day by a band of insurgents, killing 14 and wounding 5 of the guerrillas paid by the estate to protect the operatives. Seven laborers were killed, the insurgents leaving two of their dead.

"An adjoining estate, the property of the British consul, was also attacked, the growing cane burned. This precludes further attempts to grind, as men cannot be induced to work while the insurgents roam at will over the country. "I am, etc., WALTER B. BARKER, Consul." We do not say that Maximo Gomez meant to inflict famine upon Cuba, for he probably had the barbarian instinct that led him to think that to fling firebrands was a way of announcing liberty. He issued a proclamation dated at Sancti Spiritus, November 11, 1895, placing the responsibility, as he said, for the great ruin he was about to inflict, upon "passive" people. He added:

"This people cannot hesitate between the wealth of Spain and the liberty of Cuba. Its greatest crime would be to stain the land with blood without effecting its purposes because of puerile scruples and fears which do not concur with the character of the men who are in the field.”

July 1, 1895, at Najasa Camaguay, Gomez issued an address to the planters and cattle ranchers:

"Whereas, all exploitations of any product whatsoever are aids and resources to the Government that we are fighting, it is resolved by the General-in-Chief to issue this general order throughout the island that the introduction of articles of commerce, as well as beef and cattle, into the towns occupied by the enemy, is absolutely prohibited. The sugar plantations will stop their labors, and whosoever shall attempt to grind the crop notwithstanding this order, will have their cane burned and their buildings demolished."

Any one disobeying this order was to be considered an enemy and "treated as a traitor." Gomez also issued a peremptory order as follows:

"Headquarters of the Army of Liberation, Territory of Sancti Spiritus, November 6, 1895.-Animated by the spirit of unchangeable resolution in defense of the rights of the revolution of redemption of this country of colonists, humiliated and despised by Spain, and in harmony with what has been decreed concerning the subject in the circular dated the 1st of July, I have ordered the following:

"Article I. That all plantations shall be totally destroyed, their cane and outbuildings burned, and railroad connections destroyed.

12-INCH BREECH LOADING MORTARS. WEIGHT, 28,980 POUNDS EACH.

"Ait. II. All laborers who shall aid the sugar factories-these sources of supplies that we must deprive the enemy of-shall be considered as traitors to their country.

"Art. III. All who are caught in the act, or whose violation of Article II. shall be proven, shall be shot. Let all chiefs of operations of the army of liberty comply with this order, determined to unfurl triumphantly, even over ruin and ashes, the flag of the Republic of Cuba.

"In regard to the manner of waging the war, follow the private instructions that I have already given.

"For the sake of the honor of our arms and your well-known courage and patriotism, it is expected that you will strictly comply with the above orders. "M. GOMEZ, General-in-Chief.

"To the chiefs of operations: Circulate this.'

Here we have the official announcement of the policy of firebugs, as that of liberation, and it is the confirmation of this firebug policy that is now thrust like a torch in the face of the United States, in the name of freedom and independence.

The Declaration of War-The President's Call upon Congress to Take Action-Fit and Few Words-The Constant Scramble in Congress for the Cuban Ghost Dance Government-The Official Text of the President's War Proclamations -The Navy had First to Take Command of the Seas-The Timely Dispatches from the Navy Department, Making Ready for War-Major General Miles and his 50,000 Cubans.

A considerable number of members of Congress were slow in appreciating the excellence of the attitude of the President in holding fast the last chances of peace and at the same time urging forward as part of the same policy works of charity and preparations for war. He was better understood and held in higher esteem during a few days of agitation, abroad than at home, and the general consent of civilized nations that the international position of our country was unassailable, that contributed to our success, was in a great measure due to the propriety of the course of the President, which presently consolidated public sentiment in all the States, and appealed with dignity to the Powers, whose interest became as intelligible as it was indisputable. Especially was the far-sighted thoughtfulness of the President comprehended and respected in England, and through all the months of exciting trial and straining tests we felt the firm grasp of her friendly hand, and the growth of mutual regard stronger than treaties, because it was the genuine self-evidence of the kindred blood of the nations, and that their joint influence would be without conventions one of the mightiest in the betterment of the world.

The weight of the President's message of April 11th was felt to be overwhelming in gravity and import. He said, "I ask Congress to authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to insure in the island the establishment of a stable government." The words had been picked for their places, and were "stable." There was wanted,