Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-07-29
WASHINGTON LETTER
(From our Regular Correspondent.

Uncle Sam took the first step to-
wards the acquisition of another de-
siraltle piece of real estate, when
Gen Miles hoisted "Old Glory" on
Porto Rico, and, whatever may he
done with other captured territory
it is certain that Porto Rico will be
oars to keep. In addition TO the
troops with Gen Miles two other
armies are to be landed at different
points in Porto Rico at once. Then
the three armies will capture all of
the smaller places before moving in
concert on the heavily fortified
town of San Juan. Three weeks is
the outside estimate of the length
of the campaign, although Presi-
dent McKinley's desire that San
Juan shall be taken without infantry
assaults upon the breast works, if
possible may lengthen the campaign.
For reasons satisfactory to him.
self, President Mckinley has defer
red sailing of Commodore Watson's
fleet for the coast of Spain. The
presumption is that he is giving
Spain an opportunity TO sue for
peace, although neither he or any
member of his cabinet has said any
thing upon which to base this pre-
sumption. Secretary Long, when
asked the direct question, when
Commodore Watsons fleet would
start for Spain, said Whenever
the President issues the order.
The encouraging news from Gen.
Shafter's army has destroyed the
last vestige of the yellow fever scare
A considerable number oEour men
over there have the fever, but there
have been very few deaths from it.
The trouble about the yellow jour
nal story of how the war depart
ment got euchred when it contracted
with Spanish Steamship Company
for the transportation of the surren-
dered Spanish soldiers from Santa.
go to Spain was the usual One-it
wasn't true. The Spanish Steam
ship Company will get no advan-
| tage whatever out of the contract
beyond the cash paid for the trans
portation while the war depart
ment made sure by placing this CON
tract that no complaint could be
made against us in connection with
the treatment of the prisoners on
the voyage, and that there would be
no trouble about their being landed
i'll Spain. The contract specifically
stated that no vessels belonging to
the company would be allowed to
leave the blockaded ports to per-
form the service provided for.
1t is the opinion of President Nc
Kinley and members of his cabinet
that the friction between Gen. Shaf-
ter, and Gen. Garcia, who com
mands the Cuban Insurgents in the
Santiago district, which led to Gar
cia's Withdrawing his troops and
announcing that he had rendered
his resignation to Gen. Gomez the
Commander-in- chief of the insur-
gents is more the result of mlsunder
standing than anything else. Gen.
Shafter's instructions are to treat
the insurgents cOurteously and
kindly and not expect too much
from them in a military way. 1t is
nonsense for Garcia to pretend to be
disgruntled because Santiago was
not turned over to the insurgents,
1t has been made plain to him and
all the other insurgent leaders that
the U. S. intended to assume mill
tary control of Cuba as fast as it
came into our possession, and to re-
tain that control until such time
as all the residents of Cuba could
be given an opportunity to express
themselves as to how and by whom
they would be governed, 1t was be-
cause of doubt that the insurgents
represented majority or the resi-
dents of Cuba that President McKin
ley strove so hard and successfully
to prevent Congress providing for
the recognition of theinsurgent gov
ernment.
The U. S. sells more wheat and
flour to Japan than 10 all other
countries combined, and the official
figures in report from U. S. Con-
sui Harris, at Nagaski, shows a
steady and healthy growth in this
trade.
That a protective tariff does not
prevent the growth of our export
trade, ought to be too we'll known
to need proof, but in case you have
a few free traders in your vicinity
you need proof, the following facts
concerning our exports to Canada
during the first eleven months Of
the fiscal year 1897, when the Viii
son tariff law was in effect, and dur
ing the fiscal year 1898, under th'
Dingley tariff law, are given. Dur