The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-07-21
washington Letter.


washington, July 1s. 1898.
Peace may speedily follow Gen. Shaft
er's victory in compelling the surrender
of Santiago and %, 900 Spanish troops
without further bloodshed, but, notwith-
all that has been and is being |
printed to the contrary, there is nothing |
official in sight to indicate it. Every act
of the administration since the surrender |
of Santiago, indicates the belief that the
end of the war is still long ways off. In
fact, there is little probability of peace I'M
til the members of the Spanish govern
ment get rid of the idea that the wishes of
European powers are to be factor in the
terms of peace, and recognize the fact that
those terms are to be dictated from Wash
ington.
Watson's expedition to Spain is now
booked to sail in about week. A day or
two ago the report was that it had already
sailed. Within week the movement for
the capture of Porto Rico will be under
way.
The breaking out of the yellow fever in
our army at Santiago has made it certain
that no summer campaign against Havana
will be undertaken. The administration
is unwilling to send our soldiers. where
that disease can hardly be escaped during
the next three months. When the news
first reached Washington that there were
- IN
our army at Santiago, it came very near
to creating panic. Every possible pre-
caution is being taken to prevent the fever
becoming epidemic and, although, news
of the progress of the fever is very meague.
owing to rigid censorship at Santiago,
there is now little better feeling. But
there is still much uneasiness, and ample
cause for it, too.
The condition which binds US to send
the %, 900 Spanish troops, captured at
Santiago, back to Spain is regarded in
Washington as an excellent one. Although
it is a big job, 1t can be much easier
accomplished than was the landing OF our
army over there, as the ships that will
carry them can go right up the Santiago
wharves to receive them. 1t will be much
cheaper to send them home than it would
be to keep them as prisoners.
Senator Cannon, of Utah. who has just
returned from a visit to his brother, who
is Lit. Col of Torrey's Rough Riders, now
at jacksonville, Fla, stopped at Fit. Nc
Pherson, Ca, where he visited some
wounded friends. He says of that visit :
81 never have seen anything like the
patriotism of the wounded soldiers at Fl
Mcpherson. The wounded of the Gath
Infantry, which came from Fit. Douglas,
Utah, and who participated in the battle
of San Juan are there, and the officers
and men are anxious and eager to get back
in the fray"
Experience teaches governments as well
as individuals. When the campaign
against Santiago was started it was the
opinion of those on the inside of the ad-
ministration circle, and was publicly stat
ed in semi-official way, that it was the
intention of the government, after Santiago
cept possibly regiment or two left for
show, and allow the Cubans to establish
their civil government in the town-to
make it the capital of the Republic OF
Cuba. Opinions have changed since them,
although only short time has passed.
| The Cuban insurgents do not stand as
high in the estimation of the administra-
ton, either in a fighting or peaceful ca
pacity, as they did. In the tests which
have been applied to them, they failed tC
come up to expectations. Consequently
Santiago will remain under U. s. Military
control until further notice, instead O.
being turned over to the Cubans.
Everything that Admiral Dewey does
appears to strike the people of this country
as about the right thing, from showing
his resentment at the commander of the
German cruiser Irene, interfering to pro
tect the Spanish garrison of fort in Su
big bay from an attack by the Philippine
insurgents, by sending the Raleigh an(
the Concord to batter down the fort anC
capture the five hundred Spaniards com
posing the garrison, to that portion of his
report to the secretary of the navy
especially commencing the Chinese who
are serving in his feet in minor capacities
for bravery under fire. That he should be
willing to say good word officially for the
much-abused Chinese, and to recommend
that those in his fleet be rewarded with
American citizenship, shows Admiral Dew.
ey to be as well supplied with moral as
with physical courage. Nothing but
praise is heard in Washington for Dewey
and thanks that we should be fortunate
enough to have such man in the Philip
pines at this critical period. He is being
especially commended for having so plain
| ly shown the Germans that he intended
carrying out his plans regardless of then
and their ships.
President Mckinley has named the fol
lowing gentlemen to represent the U. s
upon the joint commission that will shortly
meet for the purpose of trying to settle al
matters that are in dispute between thu
U. S. and Canada, in accordance with the
treaty signed last spring: Senators Fair
banks, of Indiana, and Gray, of Delaware
Representative Dingley, of Maine; Hon
John A. Kasson, of Iowa. who has charge
of the interests of the U. S. in the negoti.
alton of all reciprocity treaties, and Hon
John w. Foster, ex-secretary of state.
The examination of the Northampton
banks shows that Warmers defalcatione
will reach total of $64O,OOO. The saw
ings bank losses are $24O, 900, and thu
national bank losses $4OO,OOO
VIII Carlton in his poem, "The Festi
!, x,ol Dro3eo e,o