The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-06-17
Washington Letter.
FROM cur regular Correspondent
wa.b;nntnn Inna q 1903


Washington, June 8, 1898
There are reasons for the statement
that too many orders are hampering and |
delaying our naval success In Cuban
waters. The Spanish feet would have
been located several days earlier than it
was had there been no orders from
Washington. Il was an order from
Washington that sent Admiral Sampson
to take command of the blockading
squadron off Santiago de Cuba, after
Commodore Schley had run the game
down and was preparing to bag 1t. This
may not affect the lighting OF the squad
ron, but Il certainly wiz not increase
its efficiency. Without pretending to
saw which Of the men is the best to be
10 command any one can see that justice
would have allowed schley, who 10 In
reality Simpsons senior ofieer-tasy
are both commodores, SchleT the senior
but Sampson was made acting admiral
when the war bsgan-to have an oppor-
tunity to cary out his plans and get oil
the glory he could out OF capturing or
destroying the Spanish feet. Sampson
was ordered from Washington not to at.
tack until the army. which oughtto have
been there by this time, was landed to N.
sist in taking Santiago. II was this order
that caused Sampson 10 blockade the
entrance to the harbor, and thereby
bring about one of the most heroic deeds
of the war-the sinking Of the q s coll
lier Merrimacin the channel at the en-
trance of the harbor by volunteer crew
under Lieut.. Hobson. II he couldn't 60
in after the Spanish feet, hs wanted to
make cure that the Spanish aset couldn't
get out if one of the sudden storms,
frequent at this season in those waters,
should compel . temporary withdrawal
OF his ships. Lieut.. Hobson and his
brase crew, whose daring deed 10 unsur-
passed in naval history, were all csptur-
sd, bat steps ere beiDg taken TO bring
about their immediate exchange for
Spanish prisoners held by this govern
ment. II the orders from Washington
are not Tor pacific siege, Gen. Shaftez
and his army and Admiral Sampson
and his squsdron ought to be in Posses.
sion OF the Spanish feet, or 90 much ol
it as il afioat alter the assault. and o.
Santiago before this week 10 ended. The,
cannot. OF course, act contrary to thsi'
orders, II is about time Tor Secretary
Long to repeat that fairy tale abou
sampson and Schlsy not being hamper
ed by orders from Washington.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, indulget
in some very plain talk. just after tn
senate had by vote OF 45 to 81 decides
, to put the clause for the issue Of bond
and certificates OF Indebtedness hack il
the war revenue bill in place Of tn
clsuse for the issue Of greeobackl
which was pat in the bill by the sena:
finance committee. He declared tbs
the national bank combination, whie
!, he believed to be far stronger in th
matter of controlling the destiny Of th
), country than the 150. 600 soldiers new
the field for the q 9, was behind Ii
II conspiracy 10 forcs bond issue upon II
d people, and that mo government b.
ever been ridden by such an incubus I
this, and no government ought TO yie
q to ouch an imposition" No surrril
was caused by the vote in tie senate,
it had been foreeone conclusion fro
r. the fret. The democrats who yos,
for bonds were, Caffery, Faulkner, do
Of man. Gray. Lindsay, Mitchell, and Mo
Ihy. The silver republicans voted %
3. idly against bonds; also the populist
is The bill, to permit volunteer soldie
IN the field to vote at congressional ele
DO tions wherever they are stationed, b
been iavorably reported to the hon,
from the elections committee. The r
l. port ssSs: "1he justice and propriety
permitting our citizen soldiers in 6
in feld to exercise their civil rights
voters during their military service "
be conceded by all. Our policy as
nation has been to call on citizen
perform duty as soldier at any iii
when his services may be needed.
ey deny him the right TO vote while ps
forming such duty would deprive mai
on of the best of our citizens Of all parti
patton in civil government.
de