Catoctin clarion., 1898-03-17
.lNGTON LETTER

IONS as to how, but there is a general
agreement that the end must be the
driving of the Spanish flag out ct Cuba.
A week ago. there was some doubt as
to whether this sentiment was held by
President Mckinley, but his actions
since Congress unanimously approprl-
ated $50, 100000 for him to spend at
lis discretion in preparing for National
defense, have been those Of man who
expects to fight, and the delight e1.
pressed over the preparations for war;
which are now Visible on every hand,
shows that the country's fighting blood
is up, which adds little to the Ger
tainty of war. According to the gen.
eral belief. 1t is now only 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
mads by the Naval Court of Inquiry,
there is no doubt that the President,
in common with almost every body 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 report Is made,
but he can get ready to back up his
action, and that he is doing. Every
ship that can possibly be made use of
in war with Spain is being carefully
looked after by naval experts, and
mandatory with plant for making
guns or ammunition, has received AS
surances that the government will, un
til further notice, buy everything in
that line they can make.
The only actual enlistments yet be,
ing made are of men for the two new
ARTILLERY regiments, authorized bv Con-
gress. and of men ior the Navy, but the
War Department is getting together
arms, ammunition and accoutremenss
for 100000 men, 30 that there will be
no delay IN getting an army together at
short notice, as soon as the first call for
volunteers is issued. How soon that
will be will depend on circumstances
We are already going ahead too fast for
Spain, which is now showing an anxl
ETY. to delay matters.
Senor Polo, the new Spanish Minis
ter, who has just been presented to the
President, is either Ignorant OF the sit
uaton or is making "a gigantic diplo
matte bluff to make US think he IS.
Just think of the nerve of the man. now
when the opinion Is universal that
Spain last hold on Cuba is bound to
be broken in the near future by inter.
venion on the part of the United States,
either pcaceadly or by force, in giving
out column newspaper interview In
which he enlarges upon the success of
autonomy in Cuba, which everybody in
Washington knows to be failure, and
become enthusiastic over the recipro
city treaty, which he says he expects
to aid the delegates of the autonomy
cabinet of Cuba in negotiating with the
United States. If Senior Polo really
expects to do as he SAYS he does, the
inside of his head would make fine
study for a specialist in brain disease.
Nobody blames Senor Polo any more
for talking about impossible treaties
than for being so cocksure that neither
Spain nor the United States wants war;
it is the business of diplomat to pre-.
tend to believe what he knows to be un
true.
= Nearly every day brings new and
more or less elaborate scheme for some
sort of intervention in Cuba by this
government before the public, but Pres.
ident Mckinley scheme. if he has one
is still unknown. The latest idea is
that the United States shall demand Of
both the Spaniards and Cubans that
hostilities cease, and that some sort of
an arrangement be made whereby the
Cubans are to control Cuba, and to re.
main nominally under control of Spain.
The advocates of this scheme think it
an all around good one because it would
be accepted by Spain and because it
would obviate the necessity of this gov.
ernment assuming control Ct Cuba.
They say that the Cuhans are uuttted
for independent self government, and
that until the population becomes
much improved. the island would not
make desirable accession to the Uni
ted States therefore that the logical
outcome is Cuban government under
Spanish auspices. But all this is put
forward IN the belief and dependent
upon the consistency that Spain will
satisfactorily meet all demands made
on account Of the loss of the Maine, and
that we shall not have to fight to en-
force those demands-a belief that is