Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lFrom Our Regular Corrsspondens.l
wAsnrsoros, March II, 1898.

sOld Glory" was never more In
evidence than right now. Behind
the ESQ. 900, 900, by unanimous vote
of both branches OF Congress- vote
OF confidence In President unpar-
alleled in the history NJ this or any
other country-placcd at the disposal
of President Mckinley, to be used rs
he deems best 10 putting the country
in q position to defend itself, Is un-
limited money and an army of ten
millions of the best fighting men who
ever shouldered q gun, which the
President can have when ever in his
Judgment he needs them.
The United States is seeking no
war with Spain, or any other country
and as Representative Cannon, of
Illinois, so truly said, would not, II
1t could, trench upon the rights OF
any other nation" but it will uphold
its own national honor regardless of
who attacks 1t, and regardless OF
what blood and money it may cost.
Even II the $50, 900, 900 just appro-
prlated by Congress, were to be dump
ed In the middle of the Atlantic, the
manner il which that appropriation
was made. would be worth every
dollar of the money as an object les
son to the rest of the world on the
danger of trying to presume too far
upon the peace-loving disposition Of
the American people. Its effect will
be seen for years to come in increased
respect shown to the American flag
by the nations of the world.
lC is too early to speak with any
certainty OF the effect Of this prompt
and unanimous action OF Congress on
our relations with Spain, but it will
largely depend upon Spain. This
government is now ready for either
peace or war. The report Of the
Maine Court of Inquiry is yet to be
received by the President, and acted
upon, and the question of whether
we shall intervene, peacably II pos
sible, or by force to bring about
peace in Cuba, is yet to be deter
mined. and as either may bring about
war the administration Is going
ahead preparing for war, just as
though war was ascertainty. The
presence OF the Y. S. Cruiser Mont
gomery in the harbor OF Havana is
an indication. that no backward steps
are to be taken by President Nc
Kinley. Spain has this week made
several clean backdowns, notably In
Withdrawing its request for the re-
call of Consul General Lee, after
President Mckinley had refused it,
and officially announcing that it had
been made under missapprehen-
sion. This indicates that it may
follow the same line of tactics In
meeting any future demands OF the
President, and consequently that war
may be avoided, although it may be
that Spain is playing 'possum, be-
cause it isn't ready to fight yet.
Thanks to the Dingley tariff and
to Secretary Cages able management
of the country's finances, the treas
ury is not only In condition to pay
out the money appropriated by Con-
gress at once, but to pay every dollar
of it In gold. and what Is better, to
pay out as much more, without in the
slightest degree hampering its own
or the business OF the country, a
thing that would have been impos-
sible at any time during the last ad-
ministration. Inasmuch as consid-
cradle portion of this money may be
spent in Europe for ships and NUM-
tions of war, the ability to pay gold
Is a good thing for Us. The u. S.
Treasury now has $16s, 500, 600 in
gold In its vaults.
None of the short speeches which
preceded the unanimous appropria-
tion of $50, 600, 900 by the House to
he expended at the discretion of the
President, were received with quite
as much enthusiasm as that made by
Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, and no por-
tion of bis speech aroused quite as
much enthusiasm as the following
reference to the President and the
united country behind him: thus
far he has made no mistake. Thus
far he has exhibited to the whole
world what an American President
ia when he represents the best senti-
ment OF the American people. Calm
ly and deliberately has he weighed
every measure. Calmly and DELHI
erately has he considered very
threatening circumstance, and calmly
and deliberately behind him have
stood seventy-nve millions of people,
true and faithful to the lUvalty that
L hoe nnuon En- frnr. xl...cx 4