The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-30
Washington Letter.

Washington, March % War
War! War!!! Tha. has been The
cry on every side 10 topes higher and
higher. since the official report Of the
Naval Court of Inquiry. oonfrmed the
opinion that he'd been general frcm the
day the Maine was blown up, By say
iog that the explosion vas on The out
eide Of the vessel, and showing. b.
evidence presented, the impcssioility Of
private parties being able 20 get or tc
put into position explosives powerful
enough to do what vac done in Havana
harbor without the assistance or cooniy
ance of Spanish officials Mr.. McK;n
ley knows that war is the only outcome
of the situation, Notwithstanding thai
he persists in talking peace while the
whole administration is acting war, bat
be has an overwhelming anxiety to
bave Spain make the first open hostile
move. Just as though the blowiog up OF
the Maine vas not hostile act, ard as
if the aotilla of torpedo boats and tor
| pedo boat destroycrs now making Its
.. way towards American waters. alleged
20 b. bcuud for Porto Rico, was not
another hostile act His reasons for
20. wishing to begin ie a fear that
Europe may tbink that be bad forced
rae var npoo Spain
Mr.. Mckinley has policy which ne
thinks will force Spain to get out OF
Caba peaceably. to declare var against
the Uaited States, or to begin fighting
rs without declaration Ct war. He
told leading Senators aud Represents
tives enough of this policy before send
ing the Maize report to Congress to
secure their promises to aid 10 keeping
Congress from acting on the Maine re
! port uo;il this policy can be put ieto
effect, or at least be tried. This policy
is TO be Intervention in Cuba. IN the
name Of humanity, and nuder it. the
loss of the Maioe is to be side issue.
treated az the result of Incompetence
rather than criminal iotention on the
part Of the Spanish government. aud
20 specific reparation therefor is to De
asked. although, it is said. ;bat Mr.
Mckinley INDUCES the hope that Spain
/; will voluntarily make some offer in that
lioe-a. hope not shared by anybody
else, so far as known. The FIRST eff
cial move in sbia policy will be mes
sage from Mr.. Mckinley to Congress.
asking for an appropriation to be used
for the relief of all Cubaps who are 10
need
1t will not be an easy matter to hold
Congress dowo until McKialey's Inter
veotioo policy oaa be carried out. al
though there is very little doubt that it
will eventually bring on war With Spain
just as certainly as would declaration
If war. Bot there is sn opinion il the
minds Of many meu 10 Congress that Ii
would be more in keeping with Ameri-
Gao character to openly declare war
upon Spain. regardless of European
opinion, than to virtually fcrce Spain
to take the initiative in the var, By
ac,iog under thc cloak of homaeity
Representative Lewis, Of the State OF
Washington, voiced the opinion Of this
element in Congress When be ssld
"War is already upon us. We are
fools to disguise it 1t is not patriotic
to delude ourselves further A Spanish
aotilla is sailing towards our shores
1t is the duty Of the government to
intercept that fosilla and tio9 1t from
the seas" Aud the enthusiastic cheers
which greeted his quotation from q
speech made by Johu Randolph. IN the
House in 1922. we're sigpi6oact "As
We sould not be bulied BY the British
lion. go we refuse TO be frightened ey
the Spanish jackal
| The Secretary of the Interior has
asked Con gress for aD appropriation o.
mere taao So. 100000 to meet def
o;enoy in the pension funds for the cur
req. 6scsl yecr. The republican lead,
ers 10 Congress probably knew that tols
deficiency would exist, aod that Was
Why they insisted upon making the pen
sion appropriation for the next hsca
year ABOUT $40, 100000 less than they
kaov will be required 1t is all par
Of the scheme to Leep down The :ota
OF appropriations at this session of Con
g'ess.
The democratic 6libus,ar while To:
Naval Appropriation bill was being
COZ sidared by the House, sitting as
committee Of the whole, was not made
10 delay the Naval bill, bat as rebust
10 Representative Psyue, Of New York
uho was presiding srd who tried t
out Car the Gar himself, BY retas
lo- Ronrecentative Hartman