The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-16
Washington Letter.

Washington, Feb l4-The adage,
Toe occasion always produces the
man" like some other adages, some
times lies The President of the q. S.
has been iosu;ted by Spanish black
guard ~ho held the commission of his
goyeroment as Minister to the U. S,
and our department Of State has been
held up to the ridicule of the world for
allowing itself to be gulled by Spanish
shame labeled autonomy for Cuba aud
negotiations for a reciprocity treaty; the
insult was in writing, the authorship
cf which was acknowledged by SeDor
de LONE, aud been published through.
out the civilized world Surely this vas
an Occasion but no "man" has yet
been produced. The natural thing to
be expected after de LONE acknowledged
having written the published letter,
was that Mr.. Mckinley would at once
send de Lone his passports. Instead
Of that, he sent request to Madrid
that de LONE berecalled, and beforeit was
presented to the Spanish government,
de LONE had resigned and his govern
ment had accepted the resignation, and
now. Mr.. Mckinley is waiting to learn
what Spain will say about it all 1t
has been proven time after time by Cor
gress that politics cuts no figure in the
solid backing always given President
Who stands up firmly for any question
affecting our honor or rights Congress
was and is still ready to back Mr.. Nc
Kinley, evea to the extent Of declar-
alton of war, but be does nothing It
is now 10 order for Congress to
make him do something. AID its mem
bers are in humor to do it.
Even prominent republicans ignore
the very existence of Secretary Sher-
man when discussing anything relating
to our foreign relations Senator Lodge,
who takes more cheerful view of the
situation than many of his colleagues
do, said "Spaio is evidently practiciug
duplicity towards US. and the admins
tration will be forced to this conclusion
if Spain does not express regret for the
u,terances of her late Minister, and DO
matter what Spain may say officially,
the general belief will be that de Lone
told the truth about the use of autonomy
and reciprocity to delude this govern
ment. l caunot predict what the future
will bring. | only know that in Judge
Day, we have q Secretary who is firm,
patriotic and capable, aud that he will
see that this country does not lose cast
among the cations of the world by
reason of this incident"
The House Judiciary Committee has
hung up Senator Tillman's bill to per-
nit the states to control liquor carried
into them in original packages, and it
will remain so unless some member of
the Committee who voted agairs: re-
porting the bill can be induced to get
the matter up again Representative
Latimer is working With that end in
view, and thinks he will succeed. The
bill was passed by the Senate sometime
ago aod was intended to aid the South
Carolina authorities to enforce the
liquor dispensary Law, which was weak
ened by U. g. Supreme Court deois-
ion. The principal objection to the
Tillnan bill by members of the commit.
tee who voted against reporting it was
that it would be step towards giving
states the right to control interstate
commerce.
Not having the fear OF Car Reed
before its eyes. the Seuate increased the
amount carried by the forti6oation ap-
preparation bill from $4.144,912. ap-
pro2riated by tho House, to $9.052.-
494. It remains to be seen whether
the Gar can compel the House to insist
upon its original bill.
The addresses Of the National Organ
izatious of the Democrats. the people's
party and the silver republicans, have