The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

the Cape Verde Spanish fleet, now be-
lieved to be headed for Cuba, may es-
cape the fleet of Admiral Sampson,
which did such good work in destroy
ing the Notifications in the harbor at
San Juan, Porto Rico, last week, and
the flying squadron of Commodore
Schley, which is now being given its
first opportunity to show what it can
do in the fighting line, and get safely
into some Cuban harbor. 1t will
make no difference in the end-not a
vessel in that Spanish fleet will escape
destruction or capture-but it would
be much easier to destroy the fleet on
the open sea than it will be after it
get into a fortified Cuban harbor.
And besides, that fleet has supplies
for the Spanish in Cuba which it is
very desirable to keep away from
them.
The coming of the Spanish fleet has
naturally resulted in holding up all
plans for the invasion of Cuba, but
they are only postponed until the
fleet can be got at and destroyed, not
very advantageous to us, as it will en-
able us to make the invasion with
larger and a much better prepared
army. 1t has been found that many
of the volunteers are poorly equipped,
and it will take time to gather the
new equipment for them. Spending
a short while in camp will also be
very beneficial to the volunteers; it
will get them in a condition to stand
campaign in Cuba.
The several fights which have taken
place in Cuban harbors between our
blockading ships and the Spaniards
during the last few days have been
entirely satisfactory to the admins
tration. Formidable batteries have
been destroyed, two Spanish cables
have been cut, many Spaniards have
been killed, and our loss has been
comparatively small. The crews of
the blockading ships have proven
themselves brave and fearless in carry
ing out the most dangerous orders
the men who cut the two cables in
the harbor of Cienfuegos having done
so in open boats, under heavy fire
from batteries and from small arms.
There are a lot of rumors in circu-
lation concerning Speaker Reeds OPP
position to the adoption of the joint
resolution for the annexation of
Hawaii, which was dvorably reported
to the House last week. and his inten-
ton to prevent its being voted upon.
There is no foundation for these ru-
mors, further than the wishes of
those who started them. The resolu-
ton will be voted upon, and will be
adopted by a large majority. This
statement is made on undoubted au-
thority.
There is no possibility that the
amended war revenue bill which has
been reported to the Senate from its
Finance Committee can ever become
a law. In fact, there is doubt whether
it could pass the Senate in its present
condition. In addition to striking out
the clause authorizing the issue of
bonds-the only certain way in which
the government can at short notice
raise all the money that may be need
ed to fight the war to victorious end
the amended bill provides for an
additional issue of gree nba cks
amounting to $3.50, 900, a PROPOSE
ton that the House overwhelmingly
voted down before passing the bill,
and the coming of the so-called seign-
orage of the silver bullion owned by
the government, $40, 900, 100000 in sill
yer certificates to be issued in advance
of the coinage. Representative
Steele, of Ind, prominent member
of the House Ways and Means com
mittee, said, after reading the bill
reported to the Senate: 1.-The major
ity of the Senate Finance Committee
seem to think that this government
can carry on an expensive foreign war
on wind" Chairman Dingley said
OF the amended bill: The Bryan
democracy appear to have abandon
ed free silver and gone back to fiat
money, pure and simple. | am now
wondering what the republicans who
left their party and enlisted under
the Bryan banner in order to secure
the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer will say to that proposition.
What's the use of going to all the
trouble and expense of coming 5C:cent
silver dollars when you can print pa
per dollars in unlimited quantities
and amounts at slight trouble and ex-
pensen The bond clause is certain
to be.restored to the bill by a vote of
the Senate.
II e