arms, ammunition, electrical apparatus, and medical supplies then the largest expedition yet sent from Florida. For several days the vessel had been watched at Jacksonville and at Biscayne Bay, and kept under escort by the revenue cutters Boutwell and Winona. One dark night, in a strong gale, the Dauntless gave her escort the slip, and at Palm Beach was met by a special train from Jacksonville, from which in four hours the munitions and men were transferred to the steamer, which started for Cuba. Eight hours later the United States cruiser Newark passed Palm Beach seeking the filibuster. The Dauntless made a safe landing on the south coast of Pinar del Rio. After taking (it is said) two other cargoes to Cuba, the steamer was captured on October 21 while waiting for a cargo off the east coast of Florida, by the United States cruiser Raleigh. The cruiser found it necessary to fire upon the filibuster to stop her attempt at escape. The captive vessel was turned over to the United States marshal. After her release, she was again in the hands of the authorities, December 5, on suspicion of preparing for another unlawful Cuban trip. The year closed with the Dauntless prepared to take to Cuba another cargo of arms and supplies, but with no men. Meanwhile the officials at Washington were considering the possibility of embarrassing complications if the steamer were to take out clearance papers for such a cargo to Cuba without special permission from the Spanish consul at the port of clearance -a permission which of course would not be given in this case, but which a strict law of Spain makes requisite. The liability to confiscation of the Dauntless's cargo in any Cuban port was made evident on December 31 by the direction given to Spanish consuls by Señor Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish minister at Washington (on ínstructions from Madrid), to refuse to authenticate the manifests of cargoes of the two suspected filibusters Commodore and Dauntless. These and vessels on similar errands, even though carrying no fighting men, will probably not apply for clearance papers, as they would thus reveal their cargo and their port of destination.

She

The Three Friends, a large and swift steam-tug, has gained a rank among famous filibustering vessels. received her fuel and a cargo of about 3,500 rifles, with ammunition, a Hotchkiss gun, and other supplies, on the night of December 13, from the Commodore outside the three-mile limit off the mouth of the St. John's river, Florida. A large company of Cubans also are said to have

started for Cuba in the steamer. The next day the cruisers Newark and Raleigh left Key West in a pursuit which was unsuccessful. The Three Friends steamed for the south coast of Cuba, and sought to make a landing by night at the mouth of the San Juan river. Accounts differ as to the proceedings there; but, in general, it may be gathered that a Spanish gunboat, noticing suspicious movements on shore, landed an exploring party, which was fired upon by the filibusters and driven back. A Spanish launch with rapid-fire guns then went up the shallow river, while the gunboat at long range opened fire with shells, which appear to have struck wide of the mark. Sixteen of the crew of the launch were wounded by shots from the filibusters. Meanwhile a party from the Three Friends had succeeded in carrying away into the interior the principal part of the cargo. It is affirmed, and denied, that shots were exchanged between the Three Friends and the Span

HON. J. DONALD CAMERON OF PENNSYLVANIA,
REPUBLICAN UNITED STATES SENATOR.

ish vessels. At first it was thought that the Spanish government might press the charge of piracy against the Three Friends, producing a complicated situation. On December 26 the vessel was at Jacksonville in charge of the customs officials; and it was announced that the United States authorities intended to press vigorously against her the charge of violation of the neutrality laws, refusing any such release under bond as had been granted her in November. At the end of December the signs were that the Spanish legation would not insist on the charge of piracy, but that, if the vessel were again to take out an expedition and be caught in Cuban waters, she would be treated as a pirate.

The steamer Commodore, which left Jacksonville for

Cuba with a small expedition December 31, met a disastrous fate at the end of her first hundred miles. She sank in ninety feet of water sixteen miles off the Florida coast. Most of the men were saved in boats; but on January 3 eight of them were reported still at sea on a life-raft and were being searched for by vessels sent out by the customs officials. Treachery has been freely charged as the cause of the sinking; but the disaster is now attributed to the ignorance of the new engineer concerning a peculiar arrangement of the valves in the supply pipes.

The trial of two of the filibusters on the Laurada in the United States criminal court, resulted in a disagreement of the jury. The prisoners were released on bail. The Laurada, which was at Palermo, Italy, in December, had been chartered to ship a cargo to this country from Valencia in Spain. The Spanish authorities declared that she would receive all usual facilities and full protection at Valencia, but hoped that her charterers would find it convenient to avoid Spanish ports during the present state of public feeling. Thereupon it was announced that she would ship her cargo from Gibraltar.

