The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

President Mckinley has the whip
hand of the situation, and he doesn't
intend that either talk about peace
or the surrender of the Spaniards at
Santiago shall interfere with his plans.
If the destruction of Cervera's fleet
and the Spanish defeats at Santiago
have convinced Spain that it is time
to beg for peace, she must say so.
She can accomplish nothing by talk
ing peace unofficially, nor through
the intervention of other powers
This country does not intend to allow
any other country to have any hand
either in obtaining peace for Spain or
in arranging the terms of peace.
Spain can have the terms of peace
whenever she chooses to ask for them,
and they will not be deviated from,
nor will they be offered until they are
asked for. Meanwhile the war is go
ing to be pushed. 1t is expected at
the Navy Department that Comma.
dore Watson's fleet, which is going to
the coast of Spain, will get started
this week, and that, by the first of
August it will be heard from by
Spain; and the expedition against
Porto Rico is to be prosecuted with
Santiago as a base of supplies. Gen.
Miles has gone to Cuba to take COM
mand of the campaign.
The War and Post Office Depart
ments have adopted a system for the
improvement of the mail service to
the soldiers. Under this system, the
quartermaster's department of the
army will transport all mail within
camp to and from the point of arrival
and departure, and battalion and reg
mental adiutants will be held respon-
sible for the correct distribution of
mail. Every military post or camp
established will be given a post office
Immediately, with a postal superin
tendant in charge. In short, nothing
will be left undone that will aid in
quick and constant communication
between soldiers and their relatives
and friends.
just a plain statement Of what was
done at the session of Congress Just
ended, without one word of argument,
should be amply sufficient to bring
about an increase of the republican
majority in the next House. 1t was
business session, as well as a war
session. Aside from the important
war legislation, which has met every
need of the administration, and pre-
pared, so far as possible for its needs
for the next six months, and the reg
ular appropriation bills, just and
equitable National bankrupt law was
enacted; Hawaii was annexed, and a
number of other important laws
placed upon the statute books. The
total amount appropriated by Con-
gress at the session was 1892, 527, 991,
of which 1851, 7S8, O95 was to meet the
expenses of conducting the war
against Spain.
As special favor to those who are
here in attendance upon the annual
convention of the National Educa-
tional Association, Secretary Long
instructed the commandment of the
Washington Navy Yard, which has
been closed to visitors since the war
started, to admit members of the
Association to the yards and shops.
Another unusual courtesy extended
to the Association was the opening
of the Congressional Library at night
by Librarian Young. This was the
first time that the handsome building
had been open to visitors at night.
Secretary Long gives the following
reasons for the success of the Navy in
the war-a success never equaled in
any war by any navy, involving, be-
sides individual ships captured or
destroyed, the complete destruction
of two Spanish fleets, that of Admiral
Cervera having several warships that
were as fine as any of their class afoat:
L lTSt, lue skill anu IuecIldulCdl genius
of our people in building the best
ships; Second, the high personnel of
the Navy; Third, the foresight of our
Naval authorities in literally spend
ing money for ammunition to be used
in target practice; Fourth, the help
the Secretary of the Navy had from
the Assistant Secretary and the
bureau chiefs. 1t will be remembered
that Theodore Roosevelt, who has
just been promoted from Lit. Col. to
Col for gallantry in action before
Santiago, was the Assistant Secretary
of the Navy until after the fighting
began. Secretary Long said of his
bureau chiefs: when the Navy
Department saw that war was APP
preaching, the bureau chiefs were
called together and told they would
be held responsible for the efficiency
of their various departments. Every
reasonable amount of supplies was
given them, and they were told that