The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-11-10
ouK WASHINGTON LErrEE.

our demand for possession Of all the
Philippine islands should be in plain
sight. Its claim that the wording of
the protocol prohibits our demanding
the Philippines is nothing more than
a diplomatic dodge, intended to ex-
tend the negotiations, and it's claim
that our capture Of Manila forty-eight
hours after the prOcotol was signed
was illegal, is much like that of the
lawyer, who told his client that it was
impossible to put him in Jail on the
evidence presented against him, the
interview taking place through the
bars of the Jail cell, in which the client
was confined President Mckinley
and Secretary Hay know exactly what
the Spanish Commissioners are after
an offer of large specified sum of
money, as recOmpense for the ces-
sion of the Philippines, in place of the
offer to repay Spain an amount equal
to what it has spent for public i'm
provements on the islands. They
know also that Spain really has no
claim for a dollar, because it is not in
possession of the Philippines, and can
never again be in possession of them,
even if we should withdraw our army
and navy from them. Aguinaldo now
has a force that could easily whip any
force that Spain could send against
him, and would do it, if the Ameri-
cans were not in the way. Knowing
this, any sum that President McKin-
ley may agree to pay Spain will be
the result of liberality on the part of
this government, and not of any ac-
tual right that Spain has to ask to be
paid. No new instructions have been
sent to our Commissioners. because
none are needed. They know exactly
what to do, and it will all end in the
Spanish Commissioners giving in and
agreeing to the treaty of peace upon
our terms, and the matter will be set
tied probably inside Of ten days.
Since Gen. Lawton, who was in com
mand of the second division of the
Fifth Corps in the movement against
Santiago, gave his testimony, no more
was heard about anybody being afraid
to put Gen. Lawton On the stand be-
cause of the fearful things he would
tell. 1t has been the same in Gen,
Lawton's case as in that Of all the
other officers of prominence who have
testified. Before they were heard,
things were put into their mouths by
writer's of yellow journals, that they
have never dreamed of; after they
have testified in favor of the general
efficiency of the management of the
war, as every one of them has done,
their names are dropped by the yellow
journals. Gen. Lawton closed his tes-
timony with these words: Taking in
consideration the condition that we
were obliged to face, the character of
the country, its climate and other
things being considered, | can say
there were no serious or gross mistakes
made. | can say there was no lack of
care on the part of any of those in au-
thority, whose duty it was to look af-
ter the interests of the camp. We
had with us as fine staff officers as
there are in the world; no better could
be found. These men worked night
and day, and no human being could
do more than they did,
This government isn't looking for
trouble in the East, but if trouble
should come it is fully determined
that it shall not catch us unprepared.
The cruiser Buffalo and the gun boat
Helena are on the way, via the Suez
canal, to Manila, to join Admiral
Dewey's squadron, and the battle
ships Iowa and Oregon are on the
way, via Honolulu, to the same place
With these four vessels added to his
present force, Dewey will have ma
val force second to that of no country
except England in Eastern waters.
The Department of State has Just
been officially informed that the
wheat crop of France this year is the
largest and of the best quality since
1874, the total product being 81, $780,
479, 814 bushels, which makes it GER
tain that France will buy none of
this years American wheat crop. In
this connection, it may be well to call
the attention to the fact that France
is little bit jealous because the U. s.
makes the best flour in the world.
The French Minister of Agriculture
now has two expert Commissioners in
this country, studying American
machinery and tools used in making
flour, with a view to ascertaining
their cost and the feasibility of intro
ducing them in French flour mills
There is real grief in Washington
on account of the sinking of the Span
ish cruiser Maria Teresa, raised by
Lieut.. Hobson,' while on it's way to
New York, to be put in good condi-
ton. 1t was estimated that the YES