Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-24
Washington Letter.
From orr Regular Corr

From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, August 10, 1885,
President Mckinley expects to be
able to announce the names of the
American peace commissioners IN a
day or two, after which he will leave
Washington for a short rest, OF
which he stands very much in need.
He promised General Joe Wheeler
that he would 60 to Montauk and
review the Santiago troops just as
soon as the men get in good condi-
ton, and before any of them are
mustered out Of service.
To say that the president and
members Of the cabinet were pleased
with the news that General Merritt
and Admiral Dewey captured Manila
by assault before they knew of the
armlstice Is stating it very mildly.
So far as Merritt and Dewey are con-
cerned there was no armistice until
they received official notice of it.
1t was hardly necessary for Secre-
tary Alger to deny the silly story
that this government was about to
pay the Cuban insurgents for all the
time they had been in service and
disband them, which was sent all
over the country a few days ago.
The story originated with some one
who is ignorant of our method of
government. Even if the president
and his cabinet thought it right and
proper that the United States should
pay the Cuban insurgents, which
they do not, it would be impossible
for them to pay out a dollar for such
purpose without specific authority
and an appropriation from congress.
There are mischievous persons at
work trying to make trouble be-
tween our military authorities and
the Cuban insurgents, and there is
little doubt that this story came
from them.
By direction of President Mckinley,
General Lawton, who is in command
of the department of Santiago, has
been instructed to maintain order
and protect all persons and their
property land to allow no interference
from any quarter; also that the
Cuban insurgents should be treated
justly and literally, but must reCOg-
nize authority of the United States.
Speaking of this order, Secretary
Alger said: The order means just
what it says. The United States
government is in control Of the sur
rendered territory and is responsible
for the maintenance OF peace. The
laws OF this country must be obeyed.
We know no race or color in this
country IN the requirement Of obedi-
ence to law and we will know none
in Cuba. The position which the
president has taken will settle the
matter for the present and tor all
time.
Unless present calculations are up
set, about 100000 of the volunteers
will be mustered out of service be-
tween now and the first of October.
When the temporary peace agree
ment was signed it was thought that
none Of the volunteers would be al
lowed to 60 home until the formal
treaty was agreed upon, but after
consideration it was decided to be
unnecessary to keep SO many men
away from their ordinary occupa-
ton. No announcement az to the
particular regiments to be mustered
out has been made, but, as it has
been determined to muster the men
out near their homes, the ordering Of
| regiment into it's own state may be
accepted AS an Indication that it IS
to be mustered out Of service.
Colonel John Hay, now ambassa-
! dor to Great Britain, has accepted
the tender of the secretaryship of
state, which Mr.. Day will relinquish
to become one Of the peace commits
sioners. 1t would have been difficult
for President Mckinley to have Sc
cured a man better fitted by eX-
! perience and ability to become seCre-
| tary of state, and the territorial and
commercial growth Of the United
| States as a result of the war with
Spain will make it necessary that
our secretary Of state should be a
man of the highest ability.
! The orders to the officers COM
! posing the American representa-
tives upon the Joint military COM
missions to arrange for the Spanish
evacuation Of Cuba and Porto Rico
provide for their meeting in Havana
and San Juan, respectively, as early
as possible. It is expected that both
commissions will get to work before
! the end of the month. General
Wade, Admiral Sampson and
General Butler will, with like num-
Der of Spanish officers, form the
! Cuban commission, and General
!