During all these complications, which included at one time even a
threat that the Spanish ministry would resign, there was no
discordant note of any sort in the United States. Secretary of
State John Sherman and Postmaster General Gary resigned from
President McKinley's cabinet because of ill health, in order that
the government might be in no way handicapped during the time of
emergency. Secretary Sherman was succeeded by Assistant Secretary
Judge William R. Day of Canton, Ohio, who had displayed remarkable
aptitude for the office during his term of service, while Mr.
Gary's successor was the Honorable Charles Emory Smith, of
Philadelphia, a newspaper editor and formerly ambassador to
Russia.

ALONG THE CUBAN COAST.

It was the torpedo boats which kept things exciting during the
early blockade of Cuban ports. They are like hornets, which travel
faster than anything that tries to escape them, sting when they
strike, and vanish in an instant. Two of these brisk fighters
distinguished themselves on Sunday, while the diplomats were busy
in the cabinets of the world. The torpedo boat Porter, which is as
fleet as an express train, has a dare-devil crew and an intrepid
commander with an honored name. He is Lieutenant John C. Fremont,
a son of the famous "Pathfinder," who himself never hesitated to
lead the way, whether in wilderness exploration or any other duty
that came before him.

Lieutenant Fremont, with the Porter, made a landing on the north
coast of Cuba with a small force of his men, in search of certain