Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-11-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(Fron snr Regular Correspondent

Washington, ID. 9. nov. IS
War between the United States
and Spain is no longer merely a
tar away possibility; it is a strong
prObability-many think acertaln
ty-Of the near future. Such is
The opinion of the most cOnserva-
tive men who are posted on the
situation IN SPAN, tor 1t is the sit
nation in that country, and not IN
either tue q. S. or Cuba, that will
bring war, it war really cones.
Officials of this government who
will talk at all on the subject SAY
that they do not expect war, bni
they will acknowledge that the
administration is taking every
precaution to be prepared for war
il il does come. Tue situation in
Spain which may compel the
Spanish Government 10 prOvOk"
war with this county is vel
known to our officials, and may be-
summarized IN few words. There
are three political parties in Span.
the one to which The regents O.
the Boy belong the weakest III
plumbers, and the two Others are
already discussing the advlsabl itN
of combining and doing a little
blood letting at home, maklug a
few funerals in the fam lily OF the
boy king and in those of bis ac'
visers, aud giving Spain a new
deal The. loss of Cuba would
greatly aggravate the spanish
people who are almost UNANIMOUS
IN blaming the L S. for the CubAn
revolution. That Is why Gen.
WrN Ter is making a strong effort
TO crush the Cuban rebellion. II
he fails, as he is almost certain to
do, members of the Spanish Gov
or mPnt nay regard declaration
of war against the L. s. as the
only way to save their necks and
to give their subjects an excuse
II tor the loss of Cuba. Spanlards as
a rule know little Of thu power OF
This country and imagine not only
that the war could he cJn0ned to
A nerlcan waters, bat tia they
could bring us to terms by captuI'
Ing or destrO lug our sea coast
ci ies; or at the worst, if they
fail, they would only lose Z iba,
and that they would rather lose 1t
To the Uniied States than 10 tht
insurgents. IL is said that it II
Ibis knowledge of the situation II
lSsnn chat has caused Presiden
To- eveland to continue bis policy o
absolute neutrality, against th'
sentiments of CongreSs,a mai irit,
OF his own CIbinet. He Is said II
he determined that if there is Wa
ISpaiD SHALL be responsible for IT.
If the schemers in politics a
well as IN business could be elm
Iinated, there would be litll
doubt of tariff legislation at TIN
cuming session Ut Congress -wblcl
would furnish the G. ,verument thu
needed increase in revenue an
would at the same time make a
extra session of Congress am ICES
1 sar,: bat as tue aforesaid sche u
! ers have never fdile to play thel
part at any session Of Congress
in which tue tariff was elthec act
ed upon or talked abOlf, nDb Ihy
expects them TO tail 90 put IN thri
] appearance at the coming session
and nobody expects, althonst
many hope against their judgment
: that anything sufti ,iently s't's
. factory in the way of increasing
revenue to m AXE the h jlliIs IT ~
extra session Of Congress unnece'
\ sarS, will be accomplished Fo
reasons of their Own-mostly Sc
dsh.-lll Of the schemsrs want al
extra session OF Congress.
The more CJugre ssional expsrI
eHce q man has the less likely b.
is to 20 of halfcOcked 10 MAXIM
predictions about what Congress
Will or will not do. Ssnato
Morrill,, of w.. who leads the San
atm continuous service, has arrives
10 Washington to remain dnrInl
the session Of Congress. H. m
been besieged by the news ape
mon tor his opinion OF what Gu
IGres, will do. He received them al