The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-19
WAR AND POLITICS AT THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL.

Washington. ID. c., April 17.-(Edito-
rial Correspondence.)-I have not seen u
man here who believes that war can be
overted. From Senators and officials
in high position to the cabmen and street
ear drivers the war feeling is all per-
yading. This does not mean that all
favor war. though that is the over
vhelming sentiment. 1t means that they
believe war is inevitable and that it is
near at hand.
Whether many will go from this city
IS altogether another thing. An order
has been issued giving adj government
clerks a guarantee that if they enlist.
their nositions will be held for them and
they can return to them when the wa,
has ended. Talking with some very in
tclligcnt clerks who were saying thar
this was very generous on the part of
the government / said to them: Bur
it falls short. Instead of agreeing to
hold the positions open if you go, Con.
gress ought to pass a law requiring
every man who has a position in the
government to surrender it for the tim,
and go to the front. This certainly
ought to he done as to every unmar-
ried man in the departments at Wash
ilgton. As the clerks have been getting
bigger salaries for lighter work than
outsiders, it is nothing but right that
they should come out of their bomb-proor
positions and go to Cuba and supper,
by arms the government that directly
gives them bread and meat" Strange
to say not Il single clerk in hearing en-
dorsed this view of their duty!
- +" -
We hear so much complaint OF Con
gress and it is abused so roundly land
often descrvedly) that there is danger
of making the people believe it has
utterly dcgenerated The debate in
the Senate ON the Cuban question shows
that there are giants in these as well
as in other days. 1t is true that the
Senate has been lowered by the pres
ence of such men as Quay, Hanna and
small men rattle around in seats once
occupied by great men (as, for instance
Deboe i'll Henry Clay's and Pritchard
in Nance's seat. dt is likewise true that
there are great men here, some of whom
rank among the biggest men who have
graced the Senate. When Clay, Web
ster, Calhoun, and Benton were Sena-
tors the bulk of the Senate was made
up of men who are not remembered. The
deterioration now is more apparent be-
cause corrupt methods are responsible
here for the Hannas and Pritchards.
In the old times it was political eXpe
dicncy" that gave place to men of small
calilre. The Cuban debate has shown
that the Senate was not wanting in
strong and able men, who, while not of
the calibre of Clay and Webster, are en-
titled to rank as statesmen. Not to so
into Il classification ] may say that it
has been many decades since Virginia
equal Of John w. Daniel. i heard him
make a speech in favor of the recogni-
ton of Cuban Independence ON Friday.
1t was Il great effort and but for the
pressure of other matters on the columns
of the paper it ought to appear in full
in this paper. The able Senator showed
the absurdity of the plan of interven-
ton without the recognition of Cuban
Il nh fhn 10 fui Cd
He took the ground chat logically the
Presidents recommendation involved
sending the American troops to Cuba to
make Gomez and his brave patriots lay
down their arms. His denunciation of
such Il policy was particularly fine. He
did not abuse the President or criticise
him severely but he made it plain,
that the President had not been wise in
antagonizing the recognition of Cuban
independence. While ne was at the
climax of his argument, he was inter
rupted by Senator Gray who asked him:
Don't you think we ought to stand by
the PresidentT' Daniel made am impress
sive pause, his eyes flashed fire and look
ing Gray in the eye, he dramatically
said:
Il will have the Senator to understand
sent me here to make laws to governs
Presidents"
There was a pause after this electric
flash and stiffness more impressive
than the most vociferous applause. The
galleries wanted to applaud, but the
fear of losing their seats made them
silent, but no threat of clearing the gal
leries could repress the glance of the eye
and the elbow-touch of neighbor to
ne.ghbor and the whispered approval of
the dramatic utterance.
The invasion of Cuba by American
armies, except to redress Sop Maine
wrong, without declaration of the indie
pendence of that island is Gndefensible.
Senator Daniel pointed out that so far
as the Senate knew Spain had granted
every demand of the President-the or
der of concentration has been rcscinded,
fighting has stopped, autonomy has been
promised. The President has never
made independence an ultimatum to
Spain. Are we to send troops to fight
Spain while we admit that it is the only
lawful government when it has done
everything the President has asked to
have done? What are the troops to z"
TO Cuba for? To avenge the Maine:
n pros