The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-05-13
ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. G.. Man 3. 1898

progress of the preparations for more
active work. Ourucw nn V ha> >howr
itself To hr N"rthy successor to the
old nav' tn, fighlint re ri of which
has never been srrpa sed under any
flag. This week the army is to have
It's first chance of participating in the
war, unless the rerO'red coming of the
spanish fleet changes thu. Presidents
program. A landing in Cuba is to be
made by portion ol the regular army
for the purpose of establishing a base
OF >uppln ior the Cuban army and
giving it a chance to see what it can
do when it has modern arms and
plenty Uf ammnnltl"n, while the
volunteer army is being gotten into
good fighting shape. Naval officials
only fear that the reported coming of
the Spanish fleet Is untrue. They
wish them to come either to attempt
TO relieve the Cuban blockade or to
attempt to attack our coast cities.
Should they do either they would give
us an opportunity TO put a speedy end
to the war by destroying the Spanish
navy. While hoping for their coming,
the average naval officer believes that
we shall have to cross the Atlantic be-
lore getting an opportunity to fight
the Spanish navy.
While the administration is not dis
posed to indulge in any buastlng or to
cross amy bridges before they are
reached, it can be stated upon unques-
tIonable authority that this govern
nent will not change its policy or
method of conducting the war against
Spain for any diplomatic protest from
Europe, whether made by one nation
or six nations in concert, not even if
supported by a naval demonstration
III force, such as France appears to be
threatening to make. 1t was known
when Commodore Dewey was ordered
To proceed to the PHILIPPINE Islands
md capture port to be used as a
ase of supplies Tor our Asiatic squad
ron that European protests were likely
10 be made against such action, but
hat did not change or effect in any
way the orders. We are not inviting
trouble with any other European ma
non, but if any OF them feel disposed
To give Spain something more substan-
tial than their moral support they will
not stampede US with fright. Such
action would only mean an extension
of the war; it would not change the
result-victory for the Z. $.
The democratic roll of honor con-
,aining the names of those who voted
With the republicans fer the war
revenue bill passed by the House:
which, in addition to numerous new
internal revenue taxes, mostly the
,ame that were imposed during the
civil war, authorizes the issue OF $780,
100000 in 3 per cent bonds, is not a
long one. There were only SIX of
them-Cummings, Mcclellan, and
Griygs, of n. Y; Fitzgerald, of Mass. !;
McAleer, Pa. and Wheeler, of Ala A
few democrats declined voting at all
on the bill. Two repuhllcans-Llnnty
of n. c.. and ThOrp, OF Va.-voted WI, b
I29 democrats and pnpulists against
the bill, while It's republicans and six
d. mocrats voted Tor it. A majority OF
the democratic Senators, all OF the
pnpulist Senators, and all OF the ST.
called silver republican Senators are
going as far as they dare to go IN OPP
position 20 the war revenue bill IN the
Senate. but 4 canvass OF the Senate
has shown that enough democrats will
vote with the republicans to ensure
the passage of the bill, substantially
as it. came from the House, and as
every attempt to fillibuster will be at
once shown up not much delay Is eX-
pected in rea, hing a vote ON the Dill
in The Senate.
AS some recent visitors to Washing
ton have expressed surprise to find all
kinds of governm nj business gong
IN inst as though tber" WAS war, u
may be we'll to state that the war mas
NOT and will not interrupt IN the
slightest degree the business OF the
Patent Office, the Pension Office, or
of anv bureau of the civil departments
of the governments. To fight the war
f., y successful end L. imp rtant, but a
continuation of the material progress
of the country is far more important.
Controller of Currency Dawes says
"The banks were never III sounde
condition or better prepared to serve
the interests of the government and
their customers than at present., and
Il NAV he added that the entire gov
eminent was never better prepared to
serve the people than at present.