The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-07-15
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, d. G. July 10, 1898.
President Mckinley probably, all
things considered, never passed more
satisfactory Fourth of July than this
one. Gen. Shafter has justified all
the confidence reposed in him by win
ming series of glorious victories at
Santiago, victories IN which Admiral
Sampson and his gallant sailors won
new honors for the American navy,
and which add no little to the respect
felt by the world for the fighting
qualities of Americans. There is only
one drawback to the general rejoicing
and that is the large number of killed
and wounded on our side. The VIC
tories have been glorious, but they
have also been bloody. But such is
war The peans of victory are with
rare exceptions, such as the victory of
Dewey in Manila Bay, always mingled
with mourning cries for the gallant
dead and sympathetic tears for the
brave men wounded. Skaters VIC
tories were won by assaults upon an
enemy strongly fortified, and could
not have been otherwise than bloody.
Notwithstanding the persistency
with which statements to the contrary
continue to be circulated, President
Mckinley has not even considered is
suing another call for troops, and un-
less there are some unexpected devel-
opments he does not expect to have to
consider the matter. He believes that
we have enough men now under arms,
to complete the job of thrashing the
Spaniards, which has been so glorious
ly conducted up to date.
Alabama ought to be proud of her
representatives in the U. S. Senate.
Senators Morgan and Pettus are demo-
Gratis, but not the obstructive kind.
They are Americans first of all, and as
such they have been strongly support
ing the administration in its conduct
of the war; also in its efforts to bring
about the annexation of Hawaii. In
an able speech in favor of annexation,
Senator Pettus replied to the charge
that annexation would cause US to
build a large navy by saying: ri hope
to God it will. L will welcome the
day when our navy will be so power
full that no nation of the world will
ever dare to offer us an insult"
The stamp section Of the War
Revenue law has not been as trouble
some to put into effect as many had
predicted. So far as Washington is
concerned, the new law, which went
into effect on the Ist of the present
month, has made more amusement
than real trouble. The paying tellers
of banks were surprised at the large
number of their depositors who didn't
know that revenue stamp had to be
attached to their checks, but they
didn't cash any checks until the re-
quired stamp had been stuck on.
About every other person who filed
telegram registered kick when in
formed that it would not be accepted
until stamped, and wanted to know
why the telegraph company did not
stand this tax. Some dealers are try
ing to profit largely by the stamp tax
by adding five or ten cents to the
price of articles which are taxed,
something like one eighth of one cent,
but their customers as a rule are call
ing them down.
Nobody in Washington is disturbed
to any noticeable extent on account
of the story from Berlin that Ger
many, France and Russia had formed
a combination for the purpose of op-
posing either the U. S. or England
taking permanent possession of the
Philippine Islands, after the war is
over. In the first place, nobody be-
lieves that such combination has
been formed: but even if it were Of
ficially known to be IN existence, it
would not influence this government
In the slightest degree. The final dis
position of the Philippines will be set
tied by this government alone, when
the proper time comes, and it will be
settled in accordance with what we
wish, and not what any European
power or powers may wish.