The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-03-18
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent.

Washington, March Z, 1898
There is no denying that the present
pollcJ OF the administration is aggrava-
ting and CALLING to the average Ameri
can, regardless OF his political afiliation.
Il ie difficult to understand, when Spain
is trying to move heaven and earth to
borrow money and to buy warships TO
fight Us. why should we not be openly
preparing for war by having Congress
appropriate the money needed to buy
additional warships and to put rs on
war footing generally, instead OF pre-
tending that the preparations for war
which the administration is making. not
only to the extent of available appro-
priationss; but in anticipation OF appro-
pSiations, are merely routine proceed
ings. We are not fooling Spain, and it
eeems nonsensical trying to fool our
selves. Mr.. Mckinley knows just as
erybody else knows. that there isn't
one chance in ten that war will be avoid
ded. He knows tina: the acceptance OF
blood money from Spain will not be
countenaneed, and that q peace at any
price policy would have no supporters
outside OF Wall Street and its connec.
tious. Knowing these things it is his
duty to ask Congress to make the neces-
ssry appropriations to put the country
in proper condition of defense and to
enable it to give Spain the th.eshing il
has beer itching for during the last year
or two. It is no valid excuse to claim
that doing so would be reflection upon
the Naval Court of Inquiry. If so, Spain
has been casting reflections upon the
Court quite numerously during the last
few days. But, as a matter of fact,
would it be any more reflection 10 open.
ly ask for the money from Congress 10
make proper and needed preparation
for war, than it is to ne secretly making
conditional contracts for the same thing,
in anticipation of appropriations that
Congress has not even yet been asked to
make. There is probably not a man in
Congress that would ask that gun be
fired in advance OF the verdict of the
Court Of Inquiry, but inasmuch as every
body now thinks that the verdict will
show that the destruction of the Maine
was not an accident, there is little doubt
that the majority Of Congress would like
to see the standardization openly making
ready TO fight after that verdict is rem
teTed.
Few men in Congress are willing to be
lieve the rumors connecting Mr.. MeKin-
ley's name with the scheme to buy Cuba
from Spain. Some of his advisers may
be in the scheme, but Mr.. Mckinley
ought to know the people of this country
well enough TO know that they would
bury every man ont of sight, politically
speaking, who dared to support the nee
essary legislature to make this country
guarantee the payment of Cuban bond
which. would to 90 the present holders OF
Spanish bonds. II this scheme lie seri-
ously pushed, it will soon be discovered
that the universal sentiment OF our peo
pie is, m;llions for the preservation OF
natioral nonor. but not one cent for
Spanish boud-hcl
It appears that the friends OF Hawaiian
are afraid 10 try to secure annexation
by joint resolution, owing to threats of
the opposition TO keep Congress in ses
sion all summer, il they do. At Sec
ret meeting of this Senate committee on
foreign relations il was decided TO make
another attempt to ratify the treaty. II
that fails, as IL is expected to do, the
who's matter may be dropped until tie
next session Of Congress.
Gar Reeds latest ruling, that demo.
Gratis shall not when the House is sitting
as Committe of the Whole criticise the
administration, the republican, party, or
any individual republican, is another
step towards the absolute throttling OF
speech in the House, and is just as ont
rsgeous a. any OF those in the same d.
rection which have preceded it. From
the birth Of Congress the custom has
been to allow the very widest latitude 10
members who male speeches while the
House, was sitting as the committee OF
the whole, but this new autocratic nun
bo jumbo says that no democrat will be-
allowed to make political speech, ex
cept when the bill under consideration
is purley political. This muzzling rule !
would be outrageous even II it were made
10 apply impartially to all mepbers Of
the House, but when applied, as it has
been solely to anti-republican members /
IL is depriving the representatives, OF the
people Of their constitutional right to be
heard at all times.