Middletown transcript., 1898-04-16

Washington
Letter
3IN N TO CUBA
| ~@J El That is the order
A " that will be is
60 sued the minute
4S-SsrR'sEE EA3 that Congress
acts upon PresI-
-A dent McKin 9 Us
r recommended y
>< for srmed inter-
ventiOn for the
purp ,se OF driving Spain out of Cuba,
and there will be no delay on the
part Of Congress in adopting the reso-
luton that will place the authority
in the hands of the President to use
the army and navy OF the U. S. to
force the Spanish out of Cuba. Pre-
claiming an armistice in Cuba was
trick worthy of Spain. but it failed to
bring the delay at the Washington end
that Spain expected. Unless there is
some unexpected delay, our warships
will be demanding the evacuation Of
Cuba with shot and shell before the
close Of the present week. The Span
ish will, of course, have chance up to
the last minute before the shooting be-
gins to peaceab!y surrender Cuba, but
there ia now nothing in sight to indi-
cate that they will get out until they
are forced out.
In intervening in Cuba this govern
ment has no intention of making a war
of conquest, but in the language of
President Mckinley is merely endeav.
Oring 80 fulfill duty TO humanity by
ending ituation The indefinite pro-
loDgation of which has become insult
ferable." Therefore whether the war
will go further than is necessary to
drive the Spanish out of Cuba will
d-pend upon the Spanish themselves.
While the official plan of operations is
not known outside Of those who are in |
rus Q I with the duty of fcarrying it out,
it il understood that the initial naval |
demonstration of this government will |
be made against Cuba alone, and that |
no hostile movement against the Span
ish colonies in the PHILIPPINE Islands,
The Canary Islands, or Porto Rico will |
be made unless the opposition Of the
Spanish navy to our taking possession
OF Cuba shall make such steps neces-
essary.
There is an impression among naval
officers that if Spain does not make
abject surrender before the fighting be-
gins, it will throw up the sponge be-
fore we can get an opportunity to COM
pletely destroy its navy, aud call on the
European powers to arrange some sort
Of peace for her. 1t is thought that
the distribution of the Spanish navy
indicates that an attempt will be made
by her fastest ships to attack some Of our
seacoast cities to avoid battle with us
unless they catch some of our s.Iips in
positions where they can be oYerpow-
cred and either sunk or captured.
Naval officers will be surprised If Spain
places any portion Of her navy where it
will come in contact with the powerful
fleet that we will send TO invest Cuba.
Sixty days is outside the guess OF our
naval officers as to the length of the
war.
Gen. Blanco did not improve the re-
lations between Congress and Spain
when he made discourteous ><5nkey
of himself by refusing to see consul
Gen. Lee when be called TO say an Of
fetal goodbye just previous to his de-
parture from Havana. It is likely
also that Ger. Lee may have some
stories to tell when be reaches Wash
ington that will likewise add to the
existing enmity towards the Spaniards.
An informal agreement has been
reached by the House Committee ON
Ways and Means, which has been con-
sidering the matter for several weeks,
that the war revenue bill to be reported
to the House as soon as hostilities be.
gin shall include provision increasing ,
the internal revenue tax on beer from
81 to So barrel, notwithsi anding the
Of the representatives of the
brewers who were granted hearings
This last week. It is estimated that
This increase in the beer tax will add Z
635, 600, 600 year to the governments !
revenues. Tobacco in its various I
forms, is relied upon
to produce as much more; likewise
tax on several kinds Of commercial ;
paper. A bill has also been prepared i
BY Chairman Dingley providing for the {
ssue of bonds to the amount Of $100,
300, 700, as temporary loan, and from 9
,hree to FIVE times that amount, as may :
be needed, as permanent loan. These :
bonds will be payable In coin, just as /
Ill our outstanding bonds are, and to
bear 3 per cent interest. Although
,ffers of more than $500 600, 600 have
been made to the government by large ,
financial institutions. it is probable +
hat any bonds issued will be offered n
o the public and allotted to those who q
irst apply for them, at their face value. n
Although couched in the most mod =
rate language, President McKi nley's e
epiy TO the joint note OF the six great I
st European nations. on our reIations q