbery ln an Alley.
Reform of the Ballot.
ATLAM'IC LINERS.
KBW YORK— Arrived : Thlngvalla. Copen
hagen; Furnessia, Glasgow; Maasdam, Rot
terdam.
ANTWKRP— Arrived: Breraerhaveo, Phila
delphia; Southwark, New York.
LEGHORN— Arrived: Victoria, New York.
GLASGOW— Arrived: Mongolian, New York.
PHILADELPHIA— Arrived: Belgenland. Llv
erjK»l.
NAPLES-- Sailed: Burgundla, New York.
STETTlN— Arrived: Norge. New York.
MARSEILLES— Arrived: Patria, Ne<w York.
GIBRALTAR — Arrived: Fuerst Bismarck,
N\w York.
LIVERPOOL— Arrived: T&urio. New York.
LONDON— Arrived: America, New York.
HALlFAX— Arrived: Oorean, Glasgow.
TODAY'S EVEXTS.
METROPOLITAN— "A Fair Rebel." 8 PM.
GRAND— "A Female Drummer," 8:15 PM.
Palm Garden— Vaudeville, 2 and 7 PM.
Billiard match. Clow vs. Carney. "Washburn
building. 8 PM.
St Vincenfe church bazar, Blair and Lafond
streets, evening.
Basil i.urwell lectures on "Yellowstone Park "
Central high school. 4 PM.
Muslcale aad recepUon. St. Luke'a rectory,
Wlllard'w. C. T. U. meets, 439 Clinton ave
nue. 8 PM.
Entertainment. St. Clement's church. 8 PM.
Robert J. Burdette lectures, "Good Medi
cine," Pecple's church, S PM.
Concert for Women's Christian home Cono
ver halL 8 PM.
- ainment. St. Peter CUver's church. S
PM.
THE ST. PAUL GLOBE
thing common to the Orient, such as
silks, linens, wines, fruits, epices, vel
vets, cotton cloths, wool, nut=, timber,
gold, silver and all the baser metals,
with many other articles of commerce.
There was much illicit trading under
the operation of restrictive laws. The
sale of certain articles was reserved to
state exclusively, and revenues were
attempted to be increased by the grant
ing of monopolies. A struggle began be
tween the Greeks and Mohammedans.
Then arose complications which direct
ly hastened the decay, though not the
destruction of the Byzantine trade. Be
ing occupied ln wars, the government
was destitute of vessels ln which to
conduct their commerce with the West.
The trade with the shores of the Black
sea was at that time considerable, and
lt was here that a large part of the
vessels of the empire were operated.
In a short time the shrewdness of rivals
ln the West recognized their advantage
and availed themselves thereof by
transferring the home of the transpor
tation service to Italy, and this mark
ed the development of the commerce
of the Italian states.
RISE OF THE ITALIAN REPUB
LICS.
The Italian republics came into no
tice at the beginning of the sixth cen
tury and reached the summit of their
commercial power at the close of the
Fifteenth century. Since which time
they have played only an inconsider
able part ln the commerce of the world.
The city of Venice ls one of the re
markable productions of the maritime
spirit associated with commerce ln the
middle of the fifth century. It had
for Its foundations only beds of mud,
which were projected Into view when
the tides of the Adriatic were at the
ebb, but which were nearly covered
with water when they were at the
flood. The spot was an irregular sys
tem of lagoons, which had formerly
been meadows on which live stock had
grazed. But from the lagoons salt was
gathered and fish ln unlimited num
bers were taken from the sea. And
these commodities soon oame into ex
change for articles of food and neces
sity and comfort, only available from
other sources. Year by year the Ve
netians added to their fleets, and the
people became experts ln the handling
of their vessels, which were steadily
being Increased ln 6ize and numbers.
The Venetians became the chief
water-carrying power of the world ln
the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and
they piled wealth upon wealth In their
great labors in the line of transporta
tion. They gained much advantage
from transporting the Crusaders to the
Holy Land, culminating in the cap
ture of Constantinople In 1204, which
event marked the beginning of the
decline ln commercial importance of the
Byzantine empire.
