The Opelousas courier., 1898-04-02
Washington Letter.
From u Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, d. c., March 90, 1893.
War! War!! War!H That la
been the cry on every side in tOne4
higher and higher, since the official re
port of the Naval Court Of Inquiry con
irmed the opinion that had been gen,
eral from the day the Maine wal
blown up, by saying that the explosion
was on the outside of the vessel, and
showing, by evidence presented, the
inpossibility of private parties being
plOsives powerful enough to do what
was done in Havana harbor without
the assistance Or connivance of Spanish
officials. Mr.. Mckinley knows that
war is the only outcome of the situa-
ton, Notwithstanding that he persists
in talking peace while the whole adj
ministration is acting war, but he
has an overwhelming anxiety to have
Spain make the first open hostile move,
just as though the blowing up of the
Maine was not a hostile act, and if the
hot'lla of torpedo boats and torpedo
boat destrOyc:s now making its way to-
wards American waters, alleged to be
bound for Porto Rico, was not another
hostile act. His reasons for not wish
ing to begin is a fear that Europe may
think that he had forced the wal upon
Spain.
Mr.. Mckinley has IA policy which he
thinks will force Spain to get out of
the United States, or to begin fighting
us without Il declaration of war. He
told leading Senators and Representa-
tlves enough OF this policy before send
ing the Maine report to Congress to Sc
cure their promises to aid in keeping
Congress from acting on the Maine re-
port until this policy can be put into eff
feet, or at least be tried. This policy is
to be Intervention in Cuba, in the name
OF humanity, and nnderit, the loss of the
Maine is to be a side issue, treated as the
result of incompetence rather than
criminal intention on the part of
the Spanish government, and
no specific reparation therefor is to be
asked, although, it Is said that Mr.. Nc
kinley indnlged the hope that Spain will
voluntarily make some offer in that
line-a hope not shared by anybody else,
SO far as known. The first official move
in this policy will be a message from
MIR. Mckinley to Congress, asking for
an appropriation to be used for the re-
lief OF all Cubans who are in need.
1t will not be an easy matter to hold
Congress down until Mr.. McKinley's in
policy can be carried out.
although there is very little doubt that
It will eventually bring on war with
Spain just as certainly as would a de-
claratiOn of war. But there is an opin-
Oh in the minds of many men in Con-
gress that it would be more in keeping
with American charter to openly declare
upon Spain, regardless of European
opinion, than to virtually force Spain to
AXE the initiative i'm the war, bv acting
lnder the cloak Of humanity. Repre-
sentative Lewis, of the State of Wash
ngton, voiced the opinion of this ele-
in Congress when he said =: )" War
s already upon us. We are fools to
iIsguise it. 1t is not patriotic to
lelude ourselves further. A Spanish
iotllia is sailing towards our shores.
t is the duty of the gov
to intercept the flotilla and
it from the seas" And the enthus-
astlc cheers which greeted his quota
from q speech made by John Ran
cant" AS it would not be bullied by
he British lion, SO we refuse to be
frightened by the Spanish jackaIl." !
The Secretary of the Interior has ask
d Congress for an appropriation of :
than $S,O0O,O 900 to meta def I
iency in the pension funds for the cur s
fiscal year. The Republican lead
rs in Congress probably knew that g
lis deficiency would exist, and that s
as why they insisted upon making the =,
ension appropriation for the next Z
seal year about 500 900 less than 1
ley know will be required. It is all a p
art OF the scheme to keep down the to-
OF appropriations at this session of
t,
The democratic fiIIibuster while the t,
avail Appropriation bill was being n
'nsidered by the House, sitting as a h
of the whole, was not made II
delay the Naval bill, but as a rebuke k
Representative Payne, of New York, b
no was presiding and who tried to tt
It. 2 the Gar himself, by refusing ca
allow Representative Hartman, of b.
o%ntana: to complete a speech he be an,
cause Mr.. Hartman, who is a silver
publican dared to satirize the Repub- W
an party, and as such it was fully de-
rved. Representative Bailey, who led sc
fllibustering, correctly stated the ct
mOcratic position when he said, in VI
against the refusal Of Little liz
ar Payne to entertain a demand for DC
lers on a vote upon an appeal from
decision :" II you do not permit us
verify the count, you destroy the last
.eguard of the minority. A dishonest a.
n in the chair-and there have been On
honest men in the chair,-could de- SO
It the will of this House. I am free Is
say that my purpose in iE%augurating nc
s filibuster was to consume twice a q 20
oh time as you denied the gentleman
m Montana, and l intend to do it
Try time yOu deny a reasonable de- pr
y ~,