The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-03-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, d. O., February 25. 1898. |
Stand by the President, and wait That |
is the platform upon which Congress is
standing, and is good enough for every.
body else to adopt. And while waiting,
refuse to accept as true any sensational
story that will not stand the test of com.
mon sense. That test will effectually
dispose of all the fool stories that have
been printed purporting to give what
has been ascertained by the Naval court
Of inquiry now engaged in investigating
the Maine horror. Here are the abso.
lutte facts: The court upon starting to
work decided that nothing would be
made public until the investigation was
completed and verdict reached, and
no person except the members OF the
court, and those working under its di.
rection, who are not allowed to commu.
nicate with outside persons, is allowed
upon the wreck of the Maine, or even
to get within 100 feet OF it. 1t is per.
fectly plain, therefore, that what is print
ed about the progress of the investigation
is mere guess work, and unworthy of
anybody's serious attention. When the
verdict of the court is given the Presi.
dent and Congress will act upon it, and
the action will be approved by every
patriotic American. 1t is not case
calling for Mysteries, but for calm con.
sideration. While the administration is
not looking for war with Spain, it is pre-.
pairing for it's, in fact, already better
prepared for war than many persons
have any idea of. But everything is
being done and will be done in order.
No snap judgment will be taken against
Spain because of suspicious circumstan.
ces or because of the known expressions
of hatred towards Americans in general
and towards the battleship Maine in
particular by spaniards in Havana, but
if that verdict shall be that the Maine
was blown up by Spanish treachery,
with or without the knowledge of Span.
ish officials, woe be unto Spain, for she
will be made to pay dearly for the lives
| of those brave Americans.
Senator Elkins anticipated the attempt
to make war news out of the action OF
the Senate in providing for an increase
of two regiments in the artillery branch
when he said: "Bless your heart, as
long ago as when Twas Secretary of War
long before there was any of this wild
talk, I recommended to Congress that
something ought to be done to increase
the artillery regiments. We needed the
men to man the guns we were building
and we need them now. We ought tt
have had them long ago, and the troubl,
is that we have delayed it until a TIM
when every action is distorted and ex
aggerated." In reply to direct ques
ton as to whether he anticipated an!
trouble with Spain Senator Elkin
promptly and positively said: "Not il
the least"
Senator Hanna thus expressed him
self: 81 do not believe that there i
anything in the Maine incident or in ou
relations to Spain regarding Cuba tina
will lead to war. There is no informa
ton except lot of sensational storie
upon which to base all this talk of wal
Even the Secretary of the Navy has n
infor nation, and as long as the Presi
dent and the Secretary OF the Navy an
all the rest of the Cabinet keep cool an
quiet, there is no need for the rest of u
to get alarmed. honestly and frankl
do not see any reason for the excitemen
that is being created. There will be n
, war;"
+ preventative Walker, of Mass, VIII
is wealthy man, became tired of lister
ing to Democratic slurs at those who ha
acquired wealth by helping to build u
. the country's resources, and made
| short but vigorous speech that ws
/ cheered loud by the Republicans, an
/, must have been CALLING to the Demt
Gratis, especially those from the soutl
. in which section Mr.. Walkers contr
h.. buttons for educational purposes hay
!. been large. Mr.. Walker closed by sa.
). ing: "Figure it out, and you will fin
:. that have given two dollars for ever
one you have contributed. lam tired
y this abuse. stand here in the integl
= ty of an honest life. have given avs
h more than 1 now possess. You ha'
= driven me to this statement, now har
y your heads in shame"
The wave of patriotism now sweepil
the country will probably result in al
ing the project for the erection of
monument in Washington to the mer
n ory OF the rank and file of the army al
j. navy in the late war, which is bell
G. pushed by the National Reunion Mo
Q ument association, of which Col. W.
J. Michael is president. The purpose