The fate of Gen. Rius Rivera is not absolutely decided. He was tried by court-martial in the Cabanas fortress and was condemned to be shot. A cablegram was received by General Weyler from Madrid, ordering him to delay the execution on account of the feeling in the United States. General Weyler is said to have cabled back that the United States should not interfere with prisoners who are not Americans, and to have requested that he be allowed to carry out the sentence of the court, because the punishing of General Rivera would have a very desirable effect on the insurgents. A Cabinet council has been called in Madrid, and the question is being carefully discussed. The decision is anxiously awaited. A letter has been received from General Lee saying that food purchased with the Relief Fund is being distributed to the needy Americans. * * * * * The _Dauntless_ is certainly a very lucky little vessel. We told you last week how she had been captured by the cutter _McLean_, in consequence of an accident to her machinery. The crew of the _Dauntless_ were of course arrested with her, and were brought to Key West for trial. To everybody's surprise they have been discharged on the ground that there was no evidence to prove they were engaged in fitting out a filibustering expedition. The Madrid newspapers are saying very bitter things about the United States for not punishing the persons connected with these affairs. They declare that we make a pretence of taking them prisoners to satisfy Spain, and then set them at liberty to please ourselves. * * * * * It would seem that the reports from the Philippine Islands are as unreliable as those from Cuba. It was only last week that we heard that the rebellion was on a stronger footing than ever, and that there was little chance that it would soon be put down. This week a steamer from Japan brings the news that the Governor-General of the Philippines has issued a proclamation that the rebellion is at an end, and announcing that Spanish rule had been re-established. It will be interesting to know whether this is really true or merely a statement of the same kind as those General Weyler has been making for so many months. * * * * * A curious experiment is being tried in Tennessee. A co-operative town has been established by a few workingmen, and from all accounts it seems to be a great success. The town is called Ruskin, and at the present time has seventy families in it. In this town all men are considered equal, every man, and woman too, receiving the same amount of wage for his labor, whether it be skilled or unskilled. The school teacher receives the same pay as the day laborer; all stand on an equal footing.