THE REMARKABLE DEVELOP
MENT OF VENICE.
The trading between Venice and
Alexandria attained enormous and
profitable results. In the thirteenth
century the Venetians and Genoese
came into conflict, wnich resulted ln
the reopening to the former of trade
with the Black sea, from which they
had been deprived a few years earlier
through a combination of the Greeks
and Genoese. Venice established col
onies which produced different fruits,
cattle, wool, furs, oil, grains, wines!
lead, quicksilver and many other com
modities. The magnificence of this
"City of the Sea" ls traditional and
Its development ln manufactures keep
ing active pace with commerce repre
sents a quickening in that Industry
which had a subsequent and permanent
efTect over all Europe. With the de
velopment of the commerce of the
Italian states advancement was made
into Germany through internal traffic
The products of the Orient from Con
stantinople and Egypt thus came to
-be distributed throughout Northern
Europe. Venice was the entrepot ln
which a bonded warehouse was locat
ed for the special benefit of the Ger
mans, and great advantages to com
merce resulted from this process of
distribution.
THE DECAY OF VENETIAN COM
MERCE.
In those days strictures were applied
which limited the trading classes. Down
to nearly the close of the thirteenth
century the mercantile power was con
trolled by the aristocracy. But with
the growth of Venice as a great com
mercial center grants were made more
general for the creation and distribu
tion of a surplus of Imports and manu
factures. This afforded a stimulus
which was soon felt throughout Eu
rope. From the pastoral lands of
Flanders wool was Introduced for the
manufacture Into cloths and textures
of various kinds. About this time the
spirit of protection of home industry
was Inculcated ln favor of the Ve
netian manufacturers. With a vast
community to the westward eagerly
accepting for their own consumption
and use the objects of manufactured
wares and novelties, the spirit of ag
grandizement seized the people, and a
prohibitive law against the admission
of foreign manufactures was enacted.
This had the temporarily advantageous
effect of bringing to Venice many arti
sans, who introduced a variety of new
branches of industry; the energy of
the people responded to every success
ful innovation, and the merchants
sought the markets of the world in
the consciousness of their supremacy
as a producing community. Wealth
TUESDAY MORNING NOVEMBER 29, IS9B.
accumulated enormously. Venice pos
sessed at one period of the fourteenth
century as many as 3,000 merchantmen,
manned by 25,000 sailors, and as many
as one-tenth of these vessels were of
more than 700 tons burden. The mer
chant fleets were divided Into com
panies, regular sailing days were an
nounced, the cargo of each vessel was
defined, and when the fleets made their
departure they did so in the convoy of
war galleys to protect them from pi
ratical attacks. The spirit of greed and
rivalry thus developed created fierce
jealousies of every other community
assuming to enter into competition.
Meanwhile, Western Europe was
profiting by industrial effort from the
selfish spirit practiced by the Vene
tians. They were becoming manufac
urers on their own account, and by
tbe rapid development of their skill
Venice soon found herself stripped of
her commercial power and with no
market for her wares. The policy of
crushing others for the sake of her
own selfish advancement led at last to
her own commercial prostration.
The commerce of Italy was marked
by constant and fierce competition, es
pecially between Genoa and Venice.
Pisa, Florence and Naples all figured
ln varying degrees of Importance ln
connection with the commerce of that
country. The Romans were renowned
as sailors, and in the twelfth and thir
teenth centuries their adventures on
the sea contributed ln large measure
to the commerce of the then known
world and to the enlargement of In
dustry and trade everywhere within
their reach. The Italians also estab
lished throughout Europe banking
houses in competition with the Jews,
the practice of usury by whom was
generally odious.
STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR AND
PORTUGAL,.
Portugal, as the rounding point
through the Straits of Gibraltar be
tween the Mediterranean sea and the
Atlantlo ocean, became a natural mar
itime country through the process of
the extension of Venetian, and Genoese
commerce. It ls recorded that com
merce was actively carried on between
Portugal and England as early as 1270.
