Phidias was, and the other men didn't care who he was. These men have built the lagoon, with its Court of Honor. It is as surely a part and a fruit of the civilization that has grown in the Trans-Mississippi country as the cable car, the town library, the demagogue, or canned beef. participant in the blessings of Democracy luncheon table made no pretensions to acaby education alone. Neither can he change demic culture. Here and there was a colhis complexion by proclamation, nor his dis- lege-bred man, but he had forgotten who position by legislation. Democracy is a birthright. The race has been bargaining for the blessings of Democracy for untold centuries. War was the commerce of our fathers of old. Their lives were the mediums of exchange. Our liberties were the savings of their earnings, and this Democracy is our inheritance. The Indian cannot acquire a taste for the fruits of these victories. To him even as they are to men of the Latin race they must ever be apples of Sodom. So this, the life that exists here in this Trans-Mississippi country, must be a strange life save to the kinsmen of the old Angles and the Saxons. To Frenchmen, to the Spaniard, to the Arab, it must seem odd to find several millions of people working six days in the week on farms, in offices, at benches, on railroads, in stores, and to know that in the whole domain, covering more territory than the half of Europe, is no place where class lines are drawn, where either the prince or the pauper abides. Here the little brother of the rich and the little sister of the poor may meet upon terms arranged by their own inclinations. In this Trans-Mississippi country there is no family of distinction. The grandfather does not enter into the social equation, and he is not considered valuable collateral in financial or political transactions. Every tub stands on its own bottom, and if there is any caste, the spendthrift is the only outcast, and the dishonest debtor is the only man from whom the people flee as from the unclean. From that civilization the Trans-Mississippi Exposition was called, out of a fancy through a hope, into being. An executive committee used to meet regularly at the luncheon hour while its work progressed, to discuss growth of certain Exposition plans. There were no gentlemen in the luncheon room whose names are blazoned where there is a "boast of heraldry and pomp of power." The chairman of one of the most important sub-committees was a telegraph messenger boy a generation ago. His friend on the right was a farm-hand then. The young man near the window was an office boy during, the panic of seventy-three. One of his associates on the finance committee used to twist brakes out of Denver on a cattle train. There were the lawyer, doctor, merchant, chief, rich man, poor man, and probably the other two classes in the group. It was absolutely democratic. The men around the Democracy is vital. Perhaps it is the only growing idea. No one has defined it. Great minds have expressed something of its meaning. Their thoughts tally with some rhythm that pulses through the soul of things. Heaven that directs it only knows what it is, this Democracy. Men know that it makes nations virile, tunes their songs in a major key, makes men fight with their hands instead of with knives and poison. And more than these things, Democracy impels men, whether they are building highways or universities, or whether they are forming international policies or circumscribing the peregrinations of the town cow, to transact business through the agency of committees. This much is palpable about Democracy. It can fight; it is potent to win an empire where the Latin civilization failed and where the Indian's institutions fell to pieces. Surely the potency which can win empire will bring out all this beauty that Democracy is now holding up to fleeting view. Be And yet one is accustomed to think of Democracy as a principle that has no beauty in it. Scholars have persuaded the world that beauty passed from activity when Greece decayed. Philosophers seem to have concluded that Democracy cannot rise from a dead level of monotonous ugliness. cause Democracy has waged wars, has built railroads, has made cities, has founded governments, and has elected presidents, the most reckless speculator in political probabilities has not dared to invest in the theory that Democracy may hold in its essence the vital element which may spread beauty over the world as widely as Democracy has spread commerce. But out here in the corn and steer country, in a State known on the stock exchange as one of those frightful "granger" States-here is the Court of Honor at Omaha, a really beautiful thing, and it is thoroughly what the "boomer" calls" a home product." And, therefore, although the spectacle rising on the field west of Omaha is beautiful, it is marvelous for something more than its beauty. It is for this that, while so much beauty is to be found there, no one is vainglorious about it. Every one accepts it as a matter of course. This beauty has sprung from the germ of Democracy, which has brought forth all the gross richness of the West. The bauble that men have made for a holiday out here on the plains may vanish as the mirage vanishes. But whatever beauty there was in the minds of the makers-in the soul of Democracy-will stay, will grow, will form itself into hard realities, will pass into shapes of stone and brick and mortar, into city avenues, into public buildings, into dwelling-places, for time to gnaw it. It is not phantasmagoria to imagine that when Democracy has conquered all the continents it can subdue, and the islands of the eastern and western seas, it will spend its energy making these domains things of beauty. May be, while the Latin, old and wasted, sits under the Apennines and the Alps, and dreams dreams of the glory that has beenthe young man, the Anglo-Saxon, rejoicing in his Democracy, is seeing visions. The Court of Honor out here on the prairie land may be one of the visions that is flitting through his mind, a vision that by God's grace and the Saxon's courage some day shall come true. DIARY OF THE BRITISH FROM MAY 18, 1898, THE DAY BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH FLEET, TO JULY 18, THE DAY AFTER THE AMERICANS TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CITY. BY FREDERICK W. RAMSDEN. EDITOR'S NOTE.