Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-07-21
Washington Letter.
Special to the News.

washington u. W. July ~ NC WoI
news Of the week has been both good
and bad. We have Santiago and its
Spanish garrison at our disposal, which
Is good, but we have the yellow fever in
our army over there, which is bad, very
bad AS yet the fever cases are not
numerous enough to cause any serious
alarm, but the possibility OF its spread
among our men is appalling. A dozen
Santiagos, Spanish armies, and fleets
would not compensate US for an epidem-
ic Of yellow fever among our brave boys
in Cuba. The authorities are, Of course
thoroughly alive to the danger, and
nothing is being left undone to keep
the dangerous disease from spreading
| in our army. 1t has been known for
some time that there was yellow fever
in Santiago, and it was feared when the
refugees from the town began to pour
into our lines that some would bring
the dreaded scourge with them. The
President desires that everything posi-
bic shall be done to keep our men from
being exposed to the danger Of taking
the fever, and has issued very positive
orders to that effect.
Good news came from Admiral Dew
ey. Floods have prevented our army
from taking the aggressive against
Manila, but the cruisers Raleigh and
Concord have destroyed Spanish fort
in the bay Of Subic and captured its
garrison of 300 men with all their guns
and ammunition without the loss of an
American. This capture was precipita-
ted by the action Of the commander OF
the German gunboat Irene, who had
taken upon himself the authority to
forbid the Philippine insurgents attack
ing the fort. He took his gunboat out
of range OF American shells as soon as
he saw the Raleigh and Concord coming
and he will probably think twice before
he again atUemps to assume any author
ity in the PHILIPPINES. Dewey has
shown him who is boss of the whole
outfit.
What sort OF government shall we
give Hawaii? Not even the interest in
the war news can keep that question
in the background The commission
composed OF three Americans and two
Hawaiians appointed by the Pr sldent
have no easy task. The American
members Senator'S CullOm and Morgan,
and representative Hitt-who expect to
start for Hawai- about the tenth OF Au-
gust, have had several conferences, and
Mr.. Cullom has had long talk with
President Mckinley. So far serious OBJ
iections has been raised to every form
of government proposed. A territorial
form of government is objected to be-
cause it has been used heretofore only
as preparatory step to statehood, and
few are willing to commit themselves
in favor Of making Hawaii a state at
nv time. The commission form u
government that the District OF Colum'
bia has is objected to because under 1t
. the governed have no vote or say in
) public matters. What the commission
s will endeavor to accomplish is to draw
$ up form of government that will give
: the Hawai- ans absolute home rule and
: leave the question OF future statehood
in abeyance. Then its recomm nda
Q ton will require the approval OF Con
5 gress before It can be put into effect.
J. Signs are plentiful that the War ant
Navy Department officials regard The
end of the war as almost, II not quite
= in sight. A gentleman Of influence call
A ed at the War Department to see abou
getting a commission in the voluntee
a army for young relative, but ate
# con yersing with numb, Of the official
he concluded not to ask for the appoint
ment When asked why, he replied
A. What's the useP The boy would no
e see any service, owing to the war bein
/ almost over" Another sign, strict
official, is report made by the Boar
2 on Construction to the Secretary OF th
u Navy, against the purcbas' Of four ship
now in course of construction by tn
Cramps, for conversion into auxiliar
,r cruisers, which have been placed at th
.e governments disposal by those havin
20 them built
The criticism Of President McKinle
"a because he did not drop every thing an
devote about FIVE hours--it might haV
taken longer-to having his hand shal
s en- by the twenty-odd thousand person
l. who came to Washington in connectio
IN with the National Education CONVEX
ton, which closed a weeks session ca