The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-07-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.

llcullNtu AllAtuAAOb w ~tiA NCi4AAV-
dore Watson's fleet 10 Spain was
not a bluff, why in the name OF
common sense l. the official an
nouncement now made that the
sending of the fleet 10 Spain has
been indefinitely postponed? Only
a small portion of the powerful fleet
we now have in Cul an waters will
be needed in the campaign against
Porto Rico, which was opened by
the landing of Gen. Miles and the
troops with him on Porto Rican
soil. news of which has Just reached
Washington. At no time since the
war started, could SO many of ouI
strongest fighting ships be spared
to 60 to Spain a right now. This
was acknowledged by Secretary
Long in conversation with a friend
who was trying 10 find out why the
fleet had not gone 10 Spain. \
Senator who is very friendly with
Mr.. Mckinley said on the subject a:
The official announcement OF the
orders to Commodore Watson, sew
eral weeks ago, was unquestionahly
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 has been
postponed, 10 order that Spain may
act. But said another Senator,
suppose that Spain does't ask for
peace, what them" .Then, said
the first Senator laughingly, sup
pose the bluff will be repeated.
"Well," answered Senator No.
, "that sort Of thing is little too
Spanish to suit me; believe that
it is The duty of the administration
to fight this war to close at the
earliest possible moment. In trick
cry, we can never hope to equal the
Spaniards, and the sooner we send
tire fleet over there to fight them at
home, the sooner we shall have
peace. :"
The administration is showing a
disposition to make Gen. Shafter
bear all the blame for the break
with Gen. Garcia and his army of
Cuban insurgents, although it is not
denied that, as o whole, what Garcia
complained OF was the result OF
Skaters carrying out orders given
in Washington. 1t is claimed that
he should have jollied Garcia suifi-
ciently to have made him believe
that he was at least being consulted
about what was being done. The
plain truth is, that the administra
ton doesn't want to quarrel with
the insurgents, although it has been
fully determined that the govern
ment of Cuba shall not be turned
over to them at the close Of the war,
unless they can get majority of the
residents of Cuba, to declare by
their votes in their favor. Ii is will
ing to feed and clothe the insurgents
and keep them supplied with arms
and ammunition withou; being too
|exacting as to the military duties
they shall perform, but TO 90 no
further. That the Cubans should
not be models, either as soldiers or
statesmen, is natural enough when
one considers their persecution 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 m Ike the people OF this
country think them worse than they
are. This question will bear close
watching.
There is no other officer in our
army who has protitted to so great
an extent personally as Gen. Leon
ard Wood, now military Governor
of Santiago. When the Maine was
blown up he was Surgeon in the
regular army, with the rank Of Cap
tain, stationed in Washington, per
forming among other duties those
of family physician to Mr. McKin-
ley. When TEDDY" Roosevelt
conceived the idea Of enlisting the
regiment of Rough Riders, snd had
il approved by Mr.. Mckinley, he
asked DR.. Wood be made Col. OF
the regiment. 1t was done. He
was mad, a Brigadier General for
gallantry in the field, being strong
ly recommended for the promotion
by his immediate Superior, Gen.
Wheeler, lighting joe" Just why
he succeeded McKibbin, who was
first named as military Governor OF
Santiago, by Gen. Shafter, is not so
clear, but it was probably because he
was the Presidents doctor, and
wanted the place. A Jump from
Captain to Brigadier General is GER
tainly extraordinary, even when one
is as brave as Gen. Wood has proved
himself TO be and is the President