-When, in the course of the war with Spain, United States warships began to appear off the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, the late Frederick W. Ramsden, British Consul at Santiago, began to keep a diary. It was for the benefit of his sons, one of whom is an American railroad man, and it was not intended for publication. It tells with remarkable clearness and interest what a close, dispassionate observer, with unusual sources of information, saw and heard of the invading army and navy from within the beleaguered city. It is also a most valuable contribution to history, for it supplements and corrects the accounts of the Santiago campaign written from the American point of view. No man could have been better fitted to write of the extraordinary events within the city of Santiago during the American investment than Mr. Ramsden, regarding whose extraordinary career some further information will be found in a note at the end of the article. When a mere boy, he was sent to Cuba as the representative of an English firm of exporters. Within two years he had boon appointed secretary to the British Consul at Santiago, and he soon rose to the full consulship, which he held for nearly forty years. EDNESDAY, 18th May, 1898. At daybreak three American steamers were signaled off the port, and turned out to be a large sailboat fitted out for fighting and two gunboats. Two of them approached, and some shots were exchanged with the forts. They were seen to be dragging with a line in front this hathor, probably trying to hook the Cabos which go from here to Jamaica and T Havana They have evidently come to walls and ascertain if the Spanish fleet The latter having been known to have my on Sunday evening; else to get of the guns of the forts here. bill ons live ton gun to be put in The Punta Gorda Battery. The Jups wont away in the afternoon, and the "Addie" sailed for Kingston with 199 passengers. Thursday, 19th May. The Spanish fleet appeared at daybreak, and came in. It consists of the "Infanta Maria Teresa," the "Vizcaya," the "Almirante Oquendo," the "Cristobal Colon," and the torpedo-boat destroyers "Pluton" and "Furor." Their coal is almost finished, and they have only had just enough to get them here. The other destroyer, the Terror," has remained at Martinique for repairs. The American ships which were here yesterday are this morning at Guantanamo, and have been firing at Playa del Este, or the temporary fort there. Our Governor, Capriles, who is a naval man, much to the regret of everyone, resigned to-day, and has joined the fleet. Saturday, 21st May. One American war ship appeared off the harbor, remaining all day. At six P.M. three shots were heard. The French gunboat "Fulton" sailed at two P.M. for Martinique with some twenty passengers. A banquet was given this evening by the merchants of Santiago to the fleet. Admiral Sampson is said to have been at Samana Bay two days ago. Sunday, 22d May. Two American warships anchored off the port this morning, and have remained all day, but no firing has been heard. We hear that Admiral Sampson, with four battleships, four cruisers, and three gunboats, was off Havana yesterday, and this afternoon we hear that the "Iowa," "Indiana," and "Puritan" were at Cienfuegos this morning. provisions at their risk, he promising to pay for them, on arrival, at a moderate price, the customs duties, which are for the present suspended, to be for the benefit of the government. It is not clear how he is to dispose of the money in Europe, and if the cable is cut, he certainly cannot do so, and as no one counts on the certainty of payment, it is hardly likely that anyone will be found willing to take the risk on these terms. He says that at Guantanamo they are already in want of the first necessaries of life, and that we should see what we can do, both for the troops and for the town. They knew perfectly well that war AMERICAN SHIPS SIGNALED. Monday, 23d May. At daybreak three American ships were signaled, and remained on and off all day, evidently on the watch for the Spanish fleet. At noon another one turned up from the westward, and, after communication with the others, went off again to the west. As we know that yesterday morning there was very prob CAIMANES CAY SANTIAGO able, but no steps at all were RATONES SALISART JARDIN P JUDAGUAR LACRUZ P! CUBERA BAY CUBERA LOOKOUT (VIGIA) CINCO REALES GORDA P! ACA COVE NISPERO BAY CASPA + JUCARO COVE LA SOCAP CAÑORES P SOLDADOS PT STA CATALINA FORT STRELLA COVE were nine American ships off Cienfuegos, this one probably came from there, and has gone back with news. The Spanish fleet is taking in coal, water, and provisions, in a hurry, and it is evident that it is preparing to go to sea, probably to-night