Middletown transcript., 1898-05-28

ITl1lE1lr1 movements of
HANllLMi our army and
S navy absolutely
secret. Other officials in both the War
and Navy Departments know of some
of the movements and contemplated
movements, but all of them are known
only to those three men. They are not
known even to the other members Of
the cabinet, th ey having themselves
requested that the knowledge be kept
from them. Although this policy and
the rigid censorship of all telegraph
matter sent from points where infor-
nation Of contemplated movements
may be obtained has only been fully
into effect for week, its good effects
are so apparent that there is no doubt
of it being maintained throughout
the war. Information of anything ac-
complished, or Of any battle on land or
water will be promptly given out; it is
only news that would indicate contem-
plated movements that is withheld.
Among the announcements that may
confidently be expected-they may be
made any day-is that the invasion Of
Cuba has been successfully made, and
that the Spanish feet now in Cuban
waters, has been met and whipped.
The two announcements may be stimuli
taneousiy made, as there are indica-
tions that the army and navy are NOV
ing together with those ends in view.
It is expected that the committee
on rules will this week report to the
House special rule for the considera-
tion Of the joint resolution providing
for the annexation of Hawaii. The adop-
tion of the resolution by a majority of
nearly or quite one hundred is certain
when a vote is taken, but it cannot
be voted upon until special rule is re-
ported.
There is politics, and very dirty pol
itics at that, being played in connec-
tion with the war revenue bill which
is still before the Senate. There is
nothing patriotic about the motive Of
the silver men who are a majority of
the Senate Finance committee for
striking out the clause authorizing the
issue Of bonds and Of certificates of in
debtedness, and inserting in their place
authority for issuing nearly 5000, ,000,-
600 in paper currency-$150, ,0O0, 900 in
greenbacks and $42,0O0,00O in silver
certificates. And there is, If possible,
even less patriotism in the manner in
which those Democratic Senators who
have promised to j in the Republicans
in voting to strike out this fac money
clause and reinsert the clause authoriz-
ing the bonds and certificates of in
debtedness are being urged to ignore
their promises and vote for fat money.
The radical silver men who are engi-
neering this movement have been dis
appointed because the first month Of
the war has not resulted in sending
gold to premium. They know that if
the bond clause is in the bill as it f.
nally goes through that there will be no
probability Of any suspension of gold
payments by the administration, no
matter how long the war may last; and
they believe that If they can get fat
money authorized, instead of bonds,
that gold will at once 60 to premium,
and that that will in some way be BEN
eicial to the silYerites and detrimental
to the Republican administration and
party. Nice game for men who call
themselves Americans to be engaged in
in the face Of an expensiye-almost
million day is now being spent-for-
eign war, now isn't itP
Major General Merritt, who win be
commander Of the q. s. troops sent to
the Philippine Islands as well as Mill
tary Governor Of the Philippines, has
received his final instructions and
started for his faraway post. He ex-
poets to sail from San Francisco about
the first of June. His army will con-
sist of about 10000 men, nearly one
third Of them regulars.
There is much misinformation
throughout the country concerning the
functions of the Naval War Board, u.s.
uslly mistakenly referred to as the
s'Strategy Board" The Naval War
Board is not charged with conducting
the naval portion Of the war at all. ITS
functions are entirely advisory. The
duty of the board is to keep track, as
far as possible, of the movements Of
our ships as well as those Of the enemy,
and In the performance of that duty
some Of its members are on duty night
and day at the Navy Department
studying the dispatches that are con-
stantly being received. Orders are
only given by the President or Sscrs-
tary Of the Navy. and Is . matter Of