On October 17, Laborde and Melton, two Americans of the crew of the Competitor (p. 306), were brought up for trial in Fort Cabanas-their former trial by court-martial having been contrary to treaty. This trial also, being by naval court-martial, without counsel for defense or notification of the United States consul, was protested against by the prisoners. The later indications were that the present proceeding was intended as a preliminary examination.

Enrique Delgado, claiming to be an American citizen, was captured December 15, and was brought to Havana December 23, and imprisoned on charge of being an adjutant on the rebel general's staff, which charge he denies. The American consulate has taken the case in hand.

The trial of Julio Sanguily, an American citizen charged with conspiring against the Spanish government, ended December 23. The decision was announced December 28, when Sanguily was sentenced to imprisonment for life. Appeal was taken to the supreme court at Madrid.

Present Condition in Cuba.-The only change since. the end of the last quarter is a change for the worse. The Spanish government is practically inoperative outside of the few cities and large towns, and even there it is administered in the spirit of martial law. The rebel government is a military rule exercised in three-fourths of the island Vol. 6.-52.

chiefly by guerrilla bands: it exists as a republic on paper, but scarcely otherwise. The general result is anarchy embittered by fierce passions and degraded into robberyproperty, liberty, and life being insecure. Trade is stagnant; the fields of agriculture are fields of war; the great sugar factories, representing immense capital, have in large numbers been burned; the peaceful peasantry, especially in the western provinces, are in helpless and hopeless misery. The end of the frightful and barbarous war is no more visible now than it was a year ago, unless indeed Spain can buy off some of the leaders. The rebel force fully armed and equipped for service was reported by Señor de Quesada on January 4, 1897, to number 35,000.

Sentiment in Spain.-Spain is in spirit the same as for half a thousand years-haughty, unyielding, purposed to maintain her own side in any dispute at whatever extreme cost of suffering or of sacrifice. Sentiment, long re-enforced by pecuniary interest, has refused a hearing to Cuban demands for justice; and with morbid jealousy has viewed the United States as desiring to possess Cuba, and in that desire originating and furthering the revolt. It is beyond question that public sentiment in Spain in November and December, 1896, as uttered and led by the press, was urgent for declaration of war against this country. The government-threatened with a downfall of the ministry, and possibly by the downfall of the throne itself, unless heed were given to the popular clamor-entered on extensive warlike preparations. At all the dockyards work was crowded; ships, for cruisers, were purchased in other countries; and great contracts were made for war material. It is fully believed by those well-informed--though of course not matter of official statement--that Spain was diplomatically sounding the European powers to ascertain what aid might be expected from them in a war arising from the threatened intervention of the United States in Cuba. The further rumor that two or three of them had assured Spain of their aid, and had caused warning to be cautiously intimated to our own government that Europe was not to be expected to look on unmoved if the United States intervened in violation of Spanish rights in Cuba, was evidently silly, and met instant contradiction from the powers concerned. While the Spanish government may have felt compelled to make preparations in accord with the rage of popular sentiment against this conntry, it is doubtful whether the Madrid cabinet desired or expected war. The statesmen in that cabinet are not ignorant: they

know that jingoism in the speeches of some congressmen is not to be taken as decisive of governmental action; they could not but see how scrupulously regardful of Spanish rights was the president in both action and utterance; moreover they perfectly knew that Spain was in no condition, military or financial, to enter on any such conflict in addition to the dire struggle which had begun recently in the Philippine islands,

and which had already necessitated the transport thither of 20,000 to 30,000 troops. By the latter part of December, on reception of the official text of President Cleveland's message, public feeling began to moderate its fierceness against the United States; and prominent men of all parties were coming together in a more reasonable consideration of all the facts which constitute Spain's Cuban problem. Spain's problem is very grave. One of the most splendid colonies in the world has been brought

to the verge of an utter REPRESENTATIVE H. D. MONEY OF MISSISSIPPI,

ruin, a ruin so utter

that, as has been remarked, its possession would be a burden rather than an advantage.' In twenty-two months 200,000 soldiers in age little more than boys, and 12,500 officers, have been sent out. War expenditure thus far is stated at $300,000,000. At the end of October a 5 per cent loan of $50,000,000 for eight years was subscribed for by Spanish bankers more than twice over: it was a fine act of proud patriotism; but by the end of February, 1897, another loan will be requisite. Meanwhile the usual returns from Cuba, the chief source of Spanish revenue, have failed and cannot for years to come be re-established.

The United States and Cuba.-The position of this