or in the morning, as I hear the pilots have been ordered for this evening. We cabled Halifax to-day, to try to get a cargo of provisions, but I doubt if we shall succeed. The general in command has called up the merchants and told them the troops were running short of provisions, and added that the Captain-General had cabled him that a thousand pounds were at his disposal in London with Mildred Goyeneche and one thousand dollars at Madrid. He wants the merchants to order the MAP • OF SANTIAGO HARBOR taken for the future provisioning of the troops until now when it is too late, and now they want private people to help them out of the mess. Tuesday, 24th May. (Queen's birthday and my wife's Saint day; how different from other years!) The day commenced with three vessels outside, and the Spanish fleet had steam up and was ready for sea. Nevertheless, they have not moved, and the flagship is alongside the Juragua wharf, taking water. A destroyer went down to the harbor entrance to take a look round. It rained all day. We hear that there are seven American ships off Cienfuegos, and seventeen off Havana. Wednesday, 25th May. At daybreak three steamers were signaled outside the port, and soon after they put out the signal, "The enemy is giving chase to a vessel," and later on, "There is one of the enemy's ship's outside." There are probably more than one, but there is so much haze, owing to the rain, and it is so thick that they cannot possibly see for any distance. The vessel chased by the enemy is probably an English steamer, bringing 3,000 tons of coal for the Spanish navy. The battleship "Cristobal Colon" got under way, and it was supposed that she would go out and prevent her capture by the Americans, probably an easy matter, since her speed is over eighteen knots and the American ships are said to be simply mail steamers fitted with guns. The "Colon," however, simply went down the bay and anchored near the entrance. The two destroyers are also down near the entrance. The flagship at midday went down to Cajuma Bay, and has anchored there, and another ironclad, either the "Vizcaya" or the "Oquendo," has taken her place at the Juragua wharf, and is taking in water. It is said that the Americans have taken their prize, whatever it is, and have carried her off. It seems incredible that this should have been allowed right in front of the port, and the squadron inside with steam up. It looks as if the fleet did not intend to move from this port, as it is evidently taking up a position nearer the entrance, so as to command it in case of an attack. We shall now see whether the American fleet decides to come down this way to attack the Spaniards, in which case it will have a tough job to get in; or whether it will send a few ships to prevent the Spanish leaving this port, and then attack Havana. Meat was to-day advanced to sixty cents a pound in the market, and it is difficult to get any vegetables there, as the fleet buys nearly all. This food business is going to become very serious, and there will now be little hope of getting in food supplies from abroad. FLOUR BEGINS TO RUN SHORT IN THE CITY. "Cristobal Colon" and the two destroyers at the entrance of Nispero, and between that and Socapa and Smith Cay the flagship "Maria Teresa," and the "Oquendo" in Cajuma, and the "Vizcaya" close to the red buoy on the colonnades below Punta Limetas. We can see only the last three from here, and they are moored on to the entrance of the harbor. Therefore any shots exchanged with vessels outside will not come our way, but will cross at about right angles from us. It is now known that yesterday they allowed the coal steamer to be taken without even an effort to save her. To-day the military have taken possession of all the flour in town, and none will be left for the public; therefore, in another week, there will be no bread to be had, and the bakeries will be closed. At home, here, we laid in a small stock of biscuits, and also some flour, and shall make our own bread as long as the latter lasts. I now hear that the Spanish squadron never intended to go from here to Havana the other day when it prepared for sea, but to Porto Rico. It is probably safer here, but it is useless as a fleet. The provision cargo from Halifax has fallen through; the people there charged a big price, and also refused to take the blockade risk. Friday, 27th May. A little before eleven o'clock this morning the American fleet was signaled, and remained off the port all day, disappearing in the evening. They reported twelve ships, but in the afternoon I went down to Cinco Reales and up to the signal station of Vigia, and could make out only nine ships, about fifteen miles off shore. There were two large battleships, probably the "Indiana" and the "Iowa," and another large Steamer with three funnels, but it did not look like a battleship; the rest appeared to Thursday, May 26th. Raining until the be smaller vessels, but they were too far off afternoon and thick. At first only one to distinguish clearly. The man on the ship was signaled, but when it cleared there lookout told me that the coal steamer they were three. We hear that the two Ameri- took the day before yesterday was still there can squadrons have crossed each other off with them, so probably they have retained Cienfuegos, Commodore Schley going to it in order to supply themselves with coal Cape San Antonio, and Admiral Sampson therefrom. The Halifax people have now coming down here to Santiago de Cuba, to made another offer, which we have accepted, look after the Spanish