Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, APRIL 4, 1898.

FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON. APRIL 4, 1898.
the President now recognizes the in.
evitable, that war with Spain is only a
question of days. He went as tar as
his own views or the overwhelming
sentiment of the country would permit
when he gave Spain an opportunity to
escape war by recognizing the indie.
pendence of Cuba. This opportunity
the Government of Spain chose to de-
cline. The diplomatic correspondence
with Spain, about to be laid before
Congress. reflects credit upon the Pres.
ident. as an official, as man, and as
patriot, and shows that he has aot at
any time deviated from the policy
adopted in the beginning and outlined
in his annual message to Congress last
Observation-Disclosures, if Spain did
not bring about peace in Cuba.
Although there are still few per
sons in Washington who are advocating
a continuance Of diplomatic efforts to
avoid war, and more outside who are
trying to influence Senators and Rep
resentatives to do nothing, there
isn't the shadow Of q doubt that Con
gress, the sentiment of which is prac-
tically unanimous, Will this week, al.
most certainly within the next three
days, take action that will make war
certain. The administration is arrang
ing everything with that expectation.
in order to be able to start the fighting
with vigor. Everything around the
Government departments is already on
war footing; no information as to the
movement Of troops or the contemplate
ed movement of ships is now given out,
and beginning with yesterday no out
siders are allowed to visit the Washing
ton Navy Yard without pass. All
our ships have been placed under
emergency orders.
Congress is thoroughly in the fight
ing humor, and, in addition to adopt
ing the legislation that will make wal
unavoidable, it will this week pass the
legislation that will furnish the Gov.
eminent with all the money that will
be needed to carry on the war. The
probabilities are that the money will
be raised by special taxes, instead of by
an issue is bonds. There is very de-
cided prejudice against an issue o.
bonds, if it can be avoided.
The war talk has drowned out the
talk about the annexation of Hawaii
but it has been definitely decided by
the administration as soon as actua1
hostilities are begun to hoist the Amer
lean flag oven Hawaii and to use it al
a naval supply station for the Pacific
regardless Of whether Congress acts
upon the joint resolution providing fol
annexation or not.
The Bill intended to encourage vet.
eran soldiers to volunteer with the wal
with Spain. by providing that enlist
ment IN either army or navy will mol
stop pensions now being drawn by
those who enlist, was amended before
being favorably reported to the House
so as to provide that all ex.Confederates
who shall hereafter serve ninety days
in either the army or navy of the Unit
ed States shall be entitled to all the
benefits of the pension act of June II
1890, if after said service they arr
shown to be unable to perform manua
labor and to be dependent thereon fol
support.
The action of the House IN increas
ing the number of torpedo boats anG
torpedo boat destroyers provided for il
the regular appropriation bill from 81,
of each to twelve Of each is generally
commended, although no one has any
idea that they can be built IN time t.
take amy part in the war with Spain
1t is simply that the existing situation
has convinced nearly everybody of the
necessity Of our being always prepared
to defend ourselves against possible
foreign enemy.
Representative Lorimer, of Illinois
voiced the sentiment of many men il
Congress and Of thousands outside o
Congress when he said Spanish rule
in Cuba has been a menace to our com
MERGE and peace ever since the founda
ton of this Government, and the time
has now come to drive the Spanish
flag aad every vestage Of Spanish powel
from our shores