Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-04-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
fsrBo IAL ooRRHsposDENon OF THE MONITOR.
Washington, March 28th, 1898.

Washington, March 2Sth, 1898.
President Mckinley is master of the
diplomatic game that Spain wanted
to play. He has sent the report of
the Naval Court of Inquiry, that the
M aine was treacherously blown up
fir ON the outside, to Congress, where
it has been referred to committees,
and has merely forwarded copy of
the report to Spain, without ac-
co mpanying it with any specific de-
m and. He has thus defeated the in
uention of Spain to play it's own al
legged report, that the explosion was
internal, against the report of our
Court and to ask that an interna-
tional court be selected to determine
which report should be accepted by
both countries. Spain had hoped to
gain more time by that dispute, but
no dispute is to be recognized by this
government. The report Of our
Court is final. Spain now has an OPP
port unity to offer to do the right
thing, but no matter whet it does,
President Mckinley intends, as all
the world will see in very few days,
that peace shall reign in Cuba, and
starvation cease to stalk over the
island.
Congressional leaders of all parties
have been taken into the confidence
of President McKinly, as to his plans.
In return they have promised that
Congress would not take any precipi-
tate action on the Maine report, but
would allow the matter to rest until
the President automatically informs
Spain of his intentions as to Cuba,
and ascertains whether those inten-
tons will be peaceably acquiesced
in. or be met with war. Meanwhile,
the President accepts the hint of the
Spanish Government that the fleet Of
torpedo boats and torpedo boat de-
stroyers have been sent to Porta Rico
for effect upon the elections in Spain,
and not with hostile intentions toward
the United States. Should that fleet,
however, be started from Porta Rico
to Cuba, it will be considered hostile
move against this country and will be
treated accordingly. In short, Spain
must choose whether it will retire
from Cuba peacefully, or be driven
out. 3. That is just about where the
matter stands. President Mckinley
is prepared for either contingency,
but wishes to give Spain last chance
to avoid trouble.
The Agricultural Department will,
his season, conduct two special in
vestigations in Alaska, one to ascer-
tain by practical experiments what
vegetables and cereals can be grown
in Alaskan soil, and one, under the
auspices of the Weather Bureau, to
obtain information as to general eli
matte conditions. These experiments
will be more likely to determine
whether Alaska is to become, thickly
populated, than the discoveries of the
gold hunters.
Representative Foss of Ill. paid
splendid and deserved tribute to
American sailors in speech in the
House, from which the following is
extracted: 1.-THE brilliant achieve
ments of the American sailors in the
war of our national independence,
when our navy consisted of small
fleet of eight vessels, in command of
Com. Essex Hopkins, early inspired
feeling of pride in our navy. The
names of Biddle and Barry, and
Nichols and Whipple, and of other
might mention, recall the bravery and
daring of that period. If war should
come and we were obliged to rely
upon our navy to protect the honor
of this country upon the sea, the
American people would soon discover
that the men in the navy today are
fully as brave, daring, and eager to
meet the foe, as the American sailors
Of the past, whose faith and truth on
wars red tombstone rang true
metal"
Nothing more significant of the
drift of everything towards war has
AN ~ IA " W w VIVA