PREFACE. 



IN the last volume of this work the most important subject treated was a remark- 

 able war between the United States and Spain. In the present volume the subject 

 probably of greatest interest is also, unfortunately, a conflict of arms. The reader 

 will find it an interesting study to compare and contrast these two wars the one 

 being a contest between the greatest republic in the world and a comparatively weak 

 monarchy, the other between the greatest empire in the world and two very small 

 republics. Of both, the causes, the processes, and the result so far as reached, will be 

 found clearly set forth in these two volumes. 



On the other hand, the reader will be interested to learn what was attempted in 

 the cause of universal peace by the conference at the Hague. A full account, with 

 the text of the convention as adopted, is contained in the article " Netherlands." 



In line with this is the benevolent work that goes on every day, in which our 

 country leads the world. If the reader is inclined to take a pessimistic view of our 

 present-day civilization, let him spend a little time on the twenty pages of this volume 

 that are devoted to " Charities of the United States," wherein the subject is taken up 

 by States alphabetically, and every paragraph is crowded with specific facts and 

 figures. Then let him scan the ten pages filled with " Gifts and Bequests," and learn 

 how in the past year $66,000,000 were given for education, charity, and religion, not- 

 counting the gifts that were of less value than $5,000. If he is still interested to 

 know what is done for benevolence, let him look at the article " Industrial Missionary 

 Association of Alabama," and at the articles, on the religious denominations. 



World's fairs are still the fashion, and the one we record in this volume is the 

 " National Export Exposition," held in Philadelphia. 



For some knowledge of the progress of the sciences in 1899, the articles " Astron- 

 omy," " Chemistry," " Metallurgy," " Meteorology," " Physics," " Physiology," and 

 u Associations for the Advancement of Science " may be consulted. 



For the financial situation, see the articles " Financial Review " and " United 

 States, Finances of," wherein both the facts and the philosophy are set forth. And 

 another element in our national problems may be studied in the article " Immigration 

 Bureau." The " Geographical Progress " of the year is set forth under that title, and 

 " Literature" and the "Fine Arts" have their usual careful record here. 



The proceedings of the " Farmers' Congress," which is now an established institu- 

 tion, are written for this volume by Mr. Stahl, secretary of the congress. 



The necrological records are longer than usual this year. Among the eminent 

 dead in our own country are the actors John S. Clarke, Charles F. Coghlan, William 

 Davidge, George Edgar, Sara Jewett, and Charles R. Pope, and the famous dramatist 

 and manager Augustin Daly ; the artists Mary N. Moran, Louis T. Rebisso, Giovanni 

 Turini, and Edmund A. Willis ; the authors Isaac Mc^ellan and Emma D. E. N. 



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