Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-11-23
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent


ment has about reached 1t. Appre
ciating the position Of Spain, Presi-
dent Mckinley has been disposed to
allow the Spanish peace commits
sioners a reasonable time to accept
our demand for the Philippineislands,
but when they made their second
answer, just submit ted to our COM
missioners, merely an elaboration Of
their first answer, which they were
informed was not all answer at all,
they forfeited their claims for any
further consideration at the hands
of this government. They are too
plainly endeavoring to kill time, in
the hope that something may turn
up that will bel p them. Our com
missioners have been instructed to
inform the Spanish commissioners
that the negotiations must be
brought to close at once, either by
the completion of the treaty Of peace,
upon our terms, or by the refusal OF
our demand for the Philippines.
This country is prepared for either
termination OF the negotiations, but
Spain will be very unwise if it pro-
vokes us into more fighting; it will
simply mean the loss gilmore Spanish
territory.
General Otis reports a condition
of affairs in the Philippines that
furnishes an additional argument
for the speedy termination Of the
negotiations at Paris. Only por-
ton oftheisland of Luzon is in posses
sion of our troops. On one Of the
adjacent islands the insurgents are
having things pretty much their own
way, and there is danger Of their
massacring the Spanish residents
and footing the towns, and under
the existing status our troops cannot
interfere.
Justice Harlan, Of the United
States supreme court, iii . speech at
The opening of the school of juris-
prudence and diplomacy of Column
bian university, said few words
that are especially applicable to the
CrOakers WHO see nothing ahead Of
is but trouble, on account OF annex
alton. He said: These people are
disturbed over the annexation OF
new territory. They were disturbed
when we annexed Louisiana. What
were we going to do with all those
Frenchmen and Indians? they asked
They were disturbed when we an
nexed New Mexico, but here we are,
100000 strong, and [ believe
that public life is cleaner to-day
than ever before. | say to them, be
of good cheer, we will be able to meet
the great responsibilities. Maybe by
what is going on at this time in an
other part OF the world we are in the
midst Of Il great crisis. But We take
courage In the fact that we are in
the hands of a man, who, through
and through and above all things, is
an American"
Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, often
spoken OF As the father of the senate,
now serving his sixth term, arrived
in Washington this week to remain
until the close of the coming session
Of congress. He says that instead
Of intending to resign from the senate,
in accordance with rumors, be is
considering what reply to make to a
request from one of his constituents
that be announce his candidacy for
u seventh term. Although in his
eighty-ninth year, Senator Morrill, Is
enjoying good health and seems more
active than the average man OF sixty
Honorable Webster Davis, assist
ant secretary of the interior, is very
proud Of letter written to HIM 10y
Chairman Babcock, Of the Republic
can congressional campaign com
mittee. The letter speaks for itself.
as may be seen from she following
extract: Our great fight was in the
territory you covered, namely, Kan
sas, Nebraska, South Dakota,
Wyoming, California and Washing
ton. [ realized fully that if the Re
publicans organized the fifty sixth
congress they would have to do so
from members elected from these
states. From all the points where
you have spoken in these states
have received kilograms and letters
advising the committee Of the good
results to the party from your
speeches. The states in which you
have spoken have returned almost
solid Republican delegations, and
y OO IoFO IOc1oOlI w OO pl OuO VI UHc
results and the active part you took
in the campaign"
Representative Odell, of New York,
chairman of the Republican state
committee, was in Washington this
week. He says the campaign was as
hard a one as he remembers to have
been fought in his state and that
Colonel Roosevelt's small plurality
was not surprising to him; he had
the state SO thoroughly organized
that he told Colonel Roosevelt two
weeks before election that he would
certainly be elected by a plurality of
not less then $4,000. Toco with
in about 5000 Of the plurality two
weeks in advance was pretty close
figuring in a state that casts more
than million votes. Mr. Odell
declined to discuss the New York
senatorship, further than to say
that he was not q candidate for
Senator Murphy's seat.
So long AS Porto Rico and the
Philippines are kept under military
rule the president, as commander-in-
chief of the army and navy, can
make any needed financial or revenue
regulations; after legislation has