The Opelousas courier., 1898-03-19
Washington Letter.
From or Regular Correspondent.

placed S50,O00,000 at Mr.. Mckinley
dipsOsal, the administration has com
out in the open with it's wal prepare
tons, and no time is being lost in get
ting together the fighting material tina
Will be necessary to enable us to drive
the Spanialds Off every foot of Ameri.
can territory. Although Mr.. Mckinley
deserved criticism for waiting SO long
to get started along the right road, it is
overlooked now, and he is given the
praise he deserves for the energetic
manner in which he is pushing things
The country is rapidly being put upon
a war footing the people have been on
a war footing fol- some time.
No harm is done by Secretary Longs
denying that either the President o,
himself has any information as to what
tho report of the Naval Court of IN
quiry will he, so long as there is no LET
up in the preparation to be in a position
10 act promptly on that report, whicl,
cannot be delayed much longer. There
isn't the slightest doubt THAI the report
will show that the Maine was destroyed
by an outside explosion.
Mr.. Mckinley has not told anybody,
SO far Us known, that he intended to
couple with the demand he makes on
Spain OF account of the Maine, another
that Cuba should be free although lie
has minated his intention to in some
way combine the two things. Ii he
wishes to act i'll accordance with the
dominating sentiment in Congress, he
will certainly take some means of let
ting Spain know when the Maine de-
'nand is made that this government
has stood the disglaccful condition of
affairs in Cuba, just as long as it in
tends to, and that il Spain does not at
once voluntarily recognize the indie.
%Dendence OF Cuba, the United States
will help the Cubans to force her to
90 so. The talk on this subject among
Congressman IS plain aud Outspoken,
and practically all one way.
The new Spanish Minister talks as
though the most important issue be-
tween Spain and the u. s. was the ne
gofiatlon OF u reciprocity commercial
treaty, ana says he expects representa-
tlves OF the alleged autonomy govern
ment OF Cuba, who will have charge of
the interests Of the island during the
negotiations, to reach Washington in a
few days. No Il believes that such a
farce as negotiation for a reciprocity
treaty would be, under existing circuln-
stances, will be allowed to begin by the
administration, and the Minister is pro-
badly only InGuIglng in such talk for
the purpose OF trying to impress us with
the observation-disclosures OF Spain towards
us. lie is wasting time. We know
SPANS real attitude towards us-au
attitude that has worked the American
people up to such a pitch that the deter
mination to thrash Spain has become
universal among lis.
Senator Jones, of Ark, voiced the al
most unanimous sentiment OF Congress
when he said concerning the report that
a movement had been started with a
Wow to bring about an alliance between
England and the United States
IL do not think that there is any
thing ~ the report, for it would
be one OF the most foolish things
this o; any other administrator
ever undertook. In the first place, we
do not need any alliance to conduct orr
own quarrels. We are able to take care
OF Ourselves, and an alliance with some
other power, particularly those on the
other side OF the water would be espe-
claliy repugnant to the people of this
country. | am confident there is moth
ing in it, and if there was, and it shonld
submitted to the Senate, as it doubt
less would be, that body would not
it,"
Those who mad supposed that the
against the confirmation of the
nomination of Terrence v. PowderIy,
o be commissioner OF Immigration-
he price of Powderly's stamping in the
Residential Campaign,-was over were
lot we'll posted. 1t is being waged
Luito briskly, and one of the apparent
esults is q adverse report from the
Committee on Immigration on
he nomination, and Powderly's oppo-
ents express confidence that they can
ct enough votes in the Senate to ratify
he Committees adverse report. Pow
erly is nov holding tho office under a t
ncess appointment. {
Gar Reed having succeeded in his !
.forts to compel Il majority of the
louse Committee on Rivers and Har-
ors, to vote against reporting a River y
nd Harbor bill at this session, Repre-
Wheeler, of Alabama, has in s
oduced a bill appropriating SIS, zoo, 900, q
be expended at the discretion Of the '
ecretary of war, for the continuance of i
and Harbor improvements al n
'ady begun, preference being given to :
iose which can be best operated during
Q summer and fall months. Gen. ,
will do his best to get his bill Il
rough, but as it is opposed by the Car, .
g chances are rather against him. -