Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-03-02
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

IdO is Uut pldUlOIIl upon which
congress is standing, and it is good
enough for every body else to adopt.
And while waiting, refuse to ACCEPT
AS true any sensational story that
viii not stand the test of common
sense. That test will effectually dis
pose Of all the foOl-stOries that have
been printed purporting to give what
has been ascertained by the naval
court or Inquiry now engaged in in
yestigating the Maine horror. Here
are the absolute facts: The court
upon starting to work decided that
nothing would be made public until
the investigation was completed and
u verdict reached, and no person ex-
cept the members of the court, and
those working under its direction,
who are not allowed to communicate
with outside persons, is allowed up
on the wreck of the Maine, or even
to get within 100 feet OF it. 1t is
perfectly plain, therefore, that what
Is printed about the progress of the
estlgatlOn Is mere guess work
and unworthy OF any body's serious
attention. When the verdict OF the
court IS given the president and con-
gress will act upon it, and the action
will be approved by every patriotic
American. IC is not d case callil
for Mysteries, but for calm considera-
tlOp. While the administrator is
not looking for war with Spain, it is
preparing Tor it's, In fact, already
better prepared for war than many
persons have any idea of. Bnt
everything Is done and will be done
In order. No snap Judgment will be
taken against Spain because Of suS-
plcIOus circumstances or because OF
the known expressions OF hatred
towards Americans III general and
towards the battleship Maine in par
ticular by Spaniards in Havana,
but II that verdict shall be that the
Maine was blown up by Spanish
treachery, with or without the know
ledge OF Spanish officials, woe be
unto Spain, for she will be made to
pay dearly for the lives of those
brave Americans.
Senator Elkins anticipated the at
tempt to make war news out Of the
action OF the senate In providing for
an increase OF two regiments IN the
artillery branch when he said: "Bless
your heart, as long ago as when l
was secretary Of war, long before
there was any of this wild talk, | rec
commended to congress that some
thing ought to be done to increase
the artillery regiments. We needed
the men to man the guns we were
building, and We need them now.
We ought to have had them long ago,
and the trouble is that We have de-
Iayed it until a time when every
action is distorted ana exaggerated"
In reply to a direct question as to
whether he anticipated any trouble
with Spain Senator EIkins promptly
and positively said: Not in the
least"
Representative Walker, of Massa-
chusetts, who is a wealthy man, be-
came tired of listening to Democratic
sIurs at those who had acquired
wealth by helping to build up the
cOuntry's resources, and made a
short but vigorous speech that was
cheered loudly by the Republicans,
and must have been CALLING to the
Democrats, especially those from the
>
contributions for educational pur-
poses have been large. Mr.. Walker
closed by saying: Figure it out,
and you will find that | have gwen
two dollars for every one you have
contributed. | am tired of this abuse.
| stand here in the integrity Of an
honest life. | have given away more
than | now possess. You have driven
me TO this statement, now hang your
heads in shame"
The wave of patriotism now sweep
ing the country will probably result
in aiding the project for she erection
OF a monument in Washington to
the memory of the rank and file Of
the army and navy in the late war,
which is being pushed by he National
Reunion Monument association, of
which Col. W. H. Michael is presid Mt
The purpose of this association is to
raise $1,OOO,OOO by popular ubscrip-
ton. all of it to be spent on monu-
ment. A resolution authorizing the
erection OF the statue upon public
ground in Washington has been
adopted by the senate and favorably
reported by the house committee on
public buildings and grounds.
In addition to the provision that
will be rade by congress for the
IA miles Of those who lost their lives
by the wrecking of the Maine, the
wives Of the chiefs of bureaus of the
navy department have organized
themselves into the BattIeship Maine
Relief association, for the purpose Of
L,
ton, and already considerable sum
has been realized and there is more
in sight, Subscriptions may be sent
to Mrs. Edwin Stewart, treasurer,
Washington, D. c.
The March number of The American
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