The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-23
Washington Letter.

which has bseu imposed upon it by the
action. or rather non-a action Of the
administration upon the destruction Of
the bas:leship Maioe and the killing Of
ESQ Of its men. in Havana harbor,
without an explosion. is problemaiical
Mr.. Mckinley has disappointed maay
Of bis supporters. and nolbing but the
upwritten Law uoder which Congress
has always supported Che President in
ell questions of policy affecting foreign
nation has prevented an outbreak be-
fore this 1nasnucb as there are pro-
badly not SO men 10 Congress who do
nos believe that the Maine was blown
up Intentionally. it is difficult to Under
stand Why Mr.. Mckinley and the
Secretary Of the Navy should so per.
sisteusly assert their belief that the aw-
ful calamity vas the result OF an aoci-
dent on board the Maine.
The naval attacbe of the Spanish
Lagation, has publicly announced the
the same belief. and added that the ac-
c;dent was the result of careIessn ess
and lax discipline. Ye gods! and this
meddlesome fool has not been sent after
de Lone. It could have been under
stood If Mr. Mckinley aod his Score.
tary Of the Navy had said tha. they
had no opinion to offer ia advance Of
the finding of the naval cours Of in-
quiry, which has been appointed to in
vessigate the awful affair. but Why they
should take position that is q reaec-
ton upon Captain Sigsbce and the
other brave officers of the Maine, is
only explainable upon the theory that
they are afraid Of offending Spain, and
that in the event of the failure to fnd
direct and conclusive evidence that the
Maine was blown up BY Spanish tresch.
cry, Captain Sigsbee is to be made q
scape-goat. It was the general opipion
in Congress that Mr.. Mckinley should
have ordered the entire U. S. feet, now
of the coast of Florida, to Havana har.
bcr, to remain during the investigation,
bat go far. not even q single warship
has bsen ordered lhere-Secresary Long
says that one will be. 1t is not surpris-
ing that the Spaniards should thiok and
cay that we are afraid to send another
warsbip to Havana Upto this time,
Mr.. Mckinley has only done one thing
that has met the unqualified ap-
proval of Congress, and the indications
poict to his haviog done that under
compulsion. That was to refuse to
grant tie request of the Spanish au
thorities a. Havana. to have Spanish
diver accompany every American diver
who made an examination of the bull of
the Maine. Just who is entitled to
credit for his having dooe that has not
yet been ascertained, but it is certain
that somebody is. as Secretary Long had
stated before the official request reached
Washington, but after it was knosn
that it would be made. that it would be
granted. Congress doesn't wish the
world to know that it differs with the
President hence it has 80 far done
nothing further than to appropriate
5000, 600 to bc used in saving se much
of the Maine aud her equipment as pos
sible, but the strain is terrible, and it is
still 90.
There is difference of opinion as
to whether Senator Mason chose just
the right time to make that red-hot
speech Of his, and also as to the good
taste Of some of his remarks, which
were certainly not such as would be
likely to increase our prestige abroad
but the truthfuliness of the following
is fully apparent: Why should the ad-
ministration now hesitate? The
President hesitated because of au.
tonomy. Why should he not act
when the mioister has confessed that
it is not real, but fraud and sham?
Autonomy, by the confession of the
Spanish Minister. is a fraud, a delu-
sion and snare-a common coufi-
donco oamo of common thief con-