The Opelousas courier., 1898-07-30
Washington, ID. e., News.
From our Regular Correspondents
Washington, July Is, 1898.

modore Watson's fleet to Spair
was not Il bluff, why in the name
of common sense is the official
announcement now made that the
sending -rf 7tfsotleet to Spain has
been. postponeok Only IL small
POI lion of the Powerful fleet we
51now have in Cuban waters will be
needed in tisS campaign against
Porto Rico, which was opened by
the landing of Gen. Miles and the
troops with him on Porto Rican
soil, news of w,iich has reached
Washington. NJ no time since
the war started, could so many of
our fighting ships be spared to 90
to Spain as right now. This was
acknowledged by Secretary Long
in conversation with a friend who
was trying to find out why the
fleet had not gone to Spain. A
Senator who is very friendly with
Mr.. Mckinley, said on the sub
ject: "The official announcement
of the orders to Commodore Wat
son, was unquestionably made to
bluff Spain into begging for
peace, and now that Mr.. McKin-
ley has information that the bluff
had served its purpose, he has
caused it to be publicly announced
that the sailing of the fleet had
been postponed, in order that
Spain may act 'But,' said
another Senator, suppose that
Spain does mt ask for peace, what
them? ''Then,' SAID the first
Senator laughingly, 81 suppose
the bluff will be repeated.
"Well, answered No. 2, "that
sort of a thing is a little too Span
ish to suit me: | believe that it is
the duty of the administration to
fight this war to close at the
earliest possible moment. In
trickery, we can never hope to
equal the Spaniards, and | should
be ashamed to be an American
if we could. We can lick them
every day in the week, when it
comes to fighting, and the sooner
we send the fleet over there to
fight them at home, the sooner
we shall have peace.
The administration is showing
a disposition to make Gen. Shat
ter bear all the blame for the
break with Gen. Garcia and his
army of Cuban insurgents, al
though it is not denied that, as
whole, what Garcia complained
of was the result of Shafter's car
rying out orders given in WASH
ington. 1t is claimed that he
should have jollied Garcia sutfi-
GENTLY to have made him believe
that he was at least being con-
suited about what was being done.
The plain truth is, that the ad-
ministration doesn't want to
quarrel with the insurgents, al
though it has been fully deter
mined that the government of
Cuba shall not be turned over to
them at the close of the war, un-
less they get a majority Of the res
idents Of Cuba to declare by their
votes in their favor. 1t is will
ing to feed and clothe insurgents
and keep them supplied with arms
and ammunition without being too
exacting as to the military duties
they shall perform but to go no
further. That the Cubans should
not be models, either as soldiers
or statesmen, is natural enough
when one considers their persecu-
ton by Spain for hundreds of
years; that sort of treatment |
never produces model men, but it |
has become plain that powerful
influences are at work to make
the people of this country think
them worse than they are. The
question will bear close watching.
There is no other officer in our
army who has profted to so great
an extent personally y as Gen. Leo
nard Wood, now military Cover
nor of Santiago. When the
Maine was blown up he was sur
yeon in the regular army, with the
rank of Captain, stationed in
W ashington. performing among
other duties those of family ply
;ician to Mr.. Mckinley. When
Teddy" Roosevelt conceived the
dea of enlisting the regiment of
Rough. Riders, and had it ap-
proved by Mr.. Mckinley, he asked
hat DR.. Wood be made Col. of
he regiment. 1t was done. He
vas made Brigadier-General for
yalantry in the field, being strong-
y recommended for the promo
ion by his immediate superior,
ien. Wheeler, "Fighting joe"
lust why he succeeded McKibben,
Who was first named as military
Governor of Santiago, by Shafter,
S not so clear, but it was proba-
,ly because he was the Presidents
friend and doctor and wanted the
olace. A jump from Captain
o Brigadier General is certainly
extraordinary, even when one is
IS brave as Gen. Wood has proved
himself to be and is the Presi-
lent's doctor and friend.