The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-08-18
g OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D, G., Aug. 18th, 1898

months and half fight such re-
markable war as the U. S. has just
fought to successful close. 1t was
one line of successes, without even a
single set back from Dewey's victory
in Manila Bay to the acceptance of
the terms of peace by the French Am
bassadOr, authorized to act for Spain
Without detracting in the slightest
degree from the hOnors a grateful
country are paying the heroes who
participated in the fighting, it is well
to call attention to the fact that there
is a man in Washington, to whose iron
will and sleepIess energy more credit
is due for the glorious results and end
ing of the war than TO any other sin
gle individual. That man is William
Mckinley, who has shown himself
worthy to be the Chief Executive of
the greatest and strongest nation the
world has ever seen, by gaining the
admiration, love and confidence of
our people, and the respect of the en-
tire civilized world. He has raised
the [. :. to higher position than it
has ever occupied in the eyes of the
world, and yet, he is to-day as unos-
tentatious as he was when serving in
the House, and has no pride other
than that which every man has who
conscientiOusly performs his duty.
Every American can point with pride
to President Mckinley and say to less
favored nations: This is the sort of
man that free country produces at
need.
The members of the military com
MISSIONS that are to act with Spanish
commissioners, at San Juan, Porto
Rico and Havana in arranging for the
evacuation of Porto Rico and Cuba,
by the Spanish troops, will be selected
this week, but there is no special
hurry about selecting the five peace
commissioners that are to negotiate
the formal treaty of peace between
the u. S. and Spain, as the commits
sion will not meet until Oct. LIST. at
Paris, and the President wishes time
to select the very best men to be had.
All of the revenue cutters that were
transferred from the Treasury De-
partment to the Navy Department at
the beginning of the war, have been
ordered back into the Treasury Ser
vice, and they will, as fast as possible
resume their peaceful avOcation of
Watching for violators of the tariff
laws.
President Mckinley took occasion
in a letter declining an invitation
from Gen. Breckenridge to review the
troops at ChickamauguaP Park, because
of his inability to get away from
Washington, to say a few words that
will do much to soften the bitter dis
appointment of the thousands of vol
unteers who had no opportunity to
do any fighting. These words were:
1.-The highest tribute that can be paid
to the soldier is to say that he per-
formed his full duty. The field of
duty is determined by his govern
ment, and wherever that chances to
be is the place of honor. All have
helped in the great cause. whether in
camp or battle, and when peace comes
all will be alike entitled to the nations
gratitude.'
Gov. Otero, of New Mexico, who
is visiting Washington, said: "Presi-
dent Mckinley's administration is
immensely popular with us, and right
here | want to say that New Mexico
is as loyal and patriotic as any state
or territory in the union. Because
many of our people are of Spanish
descent, a lot of foolish stuff has been
written accusing them of siding with
Spain. \ greater SANDER was never
perpetrated. Our territory raised
five companies of Rough Riders, three
of which did magnificent service in
the hard fighting in front of Santiago.
The captain of one of them, Max Luna,
of Spanish lineage, especially distin-
guished himself in the charge at San
Juan. 1t was reported that he was
killed, but he is very much alive, and
it wouldn't be astonishing if his re-
publican friends insisted upon nomi-
mating and electing him to Congress"
None of the volunteers are likely to
be mustered out of service for some
time to come. This statement is
made upon Secretary Ayers authori-
ty. While the matter has not been
definitely determined, the Secretary
thinks that the garrisOns that will
have to be maintained for an indefi-
mite period in Cuba and Porto Rico,
will be made up entirely of volunteers,
divided as far as possible between the
troops of all the states, the regulars
being returned to the forts and army
posts from which they were taken
AS yet, no one can do more than
guess at the number of men we shall