And lt may be aald that the spirit of
exploration across seas found Its origin
ln that country early In the fifteenth
century through the maritime Interest
and energy developed ln Prince Henry,
the navigator, nearly 100- years before
the discovery of the American con
tinent. This enterprising scion of roy
alty was obliged, however, to content
himself with the little ships that must
needs stay near shore. He died long
before the great achievement of Co
lumbus, although within the same cen
tury, and lt may not be unreasonable
to believe that many of the ventures
of Prince Henry afforded stimulation
to the genius and energy of the final
discoverer of the American continent.
That was an age when the commercial
spirit was most active. The merchant
man of the East and the caravan and
the tribal trader had created a fever
for gain. The monuments to their en
terprise had already risen and fallen
ln the lands of Asia and along the
slopes of the Mediterranean to the east
ward. Commerce had made Its way
from lower Italy northward along Its
western shore, following the coast line
of Southern Europe, and pursuing the
northern coast of Africa had reached
the Straits of Gibraltar, where the bil
lows of the Atlantic were encountered,
beyond which all was mystery. Mean
while all of Southern Europe had be
come enthused with the spirit of trade;
and associated therewith was the stim
ulation to the discovery of new terri
tory and its exploration.
DISCOVERIES RESULTING FROM
PORTUGUESE ENTERPRISE.
From the enterprises of Prince Hen
ry resulted the discovery of the Ma
deiras, which came under the domin
ion of the Portuguese crown ln 1420,
with the Canaries as their associates.
The world was already growing larger,
and every upshootlng of land ln the
ocean Increased the appetite for more.
Colonies were established on these Isl
ands. It is said that the Island of Ma
deira was originally covered with tim
ber; hence Its name, and that the tim
ber, having at one time taken fire from
some unrecognized cause, the forests
burned for a period of seven years.
This resulted ln covering the land with
the ashes of the wood thus consumed,
and to this fiery visitation and the dis
tribution of a natural fertilizer is at
tributed the rare productiveness of the
soil. The cypress vine was planted on
the Madeira group, and lt is said that
from the peculiar combination of soil
and vine a flavor was contributed to
the fruit which has given to the Ma
deira wines produced from that fruit
the famous reputation which they en-
Joy even to this day.
The discoveries by Portugal had the
effect of extending the fisheries trade
of the people, and from points along
the coast of Africa which had come
under their control Ivory, gold and cot
ton were Imported from Interior sec
tions of that country. Little atten
tion, however, was paid to these re
turns as the result of their enterprise.
The chief end sought was a passage
to India by the way of the Northwest.
All other things were subservient to
the confirmation of the correctness of
the theory that the shores of that
country could be found by industri
ously plowing the surface of the At
lantic and by venturing still further
from the western shores df Europe. The
discovery of the Cape Verde islands
was effected ln 1448-9. It was the
crowning accomplishment of Prince
Henry, who died ln 1463. In 1472 a few
other Islands were added to the Por
tuguese possessions, and there were ad
ditions later, but these were more di
rectly connected with the exploration
of the waters of the African coast.
Thus we have followed briefly and In
a condensed form the progress of com
merce from the Orient to the Western
shores of Europe, and ln so doing have
covered the record of the more Impor
tant accomplishments of trade from
1500 B. C. to the beginning of the fif
teenth century A. D.
(To be continued.)
LOSES A LEG.
Rev. Lajrer Meets *\Vitl_ a Serious
Accident at Royal ton.
ST. CLOUD, Nov. 28.— (Special.)— A
serious accident occurred at Royalt^n
yesterday, In which Rev. Ignatz Lager,
the Catholic priest at that place, was
severely Injured. He went to the depot
to catch a train to take h!m to Clear
Lake, where he was to hold services.
He attempted to cross ahead of the
tiain, and in some manner not definite
ly known he fell under the wheels,
which passed over his leg near the
ankle, fearfully crushing and mangling
It. He was given assistance and
brought to St. Cloud and placed In the
hospital here. On examination the sur
geons decided amputation was neces
sary, and the injured leg was operated
upon midway between ths foot and
kz.es. J
HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE THE WHITE ONE CRUSHES THE
OTHER OXB?
