Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 25, 1898.

One country, one flag, and one object
the licking of Spain. That is the all
prevailing sentiment in Washington since
the war actually begun, Now that Mr..
Mckinley has shaken off the Hanna peace
at-any-price crowd and their benumbing
influence, he has become thoroughly alive
to the necessities of the situation. This
has been particularly noticeable during the
past week. He started on the right track
when he asked Congress for authority to
use the army and navy to drive Spain out
of Cuba; he took the proper step when he
sent that ultimatum TO Spain again when
he recognized the dismissal OF our minister
by Spain as an act of war; again when he
issued orders for our feet to blockade
Cuba, and yet again when he issued his
proclamation calling for $4,000 men to
serve two years unless sooner discharged.
Congress is right behind every one of these
moves, and the people are right behind
Congress The enthusiasm is unprecedented,
and every Spanish flag captured by our
warships add to it. The only regret that
is heard is that all who desire to paTtici
pate IN avenging the Maine, cannot do so,
as each State will insist on furnishing its
full quota of the troops called for. The
National Guard of the District of Columbia
is already on duty in a camp of instruction,
and although only about One-third can
hope to go, every man of them is anxious to
start for Cuba.
The law authorizing the volunteer army
which was enacted by Congress last week,
provides for four Major Generals, and the
impression Is general in Washington that
Fiiz Lee, and ice. Wheeler, of Alabama,
will be rendered commissions of that rank.
Teddy" Roosevelt, the scrappy Assistant
Secretary of the navy, will resign that
position in order to serve on Fitz Lees
staff in Cuba.
When once our army gets in Cuba it
will make short work of whipping the
Spaniards, but several weeks must elapse
before that army can be gathered on the
Southern coast, preparatory to embarkation
for Cuba. Until then we shall have to
content ourselves with the knowledge that
our warships will give good account of
themselves in any engagements they will
have either with the Spanish forts in Cuba
or with the Spanish warships; and we may
as we'll also prepare ourselves to hear OF
the I ccasional capture of an American
merchant ship on the other side OF the
Atlantic by the Spanish. We can hope
that the boastful Spanish navy will come
over and fight our ships. but there are no
indications now in sight that it will do so.
1t looks as though as we will have to =
after them when we have captured Cuba
But Cuba comes first.
The bonds authorized by the war revenue
bill reported to the House from the Ways
and Means committee are coin bonds-the
haA he han frv fbo foru
who entertained it-bearing per cent
interest. $500,OO0,00O is the amount, to
run from ten to twenty years at the pleas
ure of the government. The issue OF
500 000, 900 in 3 per cent. treasury certifi-
Gates of Indebtedness is also authorized.
The bill makes increases in the internal
revenue tax on beer and manufactured
tobacco, and provides for new taxation,
mostly by stamps, similar to the system in
vogue Just after the war, that will it is
estimated add $100,000,000 year to the
governments revenues.
There is very little doubt that the witty
speech of private John Allen,o Mississippi,
shamed enough Republican members of
the House to save the seat of Representa-
tive Carmack, of Tenn, which was con-
tested by Josiah Patterson, who ran against
him as gold Democrat. and was supported
by Republicans Six Republicans voted
tor Carmack and number did not vote at
ALL 1t had been understood that the
old Republican vote nau been pledged to
Patterson by Gen Grosvenor and other
leaders of the party, but after John Allen
had shown up in his own inimitable man.
ner the zigzag financial career of Josiah
Patterson, emphasizing his points by a
string of his best stories, the vote was taken
and Josiah was defeated by a vote of 1879
to 12O.
A long story might be told about the
tightening cabinet change in which editor
Charles Emory Smith succeeded Merchant
James A. Gary, as Postmaster General. but
if so old an enemy of Smith as Senator
Quay was willing to keep quiet and even
move that Smiths nomination be confirmed
by the Senate, surely others can do so, at
least until after the war is over Just
now nothing is wanted that will not add to
the strength of the government; the first
and greatest demand is that no time be
lost in fighting the war to victorious end.
Another change in the Cabinet is pend
ing. John Sherman has got to 20. He
would have gone before now, had it not
been for the desire of Mr.. Mckinley to
put Mr.. Day in his place. There is kick
against this from numerous influential Re-
publicans who think the position several
times too large for Mr. Day. AS soon as
the n after can be amicably arranged Mr..
Sherman will resign, on the plea that the
work of the Secretary of State during war
times is too hard for man of his age
A Senate committee left Washington
Saturday night in charge of the remains of
the late Senator Walthali, of Mississippi,
which will be inferred at his former home,
Holly Springs.