Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-05-26

bor of San Juan Porto Rico a few days
ago. Commodore Schley's flying squad
ron, which is now ior the first time acting
up to its name. enter Cuban hal Dor
without fighting or make Il dash for some
of our coast cities. This state of affairs
would be xasperatng were it not fol. the
satisfaction everyone feels in knowing
that this Spanish fleet is actually in
American waters. 1t may dodge lis for
awhile, but it is bound to be our game in
the end. The end will be at once if the
Spanish fleet dares to fight either OF our
fleets. One mans guess is about as good
as another's about the intention of the
Spanish fleet, but a few days will show
them.
The postponement OF the sending Of
troops to Cuba made necessary by the
presence of the Spanish fleet in American
waters is less aggravating than it appears
to be. In fact. it is a good thing for us.
Had the original plan OF landing troops
in Cuba last week been carried out, we
should not have been able to land a suli-
cent number 10 capture Havana, which
is defended by something like 10000
Spanish soldiers, owing to the inability
of the government to furnish equipments
needed by the volunteers; and any delay
in whipping the S}aniarls out OF Cuba
after our army goes over there will he
calculated to lessen our prestige among
the nations OF the world. Dewey's men
at Manila and the succession of brave
and daring deeds performed by the men
on the ships engaged in blockading Cuban
potts have placed our navy among the
foremost fighters of the world, and it
would be very humiliating for our army
not to make an equally creGtable show
ing when it goes to Cuba. 1t is therefore
absolutely necessary that sufficient
number OF men properly equipped to ac-
complish what they 60 to do should be
sent to Cuba. The delay will serve to
place the army on a proper footing. Just
to give an idea OF the deficiency in army
equipments, it may be mentioned that
the government has purchased the entire
visible supply OF tenting canvass in the
country and yet has only enough to make
about hall the tents the army will re-
quire the mills are working on the rest.
The war revenue bill reported to the
senate from its finance committee is in
many respects marked improvement
upon what it was when it was sent over
from the house. 1t now provides for the
immediate issue OF $3.50, 900 in green
backs, and for issuing $42 1000 900 in sill
yer certificates to represent the seignoragc
on the silver bullion owned by the gov
eminent, which it directs to be coined
1t taxes all sorts of corporations, and
strikes out the authority for issuing
bonds.
\ caucus of the democrats OF the house
may be held this week for the purpose OF
discussing the joint resolution providing
for the annexation of Hawaii, which has
been favorably reported to the house, and
deciding upon the ACCESSIBILITY of making
it party question. There are number
OF democrats in the house who are OPP
posed to annexation. 1t is the same in
the senate but the democrats OF the latter
body long ago decided not to make an
neXation party question and the chances
are that the same course will be followed
in the house. To attempt to 60 otherwise
would be to compel those democrats who
favor annexation to bolt the action of the
party caucus. 1t is, OF course. in the
power OF a ajority of the democrats in
the house to make opposition to annexa-
ton Il party question, but it is not in
their power to control democrats who
have committed themselves to annexa-
| ton. There was no sign that the demo-
cratic party as Il whole endorsed President
Cleveland's anti-anneXa,ion policy; on
the contrary, there were many signs of
opposition thereto. If there ever was a
time that opposition to the annexation of
Hawaii cond wisely have been made
party policy it has long ago passed.
The fear that Mr.. Mckinley would give
staff commissions in the volunteer army
to incompetent men, because OF his in
ability to stand the pressure of the poiti-
cal and social influence brought to bear
upon him in their behalf, was fully real
ized. 1t would have been an impossibility
to have found men more incompetent
than many OF the civilians named ior
positions on the staff. This incompetencv
was fully recognized by Mr.. Mckinley,
as he selected enough officers from the
regular army to do al the work that is