The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-03-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER..
>SUINGTOS. ID. c., March l4th

vi X. EDlTOk:-l Ut W dSulIiStcl ti' VI
this nasty Spanish business is now in
fairly satisfactory condition. Since Con-
gress placed $50 600. 900 at Mr. Mckinley
disposal the administration has come out
, in the open with its war preparations, ana
no time is now being lost in getting to-
| methcr the fighting material that Will be
necessary to enable us to drive the span
, iards off every foot of American territory.
Although Mr. Mckinley deserved criticism
for waiting so long to get started along
the right road, it is overlooked now, ana
| he is given the praise he deserves for the
energetic manner in which he is pushing
things. The country is rapidly being put
upon a war footing; the people have been
on war footing for some time.
No harm is done by Secretary Longs
DENYING that either the President or him
self has any information as to what the
,eport of the Naval Court of Inquiry will
be, so long as there is no let up in the
preparations to be in Il position to act
pl omptly on that report, which cannot be
DELAYED much longer There isnn't the
slightest doubt that the report will show
that the Maine was destroyed by an out
side explosion.
Mr.. Mckinley has not told anybody, SO
far as known, that he intended to couple
with the demand he makes on Spain on
account of the Maine, another that Cuba
should be free, although he has minated
| I No
two things. If he wishes to act in accord
ance with the dominating sentiment in
Congress, he will certainly take some
means of letting Spain know when the
Maine demand is made that this govern
ment has stood the disgraccful condition
of affairs in Cuba just as long as it intends
to, and that if Spain does not at once vol
UNFAIRLY recognize the independence of
| Cuba, the United States will help the Gu
bans to force her to do so. The talk on
this subject among Congressman is plain
and outspoken, and practically all one way.
The new Spanish Minister talks as
though the most important issue between
Spain ar d the United States was the nego-
tiation of a reciprocity commercial treaty,
and says he expects the representatives of
the alleged aut onomy government of Cuba,
who will have charge of the interests of
the island during the negotiations, to
reach Washington in few days. No one
believes that such farce as negotiation
for reciprocity treaty would be, under
existing circumstances, will be allowed to
begin by the administration, and the Min
lister is probably only indulgin in such
talk for the purpose of trying to impress
us with the pcacable intentions of Spain
towards u.s. He is wasting time. We
know SPANS real attitude towards us
an attitude that has worked the American
people up to such pitch that the deter
mination to thrash Spain has become uni
vcrsal among us.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, voiced the
almost unanimous sentiment of Congress
when he said concerning the report that a
movement had been started with a view to
bring about an alliance between England
and the United States: Il do not think
that there is anything in the report, for it
would be one of the most foolish things
this or any other administration ever I'M
dertook In the first place, we do not
need any alliance to conduct our own
uuarrels. We are able to take care of
ourselves, and an alliance with some other
power, particularly those on the other side
of the water, would be especially repug-
nant to the people of this country. | am
confident there is nothing in it, and if
there was, and it should be submitted to
the Senate, as it doubtless would be, that
body would not sanction it.
Those who had supposed that the fight
against the confirmation of the nomination
of Terrence V. Powderly. to be Commits
sioner of migration-the price of Pow
,lerlys stumping in the Presidential Cam
paign,-was over were not well posted.
1t is being waged quite briskly, and one
of the apparent results is an adverse report
from the SenateC Committee onImmigration
on the nomination. and Powderly's oppo-
nents express confidence that they can get
enough votes in the Senate to ratify the
Committees report. Powderly is now
holding the office under Il recess appoint
ment.
Car Reed having succeeded in his eff
forts to compel a majority of the House
| Committee on Rivers and Harbors, to vote
against reporting a River and Harbor bill
at this session, Representative Wheeler,
vs. no, int
priating 100000 to be expended at the
discretion of the Secretary of War, for the
continuance of River and Harbor improve
ments already begun, preference being
| given to those which can be best operated
! during the summer and fall months. Gen.
Wheeler will do his best to get his bill
through, but, as it is opposed by the Car,
the chances arc rather against him.
The reported sale to the United States
of the two Brazilian cruisers Amazonas
and Abreuall, now receiving their finish
ing touches in an English shipyard, was
confirmed on Monday. 1t is learned also
that Spain has not secured the O'Higgins
and that Chile will not sell her to Spain.
1t is said furthermore that Spain has not
and cannot purchase ships from either
| Chile or the Argentine Republic. \ mem
Der of the foreign relations committee of
the Senate says that it is true that the
United States has purchased two Brazilian
war>hip>. He also stated that Spain had
not and could not purchase ships from
Chile or the Argentine.
The old paradox of setting the river
on fire may be accomplished il war
should occur between this country and
another and if certain plans now said to
| be forming for defense of Philadelphia
lrl. 1.nrrinl inlu cNccutiNu Ills nrOlCct