DEATH IF, THE STORM
MANY LIVES LOST IN THE GALE
ON THB NEW ENGLAND
COAST SUNDAY
BEACH PILED WITH WRECKS
Terrible Sufferings of Sailors Who
Were Caugrht in the Blizzard
Gallant Rescues Accredited to
the Life Saver*— Grave Pears
Entertained for the Steamer
Portland.
BOSTON, Nov. 28.— The managers of
the Boston and Portland Steamship
company said tonight that there are
grave doubts as to the safety of the
steamer Portland, which sailed from
here Saturday night. Every harbor
between here and Portland on the
north shore has been heard from and
one of the south shore, and in no case
has the steamer been seen. The only
remaining harbor which she could
have reached ls Provlncetown, on
Cape Cod, and news from that port
ls anxiously awaited, as it is still im
possible to reach that port by wire.
She carried sixty-five passengers and
a crew of fifteen smb.
A sorry sight is that presented by
the three-masted schooner Calvin S.
Baker, on Shag rotlts, midway be
tween Boston light -tnd the Brewster
shoal, where the decj sea surges roll
ln and half bury th^ craft, which is
fast going to piec<_H The main mast
has been whipped ou-^. end hang>_ dan
gling over the side, .supported by the
top hamper of the o^er masts. From
this wreck the two mates were taken
off by Capt. James and his crew from
across the bay at Hull. It was day
break when the Baker was seen, and
the life boat was sent out on Its mis
sion. The pull was a long one, and
finally, when the wieck was reached,
three bodies were sten lashed aloft.
Two of them were secured and life was
found in them, but the other had been
frozen stiff to his lashings. The sur
vivors and the body were taken to
Hull. It was on tha little stretch of
beach at Hull just jutting the hotel
Pemberton that the tragedies occurred.
The old salts of Hull say that ln fierce
ness the storm equaled that of 1882,
except that the sea did not run so
high, but the wind was stronger. In the
fury of the storm yesterday two big
newly-built barges of the Consolidated
Coal company, Nos. 1 and 4, were
dashed to bits almost ln an Instant.
On the shores stood scores of men
who were ready to risk their lives to
save those who were on many of the
vessels In the offing driving to de
struction. Capt. James was there with
his men and boat, but he said that the
wind blew so fiercely that no men
could row against the wind. Through
the driving snow came the dim out
lines of a barge with the forms of
four men discernible on the deck
house. With a mighty crash, as it
came down on a receding wave, barge
No. 1 struck the shore, only to crum
ble and then melt Into fragments,
which the waves ln another minute
cast upon the shore. But ln that in
stant the four men escaped an Im
pending fate, for, as the barge struck,
the twin deck slid off towards the
shore in the surf, and, at the same
time, the men on shore, with lines
about them, rushed Into the water and
pulled out the sailors. A moment later
barge No. 4 came ashore and was
ground up by the waves, but nothing
was seen of its crew. Soon after this,
other wreckage came ashore, and this
morning lt was seen that both the
Alice Babcock and the Samuel W. Til
den had been wrecked. No sign of the
crew of either vessel was found.
TERRIBLE JSCENE.
Another terrible scAue was that at
Thompson's island. A^gainst the wharf
were driven four d<_rwn-east vessels,
each of which at th* time the sstonn
broke was anchored miles away, and
each a long way from the others. An
ld*a of the force of the wind is found
in this Instance, for, after drifting
across the bay, one after the other
was brought against the pier, one be
ing driven clear lato tt. Scarcely a
vestige is left of the Watchman, the
Seraphin and the Fred M. Emerson.
The last three are a great mass of
timber and rigging mixed with debris
from the Virginia. Two lives were lost
from tiie latter craft. William B. Stan
ley, the captain's soa, was washed
ashore and rescued.
Of the other wrecks the most singu
lar is that of the Tamaqua, on Rains
ford island. She hap, gone straight on
a promontory of rocks, and there seems
little chance of her getting off. Her
consort, a Reading barge, was easily
floated this afternoon.
