The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-07-28
Washington Letter.

Washington Letter.
washington, July %, 1885,
Frost will come before peace does, !"
said member of the cabinet, when asked
II there was any truth in the statement
cabled from Europe that Spain had made
overtures for peace. Spain has not made
any oVertures for peace directly to this
government, and even if she had, there
would be no immediate prospect for
peace, unless the idea entertained by our
officials, that Spain would refuse at this
time to accept the conditions of peace
that we would exact, is wrong. 1t is the
opinion In administration circles that we
must take Havana before Spain will be
willing to accept our terms of peace,
and the campaign against Havana Is not
expected to open before fall.
The advance guard of Gen. Miles army
has landed on Porto Rico and raised the
stars and stripes. The flag will remain
permanently on that island whatever
may be done with the others. This is
official. Within ten days or less it is cal
eulated that all of Porto Rico, except San
Juan, which is heavily fortified and gar
risoned, will be In our possession; that
will come later.
BY order of the president, the depart
ure OF Commodore Watson's feet for
Spain has been postponed until further
notice.
Although there are plenty of men anx-
ious to fight, there is no scramble to en-
list In the regular army, which is still
more than 10, 900 men short of the num-
Der to which congress authorized its in
crease. Some account for this by ex-
pressing the opinion that men hesitate
about enlisting In the regular army be-
cause there Is no certainty as to whether
they will go to the front OF to some army
post. An army officer, who has had a
hand In enlisting the more than % ,OOC
men who have gone into the regular army
since congress authorized it's Increase
says the only reason the ranks are not
yet full Is the high physical standard re-
quiled, and to prove that he was right
pointed out that the average of men en-
listed had scarcely reached one out of ev-
cry three who had been examined.
Whether the U. s. shall annex the
Philippine islands is a question not
likely to be decided until the war is over,
but every time it is semi-officially an
nOunced in any European capital and
cabled over here, that concert of Eu-
Iopean powers had decided that the Phil
ippines shall not pass under American
control, the number of Americans who
favor Philippine annexation is increased.
Nobody in Washington seriously believes
that any concert of European powers will
dare to attempt to dictate what this gov
eminent shall do with the Philippines or
any other conquered territory, and no.
body doubts If such dictation were at
tempted, that this government would be
forced by the practical unanimity of its
own people to do just what would be for
hidden. While there are differences OF
opinion, some of them radical, about 9TH
er things connected with the war, there is
none about resisting European meddling
All of the American members of the
Canadian commission attended prelim
mary meeting at the department of state
at which it was decided that the frs
formal meeting Of the commission would
be held at Quebec August 10th. Unit
that time the commission may be adj
dressed, care of Department of State
Washington, D. G. Inasmueh as thC
premier OF Newfoundland had been added
to the British side Of the commission, 7
Jefferson Coolidge of Massachusetts was
named as an additional American com
missioner, which makes six on each side
The commission will not make public tn
subjects to be considered.
In view Of the idea that the production
OF beet sugar Is necessarily profitable
which is prevalent in this country, re
port Of u. S. Consul General Goldschmid
at Berlin, to the department of state, o.
the production of beet sugar in Germany
the headquarters of the industry, Is bot
interesting and instructive. The repoI
says that the total exports of sugar froI
Germany in 1896-97 was 2,616, TIC, AZ
pounds, an amount unprecedented, an
which will probably never be reache
again, since the prices, especially for ra'
sugar, paid the producers no profit.
1t is an open secret that President M
Kinley Is somewhat worried over the a
titude of the insurgents, both in Cub
and in the Philippines. Aguinaldo'- COZ
duct In declaring himself dictator of tn
Philippine republic is regarded as an il
dication that Gen. Merritt will have tror
BILE with him when he takes charge of tn
Philippines and establishes militar
government. Friends Of the ADMINISTERS
ton are openly blaming Gen. Shafter fc
not having had tact enough to prever
Gen. Garcia removing his troops from
front of Santiago, and announcing ths
they would no longer remain as our a
lies. Those who know the situation bet
are predicting that no amount of tact wi
keep the insurgents satisfied, so long 9
they are not allowed to plumber in cal
tured territory.