Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-04-08
VIRTUE OF NECESSITY
M'KlNLEY BEGS FOR A LITTLE
MORE TIME.

Congress Eager for the Fray
Tillman EulOgizcs His Late Col.
league, Senator Earle-Want OF
New Secretary of State-ResO.
Iutions for Cuban Independence
Before Congress-.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April l, 1898.
Haul down the blood stained yellow rag
Spain's ever-treacherous flag:
We are ready, and we're right;
And, by the eternal, we're going to fight!
The events of this week have in
spired Congress with the spirit OF 'lG
and this spirit compelled Mr.. McKin-
ley to beg Congress for little more
time in order that he might ascertain
whether Spain would accept his last
proposition-one that he should never
have made--to sell to Cuba to the in
surgents and to recognize its indie
pendenoe, and humbled Gar Reed so
far as to make publicly promise that
the House would be allowed to vote
on the Cuban question-after he knew
that about rs Republicans had de.
cided to vote with the Democrats to
override him should he attempt to
prevent action.
Resolutions galore tor recognition OF
Cuban independence, for forcible in
tervention, and for straight.cut
declaration of war against Spain-the
best thing after all-have been offered
in the House and Senate this week,
and red hot speeches charging the
peace-at-any-price crowd with loving
the eagle upon their dollars more
than the eagle upon their flag have
been made, and any day Congress may
declare war against Spain, or take
other action that will be equivalent.
Nothing but the begging of Mr.. Nc
kinley has prevented that action, and
nothing but the recognition of the in
dependence Of Cuba by Spain, which
nobody but Mr.: Mckinley ever pre-
tends to expect, can prevent it much
longer. Mr.. Mckinley has been given
until the first Of next week. The Re-
publicans want to make party capital
out of what is done, and for that rea-
son sustained Gar Reed while he de-
clared Representative Bailey to be out
of order when he offered a resolution
declaring Cuba free, as a personal
privilege.
1t is not surprising that Congress
should be in war-like mood. The
Maine report made it plain that our
battleship was blown up by Spaniards
the stock speculation on inside in.
formation Of so-called peace negotia-
tions with Spain, that spectators
were informed in advance of Congress
of what the administration wac doing,
and the starting of another feet of
Spanish war-ships for Cuba, that Spain
was merely playing for time to get in
. position to strike us q disastrous
blow.
The House by a vote of 1872 to 81
decided that claim of loyal citizen
of the United States against the gov.
eminent lost its validity when willed
to a member of the family of man
who fought on the Southern eide in
the civil war. The particular claim
upon which this vote was taken was
contained in q bill that has about $50
claims of loyal citizens of the South
for various thing supplied to the Union
troops during the war. 1t was made
by the heirs OF the widow OF Gen. r. E.
Lee, who had inherited the claim from
Mrs. w. H. Fitzhugh, a VIGOROUSLY
loyal woman. from whose farm in Fair.
fax County, Virginia. the Union troops
had taken 108 600 cords OF timber.
The eulogy of Senator Tillman on
his late Colleague, Senator Earle, of
South Carolina, was, owing TO the re-.
lations of the men during years OF
rivalry in State politics, one of the
most remarkable ever delivered in
Congress. 1t was q manly tribute on
the part OF Senator Tlllman, who said
he gave it because he felt that If he
failed to do so the history Of the fame
and virtues OF Gen. Earle would lack
the important testimony that he alone
could give. and adds that while his
might not be the highest tribute that
could be paid, none could be more
sincere and heartfelt.
Mr.. Mckinley feels the need of a
Secretary Of State who knows more
international law and diplomacy than
does his friend Judge Day or himself.
He tried 10 tempt Senator Davis, chair
man OF the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations, into accepting the
the place, but il wouldn't work, and he
is now working on ex Senator Ed
munda, OF Vermont, who has been
recently acting in an advisory capacity
to him, with the object in view. Ed.
munds has ability of the highest order,
but he has been a corporation lawyer
for so long that his patriotism may he
a little trust-tainted, like that OF others
who are recognized as advisers by Mr..
Mckinley. These things point to the
early exit OF poor old John Sherman
from public life, in which he has since
the advent OF this administ ration been
compelled to play dummy part.
In the midst OF the prevailing ex-
element the people Of Washington
have neither forgotten nor neglected
to render deserved honor to their in
trepid fellow-townsmen, Capt. Sigsbee
late Commander of the battleship
Maine, whose name is now a world
wide synonym for bravery and cool
ness. Capt. Sigsbee's home is in Wash
ington. and his wife and children are
not prouder of him than all other
Washingtonians are. The National
Geographic Society, OF which he is q
member, is arranging public recep-
ton in his honor which promises TO
surpass anything Of the kind held in
Washington for long time.