Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondence
90 80
WAsHINeT0N, March ls, 1898.

was not needed tn convince the pub
lie that there was not a word OF
truth In the statement that Pres
ident Mckinley was anxious for Con-
gress to finish the appropriation bills
and adjourn, Ia order that he might
settle the Cuban question without
interference from congress. Pres.
ldent Mckinley has never regarded
Congress as an impediment; on the
contrary, he has from the day OF his
inauguration treated every Senator
and Representative as advisers upon
whom he has depended right along.
In fact 20 President has ever more
fully recognized Congress as cO-ord-
mate branch OF the government. In
stead OF desiring Congress to adjourn
and leave him to handle the Cuban
question single handed, President
Mckinley desires Congress to remain
In session, and assist him In settling
the Cuban question properly.
II the situation we're not SO crit
ical, SPANS attempt to make this
country responsible, In the eyes Of
Europe, for the failure of autonomy
in Cuba, by charging that failure to
the presence Of our feet Of warships
at Key West, would be amusing. AS
1t is, it merely adds an additional
complication to an already much COM
plicated condition of affairs. Pres
ident Mckinley did not assemble
that fleet at Key West to please
Spain, nor did he put the country on
war footing to please Spain, and he
will not disperse that feet, or call a
halt in the preparations for war to
please Spain or any other European
power or powers. He is preparing
to defend our national honor against
Spain, and against the world, il nee
essary,
The annual banquet of the surviv-
ors of the Second Army Corps has
always been noted for the patriotism
expressed by the speakers, and at
that held this week the Circumstance
es naturally made the speeches even
more patriotic than usual. Rep
resentative BrOsius, ofPa., responded
to the toast, "The Head of the Ma
tion," in highly creditable speech,
setting forth the commendable action
OF the President during the present
critical period, and the extraordinary
confidence he has aroused in the
hearts of the people, and predicting
that his future actions would be
such that he would retain the univer-
sal confidence now reposed in him,
whether they led to war or peace,
and concluding with: "This homage
l cheerfully and lovingly pay the
head Of the nation; typical Amer
lean, grand man, and safe Gus
todian under all circumstances of the
interests and honor Of the republic.
Long live the head of the nationl"
Representative Belknap, of Illinois,
responded to the toast, "The Land
we love-" by showing that it was only
few coldblooded cynics who believ-
ed that patriotism was dying out, or
love of country diminishing; and
Representative Hull, of Iowa, did
full justice to the toast, sour Ma
tional Defenders on Land and Sea. "
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, once COM
mander Of the corps, now commander
OF the entire army, responded to the
toast, "The Second Army Corps.
The closing sentences of his speech
were as follows: "Uucle Sam fred a
gun up at the Capitol the other day
Ia flfty-million-dollar gun - that
sent thrill of patriotism through
out this land, and re-echoed all over
the world. And Mr.. Mckinley was
made to understand that II fifty
millions was not enough to defend
this country and its honor, he might
add another cipher to the right Of
the figure, and the money was his
1t was the grandest exhibition thai
congress ever gave; that, sldmber
, ing deep down In their hearts, is /;
, loyalty, patriotism and spirit of sac
ritice never equaled in any Legislative
, body on the face Of Gods earth, i
there to be war? I hope not. /, a
warrior, would not like to see
war begin with two or three Bull
Runs, but would rather have Apo
3 mattox instead. But IL war shall
] come we would be ready to make tn
. conflict short, sharp and decisive.
8 The House Naval Committee ha
s decided to provide in che Naval Ar
1 preparation bill for the construction
Of five new dry docks, to be locate,
I at Portsmouth, N. H., Boston, Mass
t League Island, near Philadelphia
9 Pa. Algiers, near New Orleans, La.