Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-11-09
Washington Letter.
from our Regular Correspondent

IErOm our Regular correspondents
WASHINGTON, November 4, 1885,
The attitude Of Spain towards the
demand of this government for pos
session of the Philippine islands will
not make the slightest difference in
the intentions Of P resident Mckinley.
He did not suppose that Spain would
concede the demand off hand, nor
does he expect that Spain will carry
its objections to the extent of break
ing off the peace negotiations; but
should it do so, the only loser there
by would be Spain. 1t will be an
easy matter for Admiral Dewey and
General Otis to take forcible posses
sion of all of the Philippines, and
there is little doubt that they will be
ordered to do so, if Spain withdraws
its peace commissioners without
negotiating q treaty. If Spain agrees
to transfer the Philippine islands to
US by treaty, our peace commission
ers are authorized to agree that we
shall pay Spain a sum- of money
equal to the amount it has spent for
puOllc improvements on the islands;
If we have to take the islands by
force, Spain will get nothing. That
is the whole situation, and there is
nothing that Spain can do that will
alter 1t in any way. II the Spanish
commissioners wish to do a little
%spluttering and kicking for homecon-
SUMPTION, we'll and good; if they
think they can change the con
ditions by SO doing, they are wasting
their time.
The war investigation commission
returned to Washington this week,
and after one days sitting it sent
Commissioners Beaver, Wilson and
Howell to Camp Meade, where they
will make a personal Investigation.
The political enemies of Secretary
Alger have given up hope of being able
to produce any testimony that will
reflect upon his management of the
War department, and are combining
their efforts to circulating fakes so
transparent that men of common
sense have ceased to pay any att en-
ton to them.
President Mckinley does not re-
gard his vote as needed for the sue
cess OF the party iE Ohio, but he
thinks 1T should be a patriotic duty
with every man to cast his vote for
the principles he believes in whenever
It is possible for him to do SO,
and will therefore go to Canton to
vote the regular Republican ticket,
although it will seriously inconveni-
ence him to do so, as he has an
enormous mass of work on his hands.
and has only about four weeks left
to complete his message to congress-.
which will be in some respects one Of
the most important messages ever
received by congress from a presi-
dent.
Spanish diplomacy made an un-
successful attempt to trick Secretary
Hay into committing this govern
ment into accepting sovereignty over
Cuba, the object being to place Spain
IN a position to hold the United
States responsible for the Spanish
bonds which it Is pleased to call
the Cuban debt" the contention Of
Spain being that responsibility for
the debt will pass with the sovereign
ty. For the purpose Of trying to en-
trap Secretary Hay, the Spanish
minister of foreign affairs addressed
a communication to the State de-
partment. the first since the de-
parture Of the Spanish minister from
Washington. and forwarded it
through the French embassy.
Secretary Hay is somewhat of a dip
lomat himself. He answered the
communication by informing the
government Of Spain that the answer
to its question or request would in
due time come from the peace COM
mission, at Paris.