The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-03-04
,JR wASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsiuNGroN, d. c., February 2Sth
Nh. EDIToH:-Shall the most dastardly
piece Of treachery perpetrated IN the nine
teenth century be condoned for cash
consideration? That is tie question Mr..
Mckinley raised when he sent Secretary
Sherman-at last the old man is given
something to do, but it was a nauseatlng
iob-to circulate among his former col
leagues of the Senate, for the purpose Of
informing them that the administration
had decided, if the naval court reported
that the Maine was blown up by intention,
to demand a cash indemnity of Spain. If
Mr.. Sherman correctly reported some Of
the remarks made by Senator's with whom
be discussed the matter. Mr. Mckinley
must have blushed.
Ever since il has been practically known
that the court had found unmistaEablc
treachery, the administration has been
gradually, through divers newspaper in
teryiews, and by other methods, preparing
the public for this indemnity business, by
dropping hints about the njusticc Of hold
ing Spain responsible when it disaToWed
the crime or any knowledge OF it, and OF
the probability that the crime was com
mitted by somc Spanard who was an enc
my of the present Spanish Ministry, etc,
etc The Spanish charge d'atIaires IN
Wash. gtom also took a hand in the at
tempt to have his country let down easily
by officially stating that no mines or tor
pedoes have ever been planted in the har-
Dor at Havana. The fact that this fellow
was once associated with de LONE was
enough 20 prevent belief of any statement
he might make.
There is not the slightest doubt that an
overwhelming majority of Congress be-
lieves with a majority of the people OF the
country that Spanish blood should be shed
to avenge the poor devils who were the
victims of Spanish treachery III Havana
harbor; but there is also a strong desire IN
Congress to act in concert with the ad-
ministration, if possible, in order that it
cannot be said by the Spaniards, or other
foreigners, that there is a division of SEN
timcnt in the United States. This desire
may result in Congress allowing the de-
mand for money indemnity to be made
on Spain, but it will be, even then, largely
because of the belief that Spain could not
pay the indemnity, and would not if it
could, and that war would De the result,
anyway.
Although Mr.. Mckinley continues to
talk peace, his actions, through his su5or-
dinates. show that he believes with almost
everybody else in Washington, that war
with Spain is inevitable. and, to his credit
be it placed, he is taking vigorous steps to
see. that ssszare fully prepared to do our
share Of the fighting when it once gets
Started. The more promptly and vigor-
ously he acts upon that Maine report,
which is expected this week, the better he
will stand with Congress and the people.
Mr. Mckinley must have been little
bit afraid that the well-known scrapping
propensities OF Teddy Roosevelt made him
dangerous man to have in charge of the
Navy Department at this time, or Secre-
tary Long would now be taking several
DAYS rest and Teddy would be in charge.
Mr.. Long announced his intention of 60
ing away for three or four days, but Mr..
Mckinley persuaded him to change his
mind Most persons would rather see
Teddy running the machine just now.
Representative Sulzcr, of New York,
who has been somewhat harshIy criticised
because of his objection, when unanimous
consent was asked in the House that the
bill, already passed by the Senate pro-
viding for the enlistment of two additional
regiments Of artillery, be taken up and
considered until disposed of, Immediately
after the passage of the sundry civil bill
says he did SO because he thought there
was no necessity to increase the regular
army, and that he regarded the bill as an
attempt on the part of the plutocrats to
take advantage of existing conditions to
increase the army and thus further en-
trench themselves against the people. As
to the special need of these men now to
fl ght Spain, Mr.. Sulzcr said: "Why, if wal
should he declared, I would resign my seat
in Congress in q hours and would raise {
regiment in my district. l would get 8
thousand young ablc-bodie1 fellows who
would fight and we would go to the front
under some Federal brigade commander
and there would be no lack of such regi
ments."
The defeat of the republicans by The
combined votes of the democrats and pop
| ulists several times recently, when tht
House was in committee of the whole, has
SO aggravated the republican, leaders, that
| they have notified the republican member:
| that they must be more regular in their at
tendance and have given them a hint thai
| if they are not, list Of the absentces vii
be daily published, as was done in th'
| Forty-seyenth Congress.
! William VI. Sinecrlv, died suddenly a
! his residence, s01 Locust street, Phila
| delphia last Sunday afternoon. Hear
| disease was the immediate cause of hi!