Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-06-02

But, if the Spanish feet is not bottl ed
up, and there are doubters in high cir
Giles, the country is in for another per-
iod OF vexatious uncertainty and guess.
ing. ,., 5,
It is contended by Gen. Miles and
others that nothing will be gained by
invading Cuba until we can send at
least 100000 men. Because it will be
useless to make an attack upon Havana
with land force much smaller than
that. Although nothing official has
been or will be given out on this sub
ject, there is excellent authority for
saying that 1t willrequire at least three
or four more weeks to equip enough of
volunteers to make up that number.
Although extra efforts were put forth
to make a good showing at Camp Alger
when the President went to review the
volunteers there, the lack Of equipment
was made painfully apparent by the
fact that only two-thirds Of the 10000
men in camp could take part in the
parade. and the equipment OF many
that were in line is utterly worthless
for fighting purposes. The same con-
dition exists at all the mobilizing points
The men are ready and anxious to
fight, but they are not yet properly pre-
pared to do so. But the work of pre-
pairing them is not being allowed to lag
That Americans are tolerant is well
known. It is also we'll known that the
sentiment of the country was over
whelmingly in favor Of the annexation
of Hawaii, even before it had been de-
clared by the administration to be a
military necessity. Should the pressure
of the European governments compel
Hawai- to declare neutrality and tc
refuse to allow our ships bound to and
from the Philippine Islands to coal al
Honolulu, while the question of annex
ing Hawaii is hung up in Congress by
a combination of the power Of the sugar
trust lobby, personal spite, and political
spleen, not even the habitual tolerance
of Americans will prevent the political
punishment of those responsible
Should no trouble arise on account o.
the minority holdup in Congress thai
Is now on, the parts played by individ
uals in the holdup will soon be forgot
by the people, Notwithstanding the
present use of such words as "traitor'
and treason.
An amendment to the war revenue
bill providing for annexation has beer
offered by Senator Lodge. 1t will b'
pushed or not according to what Speak
er Reed does. If he allows the House
to vote on the annexation resolution
he has partly promised to do so-th'
amendment will be withdrawn; If no
it will be pushed to vote, regardless
Of the delay it may cause in dlsposlns
OF the war revenue bill. Presiden
Mckinley has intimated very plain.
that unless Congress acts at once h'
intends to seize Hawaii as "A war meas
ure. There are presidents for sucl
action.
Senator Teller always has positive
opinions, and they are usually interest
ing. OF the war he said in shor
speech "Those who ought to know
estimate that the present war will cos
$3OO,OO0,O0O if it be prosecuted on
year. 1t ought not to last year, i
will not last year. 1t is not a war o
conquest, but war of humanity
However since we have taken the Phil
ippines we ought to hold Them unit
some decision can be reached as to thei
disposition. We ought to take ever!
foot of Spanish soil, outside Of Spair
itself whether it be in this sphere o.
in the other. We ought. l believe, t
drive the Spanish flag from the water
of both the Atlantic aud Pacific oceans
| a GIaVar TrleL