Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-05-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Our Navy InvIncIble. No Change In Pol
icy Because OF European Protest. Dem
ocratic Roll of Honor. Business Goes
on as Usual.
WASHINGTON, D. c. May 2, 1898.
President Mckinley has every
reason TO feel highly gratified with
the progress of the war as we'll as
with the progress Of the preparations
for more active work. Our new
Navy has shown itself to bea worthy
successor to the old navy, the fight
ing record of which has never been
surpassed under any flag. This
week the army is to have its first
chance of participating in the war
unless the reported coming of the
Spanish feet changes the Presidents
programe A landing in Cuba is to
be made By portion of the regular
army, for the purpose of establish
ing base of supplies for the Cuban
army and giving it chance to see
what it can do when it has modern
arms ard plenty of ammunition,
while the volunteer amy is being
gotten into good fighting shape.
Naval officials only fear that the re-
port of the coming of the Spanish
feet is untrue. They wish them to
come either to attempt to re-
lieve the Cuban blockade or to at
tempt to attack our coast cities
Should they do either they would
give us an opportunity to put
speedy end to the war by destroying
the Spanish navy. While hopiug
for their coming, the average naval
officer believes that we shall have
to cross be Atlantic before getting
an opportunity 10 fight the Spanish
navy.
While the administration is not
disposed to indulge ia any boasting
or to cross any bridges before they
are reached, it can be stated upon
unquestionable authority that this
government will not change its
policy or method of conducting the
war against Spain for any diplom-
attic protest from Europe, whether
made by one nation or six nations
in concert, not even if supported by
a naval demonstration in force such
as France appears to be threatening
to make. 1t was known when Com
modore Dewey was ordered to pro-
ceed to the Philippine Islands and
capture port to be used as a base
of supplies for our Asaitic squadron
that European protests were likely
to be made against such action,
but that did not change or effect in
any way the orders. We are not in
viting trouble with any any other
European nation, but if any of them
feel disposed TO give Spain some
thing more substantial than their
moral support they will not stamp
ade us with fright Such action
would only mean an extension of the
war it would not change the result
victory for the U. S.
The democratic roll of honor con-
tanning the names of those who
voted with the republicans for the
war revenue bill passed by the
House, which, in addition to numer-
Gus new internal revenue taxes,
mostly the same that were imposed
during the civil war, authorizes the
issue of $500, 900, 900 in 3 per cent
bonds is not long one. There were
only six of them---Cummings, Nc
Clellan, and Griggs, of N. Y. Fitz-
gerald, of Mass. McAlleer, of Pa,
aud Wheeler, of Ala. A few demo-
Gratis declined voting at all on the
bill. Two republicaus---Linney, of
N. c., and Thorp, of Va,,-vosed
with 129 Democrats aud populisls
against the bill, while 175 Repubi-
cans and six Democrats voted for it,
A majority of the Democratic Sen
ators, all of the Populist Senators,
and all of the so-called Silver Re-
publican Senators are going as far
as they dare to go in opposition to
the war revenue bill in the Senate,
but a canvass of the Senate has
shown that enough Democrats viii
vote with the Republicans to insure
the passage of the bill, substantial
ly as it came from the House, and
as every attempt to filibuster will
be at once shown up not much de-
lay is expected in reaching a vote
on the bill in the senate. The eight
or ten democrats who will vote with
the republicans for the bill will be
headed by Senator German, who,
after many years service chairmen
of the democratic caucus, resigned
that position largely because in
supporting this bill he win be act
ing against a majority of the dem
ocrats. 1t is but justice to say
that those who oppose this bill
claim not to be aetuated by any