The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May ?. 1898.


son to feel highly gratified with the
progress of the war as well as with
the progress of the preparations for
more active work. Our new navy
has shown itself to be a worthy sue
cessor to the old navy, the fighting
record of which has never been sur
passed under any flag. This week
the army is to have its first chance
of participating in the war, unless
the reported coming of the Spanish
fleet changes the Presidents program.
A landing in Cuba is to be made by a
portion of the regular army, for the
purpose of establishing base of sup
plies for the Cuban army and giving
it chance to see what it can do when
it has modern arms and plenty of am
munition, while the volunteer army
is being gotten into good fighting
shape. Naval officials only fear that
the reported coming of the Spanish
fleet is untrue. They wish them to
come either to attempt to relieve the
Cuban blockade or to attempt to
attack our coast cities. Should they
do either they would give us an OPP
portunity to put speedy end TO the
war by destroying the Spanish navy.
While hoping for their coming, the
a verage naval officer believes that we
shall have to cross the Atlantic before
getting an opportunity to fight the
Spanish navy.
While the administration is not dis
posed to indulge in any boasting or
TO cross any bridges before they are
rea ched, it can be stated upon I'M
questionable authority that this gov
eminent will not change its policy or
method of conducting the war against
Spain for any diplomatic protest from
Europe, whether made by one nation
or six nations in concert, not even if
supported by a naval demonstration
in force, such as France appears to be
threatening to make. 1t was known
when Commodore Dewey was ordered
to proceed to the Philippine Islands
and capture port to be used as
base of supplies for our Asiatic squad
ron that European protests were like
ly to be made against such action,
but that did not change or effect in
any way the orders. We are not in
yiting trouble with any other Europ-
can nation, but if any of them feel
disposed to give Spain something
more substantial than their moral
support they will not stampede us
with fright. Such action would only
mean an extension of war; it would
not change the victory for the
e. S.
The democratic roll of honor con-
tanning the names of those who voted
with the republicans for the war rev
enue bill passed by the House, which,
in addition to numerous new inter
nal revenue taxes, mostly the same
that were imposed during the civil
war, authorizes the issue of $500, 0OO,-
900 in 3 per cent. bonds, is not a long
one. There were only six of them
Cummings, Mcclellan, and Griggs
Of N. Y, Fitzgerald, of Mass, McAleer,
of Pa, and Wheeler, of Ala. A few
democrats declined voting at all on
the bill. Two republicans-Linney,
of N. c., and Thorp, of Va.,-voted
with 1919 democrats and populists
against the bill, while 175 republicans
and six democrats voted for it. A
majority of the democratic Senators,
all of the pOpulist Senators, and all
of the so-called silver republican SEN
at0rs are going as far as they dare to
go in opposition to the war revenue
bill in the Senate, but a canvass of
the Senate has shown that enough
democrats will vote with the republi-
cans to ensure the passage of the bill,
substantially as it came from the
House. and as every attempt to filib-
ulster will be at once shown up, not
much delay is expected in reaching a
vote on the bill in the Senate. The
eight or ten democrats who will vote
with the republicans for the bill will
be headed by Senator German, who,
after many years service as chairman
Of the democratic caucus, has resigned
that position largely because in sup
porting this bill he will be acting
against majority of the democrats.
1t is but justice to say that those who
oppose this bill claim not to be actu-
ated by any desire to hamper the
fighting power of the government.
They seem to have an idea that the
issue of bonds authorized by the bill
the only quick way to raise a large
sum of moneys in some way an in
fringement of the rights of their idol,
the silver Mumbo-J Jumbo, and they
are therefore opposed to it. The peo-
pie will probably mostly agree with
the republicans, that this is an al
mighty poor time to be splitting hairs
over the financial question.
A.,