Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
AN INTERESTING SUMMARY OF THE
POLITICAL DRIFT AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL

charge that the presence of fleet
of US war vessels at Key West,
and the active preparations for
war which are being made by this
government, are responsible for
the failure of autonomy in Cuba.
It is we'll understood in Washing
ton that the only object Spain had
in charging this country with
causing the failure of autonomy,
which WAS declared to be a failure
by Senator de LONE rs long ago
as last January, was to attempt to
make some of the European
governments believe that the U.
s. had schemed to make autonomy
a failure in order to have an excuse
for driving Spain out of Cuba.
That it is lie makes no difference
to Spain, for the heathen China
man is q novice in lying, trickery,
and general cussedness compared
with the Spanish statesman who
boasts of his pride. Our fleet will
remain at Key West until it moves
on Cuba, and our war preparations
will 90 right ahead, regardless of
SPANS charge, or its effect upon
any European government, or
governments.
When will Mckinley make
public the report of the Maine
court? That is what everybody is
asking everybody else in WASH
ing. 1t is believed that Mckinley
has the official report, and certain
that he knows what it is. Mystery
now surrounds the War and Navy
Departments, and news dealing
with orders or movements of i'm
portance is no longer freely given
out, but it is known that'every.
thing lie already iu condition to
put up stiff and winning: fight,
and that every day is adding
materially to our fighting strength.
1t is highly creditable to the de
mocrats7 and populists in Congress
that they almost to a nan refused
to support the proposition to allow
congress to adjourn before the
settlement of the Cuban question,
although they knew that it would
be great advantage to them in
the congressional campaign for
the republican majority to vote for
adjournment without doing any
thing for, Cuba. There are times
when partisan advantage is a
secondary consideration. McKin-
ley quickly realized the damage
that would be done to his personal
reputation by connecting 5him with
the early adjournment scheme,
and had Gen. Grosvener: deny
that he bad any connection with
it whatever.
Finding it impossible'to control
enough. votes to ratify the treaty
for the. annexation of Haw ali, the
senate. committee Oh foreign
relations this week. reported a
joint resolution providing for an
nexation. A majority votein both
branches of congress- is all that Is
required to secure annexation un-
der this resolution. and it is gen
orally admitted that a majority Of
both the senate and house favor
annexation. Still there is rocky
road ahead of the resolution. and
if it is to be put through at this
session, the 4th Of July may find
congress in session, regardless of
the war with Spain. The senate
minority will make long and
hard fight, and Gar Reed is one
Of the opponents of annexation in
the house who can make lot of
trouble for the resolution, if so
disposed. But annex alton being
an administration measure the
Gar may decide it the part OF
wisdom to coDfine his opposition
to voting against tho resolution.
Representative Stokes, of s. c.,
called on Mr.. Mckinley this week
and handed him a letter from Gen
joseph l., Shppelbeip. comman.