Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-04-15

with shot and shell before the close
of the present week. The Spanish
will, of course, have chance up to
the last minute before the shooting
begins to peaceably surrender Cuba,
but there is now nothing in sight
to indicate that they will get out
until they are forced out.
In intervening in Cuba this Cow
ernment has no intention of making
war of conquest, but in the Ian
guage of President Mckinley, is
merely endeavoring to fulfill duty
to humanity by ending a situation
the indefinite prolongation of which
has become insufferable. ." There
fore whether the war will go furth-
er than is necessary to drive the
Spanish out of Cuba will depend
upon the Spanish themselves. While
the Official plan of operations is not
known outside of those who are in
trusted with the duty of carrying it
out, it is understood that the initial
nava demonstration of this govern
ment will be made against Cuba
alone, and that no hostile move.
ment againt the Spanish colonies in
the PHILIPPINE Islands, the Canary
Islands or Porto r co will be made
unless the opposition of the Spanish
navy to our taking possession of
Cuba is such as to render such steps
necessary.
There is an impression among
naval officers that if Spain does not
make an abject surrender before the
fighting begins, it will throw up the
sponge before we have an opportun-
ity to completely destroy its navy,
and so call upon the European pow
ers to arrange some sort of peace fer
her. 1t is thought that the distrib-
ution of the Spanish navy indicates
that an attempt will be made by her
fastest ships to attack some of our
seacoast cities and to avoid battle
with us unless they can find some of
our ships in positions where they
can be overpowered and either sunk
or captured. Naval officers will be
surprised if Spain places any portion
of her navy where twill come int
contact with the powerful fleet that
we will send to invest Cuba. Sixty
days is the outside guess of our nav,
al officers as to the length of the war.
Gen. Blanco did not improve the
relations between Congress and
Spain when he made discourteous
monkey of himself by refusing to
see Consul General Lee when he
called to say an official goodbye just
previous to his departure from Ha-
wanna. 1t is likely also that Gen.
Lee may have some stories to tell
when he reaches Washington that
will likewise add to the existing en-
nifty towards the Spaniards.
An informal agreement has been
reached by the House Committee on
Ways and Means, which has been
considering the matter for several
weeks, that the war revenue bill tc
be reported to the House as soon as
hostilities begin, shall include a pro.
vision increasing the internal reve-
nue. tax on beer from 81 to 81 bar.
rel, Notwithstanding the arguments
of the representatives of the brew.
ers who were granted hearings last
week. 1t is estimated that this in
crease in the beer tax ill add $35,,
900, 900 year to the Government's
revenues. Tobacco, in its variou.
manufactured forms, is relied upor
to produce as much more likewise
a tax on several kinds of CONNER
cial paper. A bill has also beer
prepared by Chairman Dlngley, pro
viding for the issue of bonds to tn,
amount of 500, 600, 600, as a temper
airy loan, and from three to five times
that amount, as may be needed, a,
a permanent loan. These bonds
will be payable in coin, just as al
our outstanding bonds are, and ar,
20 bear 3 per cent. interest. AL
though offers of more than $500, 900,
900 have been made to the Govern.
ment by large financial l. stitutions
it is probable that any bonds ISSUED
will be offered to the public and al
lotted to those who first apply foi
them, at their lace value.
Although couched in the mos
moderate language, President Nc
Kinley's reply to the joint note O
the six great European nations, OF
our relations with Spain, will taxi