The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-06-10
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

President Mckinley and Secretary
Long are satisfied from information
they have received, official and other
wise, that Commodore Schley has the
Spanish fleet penned up in the harbor
at Santiago dc Cuba, but the invasion
of Cuba will not be ordered until Com
modore Schley has officially reported
that the Spanish fleet is in Santiago
harbor. This report may be made
any hou:. II the Spanish fleet is
there, it will be helpless to do us any
harm, and will i'll the end be absolutely
bound to be captured or destroyed.
Although portion of the volunteer
army is still unprovided with all need
ed equipments, there are more than
+ 25,OOO men, about three fOurths regu-
lars, ready for embarkation, and they
can all be landed in Cuba within
twenty-four hours after orders are
issued.
|
be officially notified of the number of
men his state is expected to furnish
on the second call for troops, by the
President last week. There is no
especial hurry about enlisting these
$4,000 men. In the first place, they
will probably not be needed; they have
been called for more to provide for un-
expected contingencies than because
of any pressing need for them at this
time, and in the next place, there will
be no equipment for them until after
those already in service have been all
provided for.
The Memorial Day exercises at
Arlington and other cemeteries in the
vicinity of Washington were unusual
ly interesting this year. What is
treason? This question becomes OF
the greatest impor ance when the
country lie engaged in war. 1t is 4
serious matter to accuse men OF being
traitors, but black doesn't become
white because it isn't called black.
In times of peace it was all right for
men to oppose the annexation OF
Hawaii because they did not personal
ly believe that this country would be
benefited thereby; but, now that the
President, his entire Cabinet, and
every officer in the army and navy
whose opinion has been asked, have
declared that the immediate annexa-
ton of Hawaii is a military necessity,
without which our attempting to hold
the Philippine Islands may be turned
into q disastrous failure and ali of the
fruits of Dewey's great victory be lost,
it is not all right. On the contrary it
is all wrong. That free speech may
at times become dangerous is shown
by the activity OF the sugar trust lobby
to prevent Congress providing for an
nexation of Hawaii, Notwithstanding
that the administration, a large major
ity of Congress, and an overwhelming
majority of people were strongly in
favor OF annexation even before it was
declared to have become a military
necessity. Ii this lobby isn't guilty
of treason, it is dangerously near TO
being guilty. From the day that the
President declared annexation to lie q :.
military necessity it has been the
patriotic duty of Congress to annex,
without regard to personal opinions of
individuals.
Just as soon as President Mckinley
can get the time he will issue order,
in accordance with an elaborate opin-
ion prepared by Attorney General
Griggs, declaring that the Government
Printing Office never was legally under
the civil service rules, because it be-
longs under the legislative, and not
the executive branch of the govern
ment. The same opinion has oper-
ated to put an end to the movement
for the placing of the Congressional
Library under the civil service rules,
because the Library, like the Govern
ment Printing Office, is Congression-
al institution. There are many de-
sirable places in the G. o. P. now held
by democrats.
Paymaster General Stanton has
made plans which will ensure the
regular payment of the troops sent to
the Philippine Islands. Paymasters
supplied with money enough for three
months pay accompanied the troops,
which have already gone and the same
plan will be followed AS other troops
are sent. Only gold and silver will be
used in making these payments.
Senator German exploded a few
bombs in the ranks of the anti-bond
silverltes in the Senate in patriotic
speech he made in favor of upholding
the hands of the government by
authorizing the issue of bonds, and
opposing the issue of either silver GER
tificates or greenbacks. After calling