Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-13
Washington Letter.
rom our Regular Correspondents. I

be IN danger III they remained III uba
after the message recommending in
terVentlOn was made public. AS
impatient as congress has been to
take the action that will result in
the end of Spanish control Of Cuba,
1T had no objection TO the postpone
ment when it was made acquainted
with the reason for the delay. Moth
ing can possibly be of greater import
ance than the preservation Oftne lives
OF American citizens. Nothing will
belOst by the postpOnement. On the
contrary, it will enable the admins
tration to make the naval and mill
tary demonstration, which is to fol-
low the action OF congress on the
president S message, more formidable.
and to make the hrst blow, if it comes
to blows, more disastrous to the
Spanish.
Meanwhile, there is a possibility
that Spain may make the sending Ct
the message TO congress unnecessary
by humbIy backing down and meeting
every demand that President McKin-
ley has made concerning Cuba, includ
ing the withdrawal of it's soldiers and
its flag from Cuba. This possibility,
however, would not have resulted in
the pOstpOnement Of the message, as
the president iS too we'll acquainted
with Spanish trickery to accept any
promises contingent upon further
diplomatic n gOtlatlOnS in answer to
the ultlmatuu which was unsatisfac-
tOrlly ans~ cred by Spain last week.
The position of this government has
been fully stated to Spain ana will
not be changed in the slightest degree.
That was made plain to representa-
tIves OF European nations when they
sounded this government to ascertain
how an offer TO mediate would be re-
ceiVed; and further they W re told in
ihe plainest of English shat this gov
eminent was fully determined to
maintain it's position by force, il
necessary. Since then they have been
bringing pressure to bear on Spain to
compel it to comply with our de
mands. The pope has not directly
attempted to influence this govern
ment, and his attempt to arrange a
truce between the Spanish and the
Cuban insurgents has been productive
OF more harm than good to Spain,
because 1T has been perfectly plain
from the first that his object was to
save Spain from the wrath of this
country. Spain can give up Cuba
peaceably If it will, but it has got to
give 1t up. That is as certain as any
thing can be.
The following statement by Assist
ant Secretary Vanderlip, of the treas
ury, is especially interesting at this
time: when war comes new infu-
ences operate upon the public reve-
nues. The first boom of cannon is Il
call for increased resources, and is
likely to be followed by sharp de-
crease IN ordinary receipts. Forum
ately, at no time since the civil war
has the United States treasury occu-
pied so strong position as it does
now, with the exception possibly Of
the surplus days OF 1SS5-9O The
circulation statement just issued
shows that we have an enormous
stock OF gold in the country, almost
S13O, 100000. OF this amount the
United States treasury holds $175,-
600, 600. We are SIS, 100000 above
the traditional reserve maintained
for redemption of United States notes,
and the reserves increasing 100000
a day. But, Notwithstanding the
strong financial position of the gov
ernment, and OF the moneyed institu-
tons OF the country. there would, in
any sort OF a conflict, soon be
necessity for additional revenues.
This has given grave concern to those
charged with the administration of
the finances of the government. IN
questionably, If war should come, our
first victory should be the placing of
the national treasury upon war
basis" Mr.. VanderIip points out
numerous ways by which our reve-
nues could be speedily increased, but
this Is a matter to be determined by
congress alone.
General Schofield made strong ar
gument before the house committee
on military affairs in favor of the
volunteer reserve bill, which he said
would, when put into effect. give the
United States government an army
OF l 900, 600 trained men who could
be called out to meet any emergency.
1t is being well received in congress,
and the bill will doubtless in time be-
come a law. Although on the retired
list, General Schofeld is at the war
department every. day. giving General
Alger the benefit of his extensive
knowledge and experience.
Secretary Alger this week approved
the recommendation of Brigadier-
General Graham, commanding the
! Department. Of the South, that Chicka-
manga National park, near Chatta-
nooga, Tenn, be used as one of the
rendezvous for the concentration of
troops; also that the Twenty fifth
Infantry, which was brought from
Fort Missoula, Montana, should 90
into camp at Chickamauga, and re-
main there until the station at Dry
Tortugas shall be ready for their oc-
cupancy. Military men regard Chick
amauga park as an ideal camping
place and training ground for an
army. 1t has good water, good rail