only waiting until the proper time arrived to come forward. He added that one hundred thousand volunteers were ready to take up arms for him at his call.

Side by side with this unwelcome announcement comes the news that there is fresh trouble in the Spanish Cabinet.

Señor Reverter, the Spanish minister of finance, that is to say, the minister who has charge of the money affairs of Spain, has been excommunicated by the Church of Rome.

This minister has had a very hard battle to fight against the poverty of his country, and her pressing need for money.

In his anxiety to help her he committed the unwarrantable act of seizing money belonging to one of the churches, and using it for the Government.

The Church protested against this robbery, but the minister declared that the Government must have the money she needed, and, in spite of the indignation of the churchmen, proceeded to take it.

Finding that they could get no help from the Government, the members of the church appealed to the Bishop who had charge of the district in which the plundered church was situated.

The anger of this bishop knew no bounds. He would not allow the Church to be so shamefully robbed, and sent an angry demand to the minister that he refund the money instantly.

Señor Reverter declined to do so, saying that the country had need of it, and upon his refusal the Bishop, without more ado, excommunicated him.

Excommunication is a terrible punishment to inflict on any one. It means that the sinner cannot enjoy any of the privileges of the Church, and that he is forbidden all its comforts and blessings. Further than that, it almost amounts to boycotting (see p. 998), for all churchmen who do business with an excommunicated man, or serve him, are put under the ban of the Church, and become outcasts with him. So that at one blow a man loses friends and servants, and even has difficulty in getting food and clothing.

It is said that the Pope was extremely angry with the bishop for having taken such a serious step without first consulting him.

This power of the Church is very rarely exercised, and while a bishop has the right to inflict this punishment on a member of his flock, he is not supposed to do so without first consulting with the Pope, especially when important personages are involved.

His Holiness was therefore most exasperated to find that the bishop of Majorca had ventured on such a step without his permission. He has, however, no ground for refusing to uphold the bishop, so the sentence will have to stand, but it is rumored that he intends to show his displeasure by removing the bishop to another diocese where the work will be harder, and the income not so large.

Napoleon Bonaparte was excommunicated by Pope Pius VII. in 1809, but since that time the punishment has hardly ever been inflicted, and it is thought that at the present time, when Spain is in so much trouble, the bishop should have sought some less severe measure to bring the minister to terms.

It is of course a terrible thing for Spain that one of her highest ministers should be so punished and disgraced.

It was hoped that Señor Reverter would resign his office, and so save the Government any further trouble. This, however, he refuses to do, and the members of his department are in sympathy with his defiance of the Church.

It is said that friends are trying to persuade the bishop to forgive the minister, and withdraw the sentence, if he consents to resign at the end of the year.

The bishop is not willing to do anything of the kind. He thinks that if the Government is allowed to plunder one church without punishment, all the wealth belonging to the Church will soon be seized and taken possession of by the crown.

This unfortunate affair has brought fresh trouble on poor Queen Christina.

The Government, which has been in a very uncertain condition since the death of Canovas, has been unable to oppose the excommunication of Señor Reverter.

General Azcarraga, the Prime Minister, has offered his resignation to the Queen, and asked her to form a fresh Cabinet. He says he is no longer able to control the affairs of state.

This is the worst thing that could have happened at this moment. The only man who seems fit to lead the Government is Señor Sagasta, but, as we have told you before, he has very liberal views about Cuba.

If he comes into office there is little doubt but that he will recall General Weyler, and offer home rule to the island, if he does not accept our offer of arranging terms whereby Cuba can purchase the island for herself.

While this policy is very pleasing to the friends of Cuba, the majority of the Spaniards are unwilling to give up the island unless it is taken from them by force.

Don Carlos knows this, and so has declared himself in favor of keeping General Weyler where he is, and pressing the war still more severely till the rebels are forced to give in.

The chances are that if Señor Sagasta comes to power there will be a Carlist rising, and the young King Alphonse will lose his throne.

On the other hand, there seems to be no leader, strong enough to guide the country, who believes in carrying out Canovas' policy, and as far as the poor harassed Queen can see, the speedy subduing of Cuba is the only policy that will please the people and keep her boy on the throne.

A number of Spanish war-ships have been sent to Cuban waters. It is said that they are there to help moor the floating dock in some place of safety until it can be brought into Havana Bay.

The dock, however, has not yet arrived in Cuba, and it is whispered that the real object of the visit of these ships is to be in readiness in case war is declared between the United States and Spain.

The Spaniards are very angry with us just now, and the Madrid papers publish statements which assert that there is no possibility of avoiding the war.

They think that we sympathize with the Cubans, and would be so glad to see Cuba free that we are helping the insurgents to defy them.

They will not believe that General Woodford's mission to Spain is peaceful and kindly meant. In spite of the statement made by the Duke of Tetuan about the friendliness of the meeting, the Madrid papers insist that the United States sent an ultimatum to Spain, which means that she sent a message, that either the war must be immediately brought to a close, or we would fight her.

There are rumors that Austria will join with Spain, in case such a war should break out. The Queen Regent was an Austrian princess before she became Queen of Spain, and therefore the Spaniards think that Austria would be certain to help them.

There is little foundation for all this wild talk. We do not want a war with Spain, nor, for the matter of that, with any other nation. We would prefer to live in peace with all men. We cannot, however, see the struggle in Cuba without suffering grief and pain, and trying to do what we can to bring it to an end.

Both President McKinley and President Cleveland were most careful to keep on good terms with Spain, and the mission of General Woodford has been undertaken with the desire of being helpful to both Cuba and Spain.

All our friendship for one party or the other cannot blind us to the fact that Spain is losing ground in Cuba.

Despite our care, and the watchfulness of the gunboats stationed along the coast, expeditions are constantly leaving our shores and taking supplies to the rebels from their friends over here. The cause seems stronger than ever, and it seems merely a waste of men and money to prolong the struggle.

Our President,