would have been easy for him to supply the tribesmen from his side of the border without being found out.

In the heart of his country this ruler has established an arsenal which is managed by Englishmen who are in his service. The factories are fitted out with machinery imported from England, and when in full working order can turn out twenty thousand cartridges and one hundred and fifteen rifles a day, and two field guns a week.

In 1896 it was known that the Ameer had already manufactured enough breech-loading rifles to give arms to fifty thousand soldiers. It is uncertain what became of this store, but it was supposed that they were being kept for the Afghanistan troops. Now the English are wondering whether the Ameer has not been quietly supplying their enemies with weapons and ammunition.

The latest reports from the seat of war state that the tribesmen are offering a determined resistance to the English advance, and from all one hears some serious work lies before the British army in India.

Spain's answer to President McKinley has been cabled over to us. The text of the letter has not been made public yet, but one of our newspapers has cabled a statement from Madrid telling us what it is all about. This statement has been confirmed by Señor Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish Minister in Washington, and so we may have confidence in it.

It would appear that the answer was discussed at a cabinet meeting in Madrid on Sunday; a draft of the answer was then prepared and sent to the Queen, who immediately gave her consent.

The tone of the answer shows that the present ministry of Spain is anxious to keep on the best of terms with the United States, and does not want a war with us any more than we do with them.

The answer is said to call the attention of the United States to the fact that since the note was presented by General Woodford to the Duke of Tetuan, there has been a complete change in the Spanish Government, and that the present ministry has decided to alter the policy of Spain in regard to Cuba, and give the island a form of government that cannot fail to meet with the approval of the United States.

According to this statement, which, as we have said, Señor de Lôme declares to be correct, Spain says that she is now making an honest effort to win back the friendship of her Cuban subjects, and as a proof of this has recalled General Weyler, and sent out in his stead a man who is charged to take all the necessary steps toward providing Cuba with liberal Home Rule.

The friendly offices of the United States will be asked to assist Spain in restoring peace and contentment in Cuba.

The note goes on to add that while the Spanish Government does not hold us responsible for all the filibustering that has been done, it will ask us to do all in our power to prevent any more expeditions from leaving our shores.

In reference to filibustering, it may be of interest to you to know that the work of playing policeman for Spain has already cost us nearly two million dollars. We are obliged to keep a fleet of revenue cutters on the watch for these expeditions, and it would seem that we have tried to do our duty very thoroughly. That we have not succeeded in capturing many of the contraband vessels should be no great reproach to us. Spain has sixty vessels patrolling the coast of Cuba, and has only been able to seize one filibuster, the Competitor.

Tho news that Spain means to give Home Rule to Cuba is most welcome, and it is to be hoped that the reforms offered may be satisfactory to the Cubans, and that the war may soon be brought to a close.

The full terms of the promised changes have reached us—they give the Cubans control of educational matters, tariff, customs, charity, and public works.

A governor or viceroy is to be chosen by the mother country, and he is to have the right to choose the officers who are to form his cabinet.

There is to be a Cuban parliament, divided into upper and lower houses, which is to settle all the affairs of the island except those which concern foreign policy, naval and military matters, and the manner in which the law is to be administered. The acts of this parliament are, however, to be subject to the approval of the Governor.

The Cuban parliament is to elect the men who are to go to Spain to represent Cuba in the Cortes.

General Blanco is already on his way to Cuba. Before he left Spain he stated that he felt convinced that the United States would soon find that there was no further necessity to interfere on behalf of Cuba. He said that Spain had only the best and kindest intentions toward the Pearl of the Antilles (as Cuba is often called). He declared that peace would soon be restored.

While the reforms offered are not all that can be desired, still Spain seems sincerely to desire to restore peace to Cuba, and it therefore becomes the duty of all peace-loving people to withhold criticism, and wait to see what Spain will do before venturing an opinion.

The Cubans are not elated over the prospect. It is stated that they will refuse the Home Rule offered them, and persist in their attempts to win their freedom.

Señor Estrada Palma, the Cuban delegate in this country, declared that he was in a position to state that the Cubans will accept no compromise from Spain. They are willing to give up their lives for their country's freedom, but they will never accept Home Rule as a solution of their struggle for independence.

The Cubans in Havana are feeling nervous about the demonstrations that are to be made in honor of General Weyler on the eve of his departure from Cuba, which is to take place on October 30th.

The Americans in the city are begging that a man-of-war be sent into the harbor to protect them, as they fear that Weyler's friends may make an attack upon them.

The demonstration is to be made by the volunteer regiments of Havana. These regiments are recruited from the Spanish merchants in the city, and are all bitterly opposed to the Cubans. They have passed resolutions approving Weyler's methods of warfare, and protesting against the promised Home Rule.

It is feared that these men may get so excited over honoring their favorite general that they may attack the Cubans or Americans in the city.

Weyler has desired that there shall be no demonstration whatever, but the commanders of the volunteers have stated that this is a matter in which they are quite unable to control their men.

In spite of the fact that the Spanish Government relieved Weyler of his duties, he still continues to rule in Cuba, having refused to give up his command until he sails.

He has issued a report in which he states once more that he has nearly crushed out the rebellion. He draws a lively picture of the desperate state of the island when he was appointed governor, and then shows the great improvements he has made.

According to his statement, Havana is in an absolutely healthy condition, and great preparations have been made for continuing the war now the rainy season is over; he also praises the fine condition of the hospitals in Havana—statements which have all been proved false time after time.

Every failure or defeat that he has met with he attributes to the want of soldiers. He declares that he had not enough men under his control properly to garrison Holguin or Victoria de las Tunas, and it was for this reason that they fell.

He has to say something in his own defence, but it is doubtful if many people will be deceived by this wonderful report.

Spain has asked for an explanation of the Silver Heels affair.

Minister de Lôme has called the attention of the State Department to the case, and asked why the officers on the revenue cutter allowed the vessel to escape them.

The collector of the port of New York has been asked to give his version of the