Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-08-19
From Our Regular Correspondent.

pctcncy--A Plan to Avert the
Blame.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18th, 1898.
Ii proof was needed that Mr.. Nc
kinley made serious mistake in not
definitely naming all the terms OF
peace that Spain must accept, instead
of leaving some of them TO be settled
by joint commission, it was furnished
in chunks by SPANS first answer, ac-
cepting the terms of peace, but on
condition that numerous things, in
Guiding whether Cuba should be
responsible for portion Of the Span
ish bonded debt, should be determined
by the Peace Commission. That it
was compelled to waive the conditions
and accept the terms of peace without
conditions, does not lessen the mis-
take Mr.. Mckinley made in leaving
anything to be settled by commission;
as the country will realize long before
that commission completes its work.
Spain was whipped to her knees and.
was bound to accept any terms OF
peace Mr.. Nc kinley chose to offer;
and there was no. single good rea-
son why the terms should not have
been made such that their acceptance
would have settled the whole business
for good and all. The excuse for not
doing that is not valid one. II is
that the administration has not de.
cided what should be done with the
Philippines. The people have decided
that Spanish rule ought not to be con-
tinued in any part OF the Philippines,
il the administration hasn't.
Simpsons "pull" extended to Mr..
Mckinley, rs il has been decided TO
make him Rear Admiral for his ser.
vices in the war, although not few per-
sons say that his share of prize money,
on prizes he had no hand in taking,
will largely over-pay him for anything
he has done. The public agitation in
favor of Schley is doubtless the cause
of his getting made Rear Admiral,
but the pleasure at his promotion is
lessened by Sampson being promoted
ahead OF him, thus keeping up the
injustice by which Sampson was
jumped over his head in the first place.
The wiley Sultan of Turkey appears
to have talked this government to
stand still in the game of diplomacy
that has been going on for several
years over the claims of American
missionaries for 100000 for property
destroyed by Turkish mobs. The
claim was first made by the Cleveland
administration, and from its first filing
until very recently the public has been
told from time to time that the gov.
eminent was about TO compel the
Sultan to settle up. Nothing official
can be obtained Mt the State Depart
ment, but from other sources it is
learned that the Sultan has positively
refused to pay a cent, taking the
ground that his government was not
responsible. Ordinarily such refusal
could have been easily met, but in this
cage the refusal was based on quota
ton from an answer given by this
government to another government
that had presented claim for property
destroyed by riotous mob. That is
what brought this government to
standstill, until the next move can be
thought out. 1t would be an easy
matter to send a strong fleet to Turk
ish waters and force payment, but it
must first be decided that it would be
wise to established such a precedent.
Now that they no longer have the
Spaniards to fight, the army officials
who have been so busy trying to shift
the responsibility for the shameful
shortcomings in the furnishing of
proper supplies 10 the men in the
army, not only at Santiago, but in
the United States from their own to
somebody else's shoulders, can give
their entire attention to fighting each
other, instead of welding the official
whitewash brush. Perhaps it may be
possible. when Congress assemblies, to
get an investigation that will really
be investigation. II so, there is little
doubt that much incompetence will
be located, and some crookedness, too.
BY that time many volunteers now in
the service will have ceased TO be
soldiers and their evidence will be
available. while now their tongues are
tied by military regulations.
There is trouble, and lots of it ahead
OF the War Department, on account OF
its management of its end of the war,
and that may account for the rumof
that Secretary Alger intends shortly
to resign and that his portfolio will be
offered to Gen. Joe Wheeler, OF
Alabama. 1t would be q shrewd move
on the part Of the administration TO at.