Other evidences of the storm are to
be found on every headland and ln
nearly every cove, for numberless and
nameless wrecks, all snow and sleet
covered, are piled t&> there. It will
be some time before all the vessels
which fared ill on Sunday can be ac-
Continued •__. Seventh Fags,
ARM GAINS TBE DAY
FRENCH MINISTER OP WAR SUS
TAINED BY DEP
UTIES
PICQUART MUST BE TRIED
Bold Utterances of Members of tiie
Chamber aa to the Duplicity of
the Military Cause Wild Uproar,
bnt Are Unavailing Picquart
tol Be Court-Martialed on Decem
ber 12.
PARIS, Nov. 28.— The minister of
war, M. De Freycinet, in the chamber
of deputies today, refused to intervene
In the Picquart affair, and the house
approved the government's declara
tion regarding the separation of mil
itary and civil powers, by a vote of
437 to 73.
A Radical deputy, __£. Bos, opened
the discussion. He said that, while
there had been some honesty ln the
Dreyfus prosecution, there had been
nothing but dishonesty in the Picquart
affair. These remarks caused an ur
roar. Continuing, M. Bos detailed ffle
history of the Picquart "persecution"
recalling Col. Plcquarfs exile to Tunis,
and asked the minister of war. M. De
Freycinet, why he had permitted a
court martial to be summoned for Dec.
12. The deputy also accused Gen!
Zurlinden, military governor of Paris,
who, he said, had promised a revis
ion of the case, of having broken his
word. This caused another uproar.
M. Bos concluded by insisting that the
government ought to poatoone the
trial of Picquart by court martial un
til the decision of the court of cassa
tion in the revision of the Dreyfus
trial is made known. This brought
forth lively applause from the majori
ty of the deputies.
M. Millerand, Radical Socialist, spoke
in a similar strain. He said lt was ab
solutely necessary to postpone 'the
Picquart court martial, in order to
avoid the scandalous contradictions
which otherwise were likely to arise
between the verdicts of the court mar
tial and of the court of cassation.
The president of the chamber, at this
stage of the proceedings, was fre
quently obliged to Intervene In order
to quiet the uproar on all sides.
OTHER FORGERS.
M. Poincare, Republican, made an
Impassioned speech, in the course of
which he said it was not necessary
to confound the army with a few Im
prudent men. While the members of
the court martial were above suspicion,
the prosecution of Picquart savored
of reprisal. (Applause.) Col. Plcquarfs
i secret Imprisonment, M. Poincare fur-
I ther asserted, was beyond all prece
dent, and there were guilty persons, he
claimed, who were enjoying scandalous
Immunity. (Applause.)
"There are other forgers besides Pic
quart who ought to be prosecuted," ex
claimed the deputy. "These injustices
will end by exasperating the nation."
M. Poincare, who was minister of
public instruction in 1893-95, created
a sensation by adding:
"We were attacked for the Dreyfus
prosecution in 1894, but I learned of
! the Dreyfus affair through the news
j papers."
Tremendous applause and uproar
followed this assertion.
M. Barthou, who was minister of
1 public works ln 1894, here interjected:
"I am ready to indorse the words of
M. Poincare, which are true."
This called forth more applause and
exclamations of "It is absurd!" "It ls
inconceivable" Thereupon M. Poin
care added:
"The only proof of Dreyfus' guilt in
1894 consisted of the bordereau. No
cabinet minister, nor even the presi
dent of the council of ministers, heard
any mention of the confessions Drey
fus ls alleged to have made to Capt.
!Le Brun-Renault. (Applause.)
M. Cavaignac, the former minister of
war, said:
"Gen. Mercier was minister of war
at the time of the Dreyfua trial."
M. Poincare continued "Capt. Le
Brun-Renault, when he was examined
by the president of the council, did not
mention the Dreyfus confession."
This statement caused applause to
break forth from all parts of the
house, during which M. Cavaignac
tried to speak, but was howled down,
although one deputy shouted: "Let us
hear the hero of the forgery."
M. Cavaignac reasserted that Capt.
Le Brun-Renault's evidence was given
to Gen. Mercier. "His report exists,"
he exclaimed, amid uproar and cries of
"Date, date." "But perhaps Capt. Le
Brun-Renault has since retracted his
admissions." Shouts of surprise fol
lowed this suggestion.
