Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-03-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent

Congress. There are different Opin-
ions as to how, there is general
agreement that the end must be
the driving Of the Spanish flag out
of Cuba. 4 week ago, there was
some doubt as to whether this senti
ment was held by President Nc
Kinley, but his actions since Con
grets unanimously appropriated
$4,000, 900 for HIM to spend at his
discretion in preparing for National
defense, have been those of a man
who expects to fight, and the delight
expressed over the preparations
for war, which are now visible on
every hand, shows that the country's
fighting blood is up, which adds a
little to the certainty Of War. Ac-
eording to The general belief, it is
now only a question Of how and
where the fighting will begin.
Although Secretary Long has
again officially denied the renewed
statement that The President had
been Informed of the nature of the
report that will be made by the
Naval Court of Inquiry, there ls no
doubt that the President, in com
mon with almost everybody else is
fully satisfied that the report will
be that the explosion was on the
outside OF the Maine. OF course,
he cannot act until the official re-
port is made, but he can get ready
to back up his action, and that he
is doing. Every snip that can posi-
bly, be made use Of in a war with
Spain is being carefully looked
after by naval experts, and every
mandatory with plant for making
guns OF ammunition, has received
assurances that the government
will, until further notice buy
everything In that line they can
make.
The only actual enlistments yet
being made are 0! men for the two
new artillery regiments, authorized
by Congress, and Of men for the
Navy, but the Var Department Is
getting together arms, ammunition
and accoutrements Tor 10000 men
50 that there will he no delay in
getting an army together at short
notice as soon as the first call fer
volunteers is issued. How soon
that will be will depend upon cir
We are already going
ahead too fast Cor Spain, which is
now showing an anxiety to delay
matters.
Senior Polo, the new Spanish
who has just been present
ed to the President. is either ignO
rant Of the situation or is making
gigantic diplomatic bluff to make
us think he Is. Just think Of the
nerve of the men, now when the
opinion is universal that SPANS
last hold on Cuba is bound TO be
broken in the near future by in
on the part OF u. ~
either peacably or by force, in Civ
ing out column newspaper inter.
view in which he cnlarges upon the
success of autonomy in Cuba, which
everybody in Washington knows to
be failure, and become enthusias
tic over the reciprocity treaty,
yhic' he says he expects to aid the
delegates of the autonomy cabinet
Of Cuba IN negotiating with the L.
:. If Senior Pole really expects to
10 as he says he does, the inside Of
lis head would make a fine study
or a specialist in brain disease.
Nobody blames Senior Pole any ,
more for talking about impossible :
reaties than for being so cOcksure {
hat neither Spain nor the L. s.
want war; it is the business of a a.,
diplomat to pretend to believe what ,
e knows to be untrue. {
Nearly every day brings a new
nj more or less elaborate scheme {
or some sort of Intervention in Cuba
y this government before the
ubllc, but President Mckinley ,,
cbeme, it he had one, is still I'm ,
nown. The latest idea is hat the
:. S. shall demand Of both the
paniards and Cubans that hos |,
lities cease, and that some sort of !
n arrangement he made whereby
he Cubans arc TO control Cuba,
nd to remain nominally under con
'ol of Spain. Tie advocates of
zig scheme think it an all around
God one because it would be &C ]
I