Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01
WASHINGTON Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON, May 27, 1885,
President Mckinley, the members
Of his cabinet, and, in fact, every
body in Washington is in a jubilant
state OF mind over the results of the
week. The Spanish fleet has allowed
itself to becooped up where in cannot
possibly do any damage, and, unless
the Spanish destroy the ships them
selves, it is only a question of time
when they are bound to fall into our
bands. This isn't so exciting as it
would have been to have met and
destroyed the fleet In battle, but it
is really much more satisfactory, be-
cause it's cheaper both In money and
men, and there are some ships in the
feet that will make valuable acquis;-
tions to our navy. Having the
Spanish fleet where it can neither do
any damage nor get away has mater
tally simplifed the problem of in
vading Cuba and capturing Porto
Rico, and in order that there may be
no lack of men to successfully carry
out the work of ending Spanish do
minion on this hemisphere the presi-
dent has issued a call for $4,000
more volunteers. Enlistments under
this call will not be from the militia,
as they were under the first call, but
will be open to all to the extent of tie
quota apportioned to each state and
territory.
Not the slightest uneasiness exists
in Washington on account OF the re
ports Of another Spanish fleet being
sent to attempt to relieve the one
now cooped up in Santiago harbor
Nothing would be more pleasing to
the president than that every Spanish
ship af1oat should be sent to Cuban
waters. We have ships enough in
those waters to dispose Of them all
easily, and if they are sent there it
will result in more speedily bringing
the war to close.
One of the most significant events
Of the week in Washington was the
acceptance Of large United States
flag (21x32) by Secretary Alger with
the condition that it shall be raised
over Moro castle, Havana. The
flag was originally bought by the
Corn exchange, of Philadelphia, and
a regiment was enlisted under it in
1861, but it was George w. Alger,
of Merchantville, N. j., who was it's
proud owner until the delegation
from J. K. Lee post, G. A. R., of that
town, brought it to Washington and
presented it to the government.
Secretary Alger concluded his speech
accepting the flag by saying: 81
thoroughly believe that an everything
Providence is placing this great bur-
den on the American people. Our
country has taken up the cause of
humanity, and it will not lay down
It's arms until Cuba is free and a
government of the people and by the
people is there established. | thank
you for the flag; and will direct that
it be raised over Moro castle when
it is in our possession.
Senator Lindsay, one of the few
Democrats who favor issuing bonds
instead of fiat money, made this
patriotic reply to Senator Tillman's
inquiry as to what kind of money
would be paid for the bonds to be
issued: "The bonds issued will be
sold for money as good as gold, and
the funds so raised will be used to
pay the boys who are to be sent
to Cuba to face Spanish bullets and
yellow fever. Our credit will be as
good as gold; and at the end of the war
we will have conducted it on the very
cheapest possible basis. We may
become involved with continental
powers, and the time may come
when we can go no further on a
coin basis, either gold or silver, and
when we will be compelled to come
to the issue of greenbacks. When
this time comes, whatever necessity
demands will be done. 1t will be
done without complaint. Those who
are alive at the end of the war will
be charged up with the debt. But we
cannot promote that state Of affairs.
We cannot discredlt ourselves at the
very outset by resorting to a cur
rency which is in the nature of a
forced loan, by issuing notes payable
on demand and putting no money in
the treasury to pay them upon de-
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