WAR MINISTER FIRM.
M. de Freycinet said: "The govern
ment, on assuming office, found the ■
proceedings pending. We have only one
aim, and that Is to ascertain the truth.
We do not object to furnishing the
1~~ Continued •* Third Fage.
PRICE TWO CENTS— (SwTflgg^
SPAIN HAS YIELDED
ALL AMERICA ASKEDJ
Relinquishes Cuba and Cedes Porto Rlcoj
Guam and the Philippine Islands.
HER ACCEPTANCE IS MADE UNDER PROTEST
Spaniards Admit Their Helplessness and Inability^
to Re-engage in War, Hence Their Enforced!
Willingness to Accede to What They Termi
Arbitrary Demands of the Americans Secre-f
taries of the Respective Commissions Instruct
ed to Prepare Articles of the Peace Treaty.
PARIS, Nov. 28.— Spain has accepted the United States offer of $20 500
--000, and, at a joint session of the peace commissions, this aiternoon. consent
ed, without condition, to relinquish Cuba and to cede Porto Rico, Guam and
the Philippine island* The document presenting this acceptance contained
only 300 words. It opened with a reference to the flnai terms of the United
States, and said that the Spanish commissioners, after having taken cogni
zance of the terms proposed by the Americans, replied that their government
had tried to give as equitable an answer as possible,* but that they were not
prepared to commit their government to the acceptance of the principles em
ployed in the American argument. Spain rejects these principles, the note
continues, "as she always has rejected thesm."
Basing her attitude upon the justice of her cause, the note then says,
she still adheres to these principles, "which she has heretofore invariably
formulated."
However, the note adds, ln her desire for petace. she has gone so far as
to propose certain compromises, which the Americans have always rejected.
She has also attempted, It ls further asserted, to have submitted to arbi
tration some of the material particulars upon which the two governments
differed. These proposals for arbitration, it Is added, the Americans had
equally rejected.
These allegations in Spain's reply a s to attempted arbitration refer to
her proposal to arbitrate the construction of the third article of the protocol,
and, also, to submit the Spanish colonial debt of Cuba and the Philippines
to arbitration. The last proposition has been made in a written communica
tion. Since its presentation and in return for such arbitration Spain offered
to cede the territory ln dispute. The Americans refused both propositions
for arbitration. Spain's reply today in substance continued by dealaring
that the United States has offered, as a kind of compensation to Spain,
something very inadequate to the sacrifices the latter country makes, at
this moment, and she fe&ls therefore that the Unlttd States proposals cannot
bo considered just and equitable. Spain has, however, exhausted all the re
sources of diplomacy in an atteai.pt to justify her attitude.
YIELDS UNDER PROTEST.
Seeing that acceptance of the pro posal made to Sj>ain ls a necessary
condition to a continuance of negotiations, and seeing that the resources of
Spain are not such as to enable her to re-enter upon war, she ls y-epared,
in her desire to avoid bloodshed and for considerations of hum*. Mty and pat
riotism, to submit to the conditions of tiie conquering nation, however harsh
they may be. She Is, therefore, ready to accept the proposals of the Ameri
can commission as presented at the last sitting.
The reading and the translation of the document occupied less than five
minutes. At the conclusion of the translation the commissioners empowered
Senor Ojeda, secretary of the Spanish commission, and Secretary Moore, of
the American commission, to draw up articles which are to embody the
relinquishment of Cuba by Spain and the cession of Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines. These articles, which may be considered as constituting the condi
tions of peace, may be ready for submission on Wednesday.
A great deal of interest was taken in today's proceedings. The two
commissions arrived at the foreign ofllco ln carriages, in the rain, almost
simultaneously, and, repairing to the conference room, immediately opened
the business before them.
SILENT AND GRAVE.
Senor Montero Rios, president of the Spanish commission, has usually
preceded the presentation of a Spanish communication ln writing by form
ally summarizing lt. But today Senor Rios was silent and unusually grave.
