The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-05
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

OF the administration in pushing the
war against Spain are growing loude,
each day, as indications increase tha,
the administration is expecting a very
long war, instead of a very short one
The speech of Representative Ding.
ley, who probably voiced the senti,
ments of Mr.. Mckinley, on the bill
to provide war revenues for the gov.
eminent, which has just passed the
House, indicated his belief that the
war would last for years. He could
not be properly answered, because
nobody cared to get up and say
things they knew to be true that
would be construed by Spain and
Europe as meaning that there was a
division of sentiment among Ameri.
cans as to this war The same feeling
has prevented public criticism of the
remarkable state OF unreadiness in
which the War Department was found
to be when Mr.. Mckinley finally
gave up his jack o'lantern hope OF
securing the freedom of Cuba through
peaceful negotiations. The people
do not want long war, and do not
believe that there is any occasion for
one. Fitz Lee, who is good military
authority, and who has carefully been
over the ground, has said that with
10000 men and the cooperation of
the navy Havana could be taken IN
IS days. That many troops, three
fourths of them regulars, could be
landed In Cuba in 48 hours after an
order was issued, and the navy is al.
ready there. But there is no such
order. Instead, there is lot of talk
about the necessity of the 125,ooo
volunteers just called out remaining
several months in camps of instruc.
tiou, and Of the probability of the
Spaniards being allowed to remain in
Cuba until fall, unless the insurgent
army can drive them out, or the
blockade starves them out. Mr.. Nc
Kinley calls this war for humanity,
but continuation of the blockade OF
Cuban ports without capturing them
will result in starving as many women
and children to death as Butcher
Weyler's policy did The Spanish
army in Cuba isn't suffering for food
they prepared for the blockade
but non-combatants are.
Under the law for the reorganiza-
ton of the regular army, which went
into effect this week, the total will at
once be enlisted up to $4,000 men,
and the war-pay of privates and non
commissioned officers will be lncreas-
ed 20 per cent.
One of the strongest points in our
system of government is emphasized
by the present situation in Washing
ton. In the State, War and Navy
Department building, in which are
located the fighting branches of The
government, the hurry and hustle of
war is seen on every hand, while the
other department buildings, in which
business relating to the industrial and
commercial progress of the country,
such as the management Of our great
postal system, the granting of patents,
looking after public lands ETC., is 60
ing on just as though there never was
such thing as a war, and so they
will continue to go whether the war
lasts three weeks or three months.
The fighting branches of the govern
ment will attend to the war without
encroaching upon the business of the
other branches.
In announcing by proclamation the
principles upon which he will wage
the war, which Congress has authoriz-
ed, Mr.. Mckinley has certainly
carried mild treatment of Spanish in
terests to an unnecessary extreme
an extreme that will wipe out the ex.
pectations of prize-money entertained
by the brave sailors that man Admir-
al SIMPSONS blockading squadron,
by releasing nearly, f not all of the
Spanish vessels they have captured
since the blockade was established.
This proclamation gives all Spanish
merchant vessels in American ports
or bound to or from American ports
immunits from capture until May aI,
inclusive. 1t would be possible to
make some nations surrender by
treating them and Their interests with
consideration, but Spain is certainly
not one of them. What Mr.. McKin-
lev doubtless intended to be an act
of extraordinary generously and for
bearance will be charged to his fear
of them by the ignorant Spanish.
There is only one way to deal with
Spanlard-fght him and lick him
then he will be ready to entertain the
idea of a foe displaying magnanimity
towards him.
Republicans In their absurd at