The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-04-01
ol-k W \SIIINGTON LETTER.
W AsniNGTON, ID. c., March 2Sth.

ME. EDITOR: War. War, War;!
/ That has been the cry on every side in
tones higher and higher, since the official
report Of the Naval Court of Inquiry, con-
tirmcd the opinion that has been general
from the day the Maine was blown up by
saying that tie explosion was on the out
side Of the vessel, and showing. by evil
dencc presented, the impoSsbilty of phi
vatc parties being able to get or to put into
position explosives powerful enough to do
what was done in Havana harbor without
| the assistance or connivancc of Spanish
officials. MI Mckinley knows that war
is the only outcome of the situation, not
withstanding that he persists in talking
| peace while the whole administration is
acting war, but he has an over whelming
anxiety to have Spain make the first open
hostile move, lust rs though the blowing
up of the Maine was net a hostile act, and
as if the tlotilla of torpedo boats and tor
pcdo boat dcstroyers now making its way
| towards American waters, alleged to be
| bound for Porto Rico, was not another
iltStiic act. Ills reasons LOT not WlSnlnS
| to begin is Il fear that Europe may think
that he had forced the wal upon Spain.
Mr. Mckinley has II policy which he
thinks will force Spain to get out of Cuba
pcaccably, to declare war against the
United States. or to begin fighting us with
! out declaration Cf war. He told leading
Senators and Representatives enough of
this policy before sending the Maine re-
port to Congress to secure their promises
to aid in keeping Congress from acting C II
the Maine report until this policy can he
put into effect or ut least be tried. This
policy is to be Intervention in Cuba, in the
name of humanity, and under it, the loss
of the Maine is to be a side issue, treated
rs the result Of incompetence rather than
criminal intention on the part Of the Span
ish governments and no specific rcparatiCn
therefore is to he asked. although, it is
said, that Mr.. Mckinley INDUCES the hope
tI"t Spain will voluntarily make some of
fer in that inc-a hope not shared by any
body else, so far as known. The first Of
fetal move in this policy will be Il message
from Mr.. Mckinley to Congress, asking
for an appropriation to be used for the re-
lief of all Cubans who are in need.
1t will not be an easy matter to hold
Congress down until Mr.. McKinlcy's in
tervcntion policy can be carried out, al
til III I'll there is very little doubt that it
will eventually bring on war with Spain
Just as certainly as would Il declaration of
War. But there is an opinion in the minds |
Of many men in Congress that it would be
more in keeping with American character
to openly declare war upon Spain regard
less of European opinion, than to virtual |
~ force Spain to take the initiative in the
war, by acting under the cloak of human
ity. Repre- sentative Lewis, of the State of
Washington. voiced the opinion of Il is |
element in Congress when he said War
is already upon us We are fools to dis
guisc it. 1t is not patriotic to deludc our
selves further \ Spanish ilotilla is sail |
ing towards our shores. 1t is the duty of
the government to intercept that tlotilla
and blow it from the seas. And the en-
thuSastic cheers which greeted his quota
ton from speech made by John Ran
lolph. in the House, in 1922, were signiti-
cant-"As we would not be bullied by the
British lion, so we refuse to be frightened
by the Spanish jackall.
The Secretary of the Interior has asked
Congress for an appropriation of more
than $1,000, 900 to meet deficiency in the
pension funds for the current fiscal year.
The republican leaders in Congress prob
ably knew that this deficiency would exist, |
and that was why they insisted upon
making the pension appropriation for the
next fiscal year about SIC, 0O0, 900 less than
they know will be required. 1t is all a
part of the scheme to keep down the total
of appropriations at this session of Con-
grcsS.
The democratic tiibustcr vile the Ma
val Appropriation bill was being consid-
cred by the House, sitting as Il committee
OF the whole, was not made to delay the
Naval bill, but as rcbuke to Representa-
tive Payne, Of New York, who was pre-
siding and who tried to out Gar the Gar
himself, by refusing to allow Representa-.
tive Hartman, of Montana, to complete a
speech he began, because Mr.. Hartman,
who is silver republican, dared to satiriZe
the republican party, and as such it was
fully deserved. Representative Bailey,
who led the tilibustering, correctly stated
the democratic position when he said in
protesting against the refusal of Little
Car PAYNE to entertain 4 demand for tell
ers on yot" upon an appeal from his de-
cison: If YOU do not permit Us to verify
the count, You destroy the last safeguard
of the minority. \ dishonest man in the
chiir-and there have been dishonest men
in the chair,-could defeat the will of this
House. | am free to say that my purpose
in naugurating this filbuster was to con-
sumo twice as much time as you denied
the gentleman from Montana, and intend
to do it every time you deny reasonable
demand"