The Opelousas courier., 1898-03-26
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.

veg AAeASh ~
This week will probably determine
whether Mr.. Mckinley is sagacious
enough to retain the undivided support
of Congress in his Spanish policy. 1t
will all depend upon the action lie
| of Inquiry, which he now has. If he
acts promptly and properly on that re-
port and then sends the report and a
statement of what he has done to Con-
gress, he will be squarely and uani-
mously supported by Congress to any
extent, but if he plays into SPANS
hand by making a weak demand and
delays the matter 10y keeping the re-
port away from Congress, there will be
trouble right away. A large majority
of both branches Of Congress have
made up their minds that Senator Proc
tor was right when he said that no set
Element Of the Cuban question could
possibly be satisfactory that left tho is
land under the Spanish flag, and if Mr..
Mckinley doesn't lay his policy along
that line, LIE will probably find Congress
taking the matter ont of his hands. He
can control the situation if he dies the
right thing; otherwise not. Much will
depend upon his first move, which
should be made this week.
A statement prepared at the Pension
Office shows that mofe than $4,000, 900
have been legally paid by pensioners to
the attorneys during tho last seven
years. Just how much the attorneys
have illegally gotten from the pension
is data enough in the Pension Office
to show that the illegal exactions
more than equal the legal fees.
1t is not surprising that the Pension at
tOrneys should be able to maintain a
powerful lobby.
1t is a relief, in the midst Of so much
war talk, to read of the triumphs of
peace, as shown in the greatness and
progress of American industry through
it's association with the u. S. patent
system. Ia an annual report of thirty
pages, Hon. A. p. Greeley, Acting Com
missioner of patents, has Incorporated
such valuable and important imforma-
ton for inventors, p%atentees, manu-
facturers, capitalists, pubIicists, and in
fact, for everybody who is interested in
industrial progress, of which the press
synopsis that has been published gives
a very faint idea. This pamphlet will be
mailed free upon request, by the Com
sioner Of Patents, Washington, DC.
Fool talk is as plentiful. in Washing
tor as fools are everywhere, but it need
not catch anybody who chooses. to use a
bit of common sense, in anallZing it.
For instance, just sec how absurd,
one of the latest-that the five great
European powers had united for the
purpose of demanding that the Govern
ment Of the U. S. should state whether
it INTENDED to Cuba, and if so it
should proclaim a tariff policy for all
time that would not be affected by
changes of administration. The alb
surdity Of European nations demand
ing what any bright school child knows
to be impossible under our form OF gov
ernment-the binding Of its successors
by an administration--effectualiy dis
poses of this story, but others equally
absurd are continually started.
Many Senators and Representative
are sharply criticising the admins
tration for co~untenancing the presence
in Washington of the three alleged Gu
ban Commissioners, who jointly with
the Spanish minister form what they
are pleased to call, the RECIPROCITY
commission" and who have actually had
the audacity to take the preliminary
steps towards the negotiation of a reci-
treaty with Spain, to include
Cuba. What adds to the audacity is
the fact that these so-called commits
are not acting in good faith,
are not what they claim to be, but are
engaged in lobbying for a continuance of
autonomy in Cuba, although to do so
they have to practically call liars sever
al 9. S. Senators, Consul General Lee,
and every intelligent newspaper cores
pendent who has recently been in Cuba,
as all of these have declared in unmis-
taxable terms that autonomy has been
the first a flat failure. 1t ia
by a number Of gentleman who
IRE familiar with the game that these
agents of Spain are trying to play that
The administration would be justifiable
n sending them home, but it. is whis-
0ered that the administration wants
,hem just where they are, and that not
outstanding the sentiment of Congress
md Of the public in favor of free Cuba,
Tx members Of Mr.. McKinley's Cabinet
a policy on the part of this gov
,rnnmet that will result in the contin-
lance upon some terms Of the farce of
autonomy in Cuba, and the use of the
power of this government to compel the
Iubans to accept it. This seems too
for belief. but it is serious
y talked about in Washington and is
,iven to you for what it is worth. Per
your correspondent does not
that Mr.. Mckinley would dare
~ to ecarry out such a policy, and is
if he did, that Congress would
lot allow it to be done under any cir
umstances.