His face was deep-lined, and he Olearl y showed the mental strain under
which he was laboring as he approached the final relinquishment of Spain's
colonial possessions.
Without a word Senor Montero Rios produced two typewritten sheets and
passed them to the lntei prefer of the United States commission, Mr. Fer
guson, who read them substantially as cabled, the outline of the Spanish
document being furnished later to a correspondent of the Associated Press by
Senor Ojeda.
The commissioners left the foreign office immediately after the secre
taries had been directed to prepare the articles of the peace treaty. There
was scarcely any conversation between the American and Spanish commis
sioners after the adjournment.
Among the Americans only the most grave consideration for their Span
ish colleagues was apparent. The Spaniards seemed to be relieved at having
arrived at the conclusion of a long controversy.
FRENCH CRITICISM.
The leading article in the Temps today, a column long, ls devoted to a
severe arraignment of the American attitude toward Spain, in which Amer
ica is made to appear as a merciless conquerer, imposing Draconian condi
tions on a helpless foe and "exadtlng the signature of a treaty at the point
of the bayonet." The Temps adds:
"The Spanish commissioners should, ln submitting, protect to the civilized
world against the spoliation of the weak by the strong."
After the joint session the Spaniards repaired to their martens and had
an animated and lengthy session.
Having embodied in the treaty articles all the protocol questions, the
two commissions will now enter upon friendly negotiations regarding the
matters suggested in the American ultimatum, a week ago, matters sub
sidiary and incidental to the principal provisions, which must form a part
of the peace treaty as finally signed. These include the religious freedom of
the Caroline islands as agreed to twelve years ago; the release of political
prisoners, now held by Spain, ln connection with the insurrections ln Cuba
and the Philippines; the taking over of the island of Kusale or Ualan, in the
Carolines, for a telegraphic and naval station; cable station rights at other
points in Spain's jurisdiction and the renewal of certain treaties, previously
in force between the United States and Spain, which may have lapsed or
been violated by war.
AMERICANS PLEASED.
The American commissioners are naturally well pleased at the successful
conclusion of their mission. The questions that remain are comparatively un
important and admit of speedy settlement. The American commissioners will
hasten matters with a view to having the treaty signed within ten days or
bo and of sailing for New York by Dec. 17. Judge Day said this evening:
"We have done the only thing possible regarding the Philippines. Our
opportunity of giving them up was lost when Admiral Dewey did not weigh
anchor and sail away."
Whitelaw Reid entertained the United States commissioners at dinner
this evening, after which all went to the opera.
Count yon Munster, the German ambassador to France, was the flrst
diplomat to call at the American headquarters this afternoon and congratu
late Mr. Reid on the commissioners' successful work. He said the settle
ment would meet with the approval of Germany.
DELICATE POINTS. | cannot go far Into details, and must
be limited in scope to something like
Peace Commission Yet Has Much a general pledge to yield to the United
Important Worlt to Perform. States favorable conditions. It was
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28.-R is the -^^ at the 9tate department that the
. . + . next step ln order will be to begin
impression at the state department, in negotiatlona tor the acquisition of Ua
the absenoa of anything save press re- lan> ln the Caroline islands, for a cable
ports of the proceedings at Parts, to- station. This is not to be made the
day, that the commission's work is now subject of a demand upon Spain, but
near an end, and that about two weeks' W HI be an offer in all sincerity to pur
tirr.e will suffice to close lt up. This chase the Island at a fair price. It is
is based on the belief that instead of n<yt j n contemplation to take all of the
undertaking to arrange the several Caroline group.
matters yett to be settled in the treaty
of peace, a general clause will be plac- GERMANY'S POSITION.
Ed ln the treaty, binding each of the „,
parties to begin negotiations ln the Haa No Protent to Enter as to» Peace
near future upon the subjects. Such Negotiations.
a clauee, of necessity, must be very WASHINGTON, Nov. 28. — Baron
carefully drawn in order to Insure the Speck yon &ternhergt charge d'affaires
United States a resumption of com- of Germany, called at the state de
mercial relations with Spain, on fair
terms wttli other nations, though it Continued on Third Page.