squadron. We may but it is hardly likely that a vessel with proexpect him, then, to-morrow, and shall visions will be able to get through the blocknow see if he will content himself with ade. I was able to-day to see better the blockading the port and shutting the Span- positions of the Spanish ships, which are not iards in, or whether he will try to force visible from here, and I find that the "Colon" the port. If he blockades us for any time, is in Gaspar Inlet, that is, between Punta there will be nothing but rice to eat. If he Gorda and the south side of that inlet. One attacks, we are likely to get it pretty hot. of the destroyers is placed well inside the The Spanish ships have taken up their posi- outer bay of the Nispero, just in front of tions near the entrance of the harbor, the the entrance to the second bay, or larger one, where the cable is stowed in the water. If the Americans try to enter, they will have a pretty hard job to do so. Saturday, 28th May. This morning the American fleet had disappeared, and only one ship was visible. By five in the afternoon they had all come back, and remained during the night. GOING DOWN TO SEE THE AMERICAN SHIPS. Sunday, 29th May. This morning the whole fleet was signaled at daybreak, and soon after the signal of "approaching" was run up. I called out to Mason by the telephone, and we agreed to go down to the Vigia hill, whence you get a good view of the Morro and outside, as we expected they would attack. We remained there until nearly midday. The American fleet was lying about three miles from shore, and to the east of Morro. By taking a careful note of the different ships, and afterwards comparing them with the pictures we have of the American navy, we made out the following, commencing with the one most to the eastward: The "Montgomery," or a ship very like her; the "Brooklyn," with the admiral's flag at the main; vessel of the description of the Iowa," although her chimneys are too high for the "Iowa"; the "Indiana" or the "Massachusetts"; the "Texas"; and a merchant steamer with a yacht alongside of her. There was also another one, which went away to the eastward, of enormous size, and evidently a transatlantic boat, either the "St. Paul" or the "St. Louis." Therefore, there were only five actual warships, and it looks as if they were not the ships of Admiral Sampson, but those of Schley. They remained about all day, and did nothing, but in the evening, at half past nine, we could see over the lower hills in front of our house the reflection of their electric search-lights, which they were evidently throwing along the coast between the Morro and Aguadores. Monday, 30th May. The fleet was signaled again this morning, and at midday an English man-of-war appeared to the southward, and immediately afterwards they signaled her as having gone off again to the south. I now find out that she sent a boat to the American flagship and then went away again, probably to return to Jamaica. I hear that Sampson's squadron is off Havana, and therefore the one here is that of Schley. Instead of the "Montgomery," it is the "Marblehead," and the one like the "Iowa" but with higher chimneys is probably the 66 66 Tuesday, 31st May. Eleven ships signaled this morning, and at midday another joined them from the westward. Dora went down to the Vigia with L. Brooks's daughter and the boys to see the squadron. It is a pity they did not stop till later, for at 2.30 P.M. firing began, and we began to see shells falling around the Maria Teresa," Oquendo," and "Vizcaya," moored in Cajuma Bay. None touched the ships, but on falling into the bay they raised a column of water about forty feet high, just like a waterspout. Firing lasted from half past two until ten minutes past three, when it ceased. It seems that five of the American ships came up to the entrance of the harbor, with another transatlantic boat accompanying them, the other vessels remaining a mile or so further off. They fired through the entrance at the Cristobal Colon," which was lying in Gaspar Inlet and was visible, and also fired shells over the hills at the outer ships, which they could not see, but they did no damage to anyone or anything beyond knocking off a piece of staircase of the Morro. The "Colon" replied with several broadsides, and they tell me she fired 180 shots, and they claim to have hit the transatlantic boat. Punta Gorda fort and the Socapa one, and the Morro also returned the fire, and that of the Socapa, which has two Hontoria guns taken from the "Reina Mercedes," the only guns good for anything in all the forts, they claim put two shells on the stern, perhaps astern, of the "Iowa." I do not believe the "Iowa" is there, and that it is the Amazon." They say she reeled to one side, and the others sent off their boats to her. Anyhow, the ships hauled off after that shot, and fired no more. This little event broke the monotony of the blockading business, and aroused the people, who flocked down to see it. No one seemed to be the least alarmed, but took it rather as a joke. 66 Wednesday, 1st June. Thirteen vessels signaled this morning, and they have remained off all day, and have done nothing. We have news that they meant to attack this place, landing troops at Guantanamo, and I suppose that they will do all they can to get at the Spanish squadron. The latter has bought up all the oil in town, besides lots of provisions and other things, and all the surgical bandages they could get hold of. It is said that they came away from Spain very badly supplied. One shell fell yesterday |