The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-10
Washington Letter.

Washington, Aug. S.-If the Span
ish minister had any proper idea OF,
the public sentiment in this country
ne would not have wasted ten days
in deciding whether to accept the
terms of peace offered If they knew
a good thing when they saw it, they
would have jumped at those termsa
In the statement of the terms of
peace, last week. the administration
was given credit TO which it was not
entitled Instead Of providing that
claims Of Americans for property de.
stroyed in Cuba should be paid BY.
Spain and disclaiming responsibility
for Spanish bonds issued as lein on
the revenues of Cuba and Porto Rico.
lit mentioned neither, leaving those
troublesome matters to be added to the
numerous other troublesome things.
that will have to be tackled by the
commission that will negotiate the
treaty of peace. The only certain
things in the terms of peace are that
Spain shall evacuate Cuba and Porto
Rico and Il We shall retain Manila
and Manila bay everything else is
to be settled.by the commission.
Mr.. Mckinley apparently fully be.
lieves that the Spanish ministry is
honest in informally telling him that
it intends to accept his terms of
peace. although officially it still re-
mains silent His faith is so strong
that the orders for the reinforcement
of Gen. Miles have been held up. and .
that nothing is being done to send
Gen Merritt the reinforcements that
he has asked for. If Spain accepts
the terms, these hold-ups will do no
harm, but should Spain he foolish
enough to reject the terms, they may
be fraught with serious consequences.
Gen Miles is still having everything
his own way in Porto Rico, and be,
ing royalty welcomed by the Porto
Ricans, but if it becomes necessary
for him to attack the strong fortifca-
tions at San Juan, ne mas not men
enough to take that town, without a
great sacrifice OF life.
Notwithstanding the harsh criti.r
cism which has come from all Sec
tions of the country aud from the
holders of all shades of political opin-
ion of the partiality shown by the
navy department, in favor of Acting
Admiral Sampson and against Com
modore Schley, that partiality still
exists, and, according to current gos
sip. is about to be strikingly exhibited :
by shifting of orders for the pur-
pose of giving Sampson an oppor-
tunity to splurge in European waters.
The orders for sending strong feet
to the coast of Spain, issued some
weeks ago, for bluh6ng purposes,
have not yet been revoked, and the
officials say that the fleet is to 60 for
the purpose of "impressing Europe"
now that the pending cessation of
hostilisies and the prospect of perma.
nent peace have made further fight
ing apparently unnecessary There
being no further opportunity for
Sampson to acquire either glory or
prize money it Cuban waters, he is
to be given command of the Euro
pean feet, and Commodore Watson,
who was first assigned to that com
mand. is to have command of all the
ships that remain in Cuban waters
As Watson ranks below sch!ey there
will be no important command lefs>t
for the latter This navy department
may succeed for time in depriving
Schley of honors be has won. but,
Congress can be depended upon 20
see that justice is done him.
Secretary Alger's mixing of poll
tics with military matters has added
nothing to his popularity nor to his
reputation for political sagacity Il.
his eagerness to isjure Teddy"
Roosevelt's political fortunes. Secre
Alger went to the extent of publish.
ing private letter from Roosevelt 20
himself, in which slurs were thrown
at the fighting qualities of the voiun-
teer soldiers. in order that he might
accompany it with an official repri-
mand from himself to Roosevelt.
Alger was so much afraid that
the "rornd robin" sighted by the
Generals under Shafter, headed by
Roosevelt who is acting commander
of brigade, would be credited with
the accelerated movements of the
War Department in getting our SOL
diers away from Santiago !; that he
had all official statement made to the
press, saying that the soldiers were
being moved in accordance with
plans made before the publication of
the "round robin,' which, by the
NOV RooseveIt ia accnsed of hav;no