The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-03-24
WASHINGTON LETTER,
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. O., March 1s, 1898.

statement that President Mckinley was
anxious for Congress to finish the appro.
priation bills and adjourn, in order that be
might settle the Cuban question with.
out interference from Congress. Presi.
dent Mckinley has never regarded Con.
gress as an impediment on the contrary,
he has from the day of Inauguration
treated; every Senator and Represents
tive as advisers upon whom he had a
right to depend, and upon whom he has
depended right along. In fact, no Pres
ident has ever more fully recognized
Congress as a coordinate branch of the
Government. Instead of desiring Con.
gress to adjourn and leave him to handle
the Cuban question single.handed, Pres.
ident Mckinley desires Congress to re.
main in session and assist hin in set
tling the Cuban question properly.
If the situation was not 80 critical,
Spain's attempt to make this country
responsible, in the eyes OF Europe, for
the failure Of autonomy in Cuba, by
charging that failure to the presence of
our fleet of warships at Key West, would
be amusing. AS it is, it merely adds an
additional complication to an already
much complicated condition of affairs.
President Mckinley did not assemble
that fleet at Key West to please Spain,
and he will not disperse that fleet or call
halt in the preparations for war to
please Spain, or any other European
power or powers. He is preparing to
defend our National honor, against
Spain, and against the world, if necces.
sary.
The annual banquet of the survivors
of the Second Army Corps have always
been noted for the patriotism expressed
by the speakers, and at that held this
week the circumstances naturally made
the speakers even more patriotic than
usual. Representative Brosius, of Pa,
responded to the toast, "The Head of
the Nation," in highly creditable
speech setting forth the commendable
action of the President during the pres
ent critical period, and the extraordinary
confidence he has aroused in the hearts
Of the people, and predicting that his
future actions would be such that he
would retain the universal confidence
now reposed in him, whether they led
to war or peace, and concluded "Ths
homage I cheerfully and lovingly pay
the head of the nation typical Ameri.
can, grand man, and safe custodian
under all circumstances of the interests
and honor of the republic. Long live
the head of the nation" Representa-.
tive Belknap, of ILL.,, responded to the
toast, "The Land We Love, ,"by showing
that it was only few cold. .blooded Gym.
les who believed that patriotism was
dying out or love of country dimin.
ishing; and Representative Hull, of
Iowa, did full justice to the toast, sour
National Defenders on Land and Sea-"
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, once commander
of the corps, now commander of the en-.
tire army, responded to the toast, "The
Second Army Corps" The closing sen.
tences of his speech follow: "Uncle Sam
fred gun up at the Capitol the other
day-a fifty.million.dollar gun, that sent
a thrill of patriotism throughout this
land and re echoed all over the world.
And Mr.. Mckinley was made to under.
stand that if fifty. millions was not
enough to defend this country and it's
honor, he might add another cipher to
the right of the figures, and the money
was his. 1t was the grandest exhibition
that Congress ever gave that, slumber..
ing deep in their hearts, is a loyalty,
patriotism and spirit of sacrifice never
equaled in any legislative body on the
face OF Gods earth. Is there to be war?
I hope not. I, as warrior, would not
like to see war begin with two or three
Bull Runs, but would rather have appo.
mattox instead. But if war shall come,
we would be ready to make the conflict
short, sharp and decisive"
The House Naval Committee has de-
cided to provide in the Naval Appropria.
tion bill for the construction of five new
dry docks, to be located at Portsmouth,
N. H., Boston, Mass, League Island,
near Philadelphia, Pa, Algiers, near
New Orleans, La, and Mare Island, near
San Francisco, Cal. Present indications
are that the committee will also provide
for the building of some small fighting
ships, in addition to the three battle-
ships already provided for.
Representative Tawney, of MINI. :,
made strong speech this week in favor
of the annexation of Hawaii, preceding
it with the statement that it was reply
to the speech against annexation recent.
ly made by Representative Johnson, of
Ind. Mr.. Tawney is thoroughly posted
on the subject, having visited Hawaii
last summer and has received many con.