The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-11-03
Washington Letter.


that such would be the ultimate result.
Politics has had little or nothing to do
with the decision of the administration to
adopt this policy. 1t is public opinion,
regardless of politics, that has brought 1t
about. When President Mckinley start
ed upon that western trip neither he nor
any member of his cabinet had made up
their minds that we should take the Philip
pines, and at least one of Secretary
Gage--was opposed to our taking any of
the islands; but when they returned to
Washington they had all about made up
their minds that public opinion was 80
strongly in favor of American ownership
of the entire Philippine group, as the only
logical crowning of Dewey's great victory
in Manila bay, that no other policy would
do. What they heard later, at Philadel-
phia, clinched that opinion, and our peace
commissioners at Paris were accordingly
instructed to make that demand. So
much for the adoption of the policy.
While it is certain that the policy of
American ownership of the Philippines
will be popular, it remains to be ascer-
tanned whether the method of obtaining
that ownership will meet with such gen.
eral approval. 1t must be understood to
start with that no official announcement
has been made concerning that method,
but that enough has been said by those
who ought to know to cause it to be be-
lieved that the consent of Spain will be
obtained either by a direct payment Of
money to Spain, or by the assumption of
about $40, 100000 of Spanish bonds, is
sued for improvements In the Philippines.
At first glance, there will naturally be op-
position to the U. S. paying $40, ,000 900
or any other sum for undisputed possess
sion of territory which had already been
conquered by force of arms. But many
will doubtless accept the argument that
the Philippine bonds, which were not, as
were the Cuban bonds, issued to make
war against the natives of the islands,
but for the purposes of public improve
ment, should be considered a lien on the
island, regardless of ownership, and that
it would be an injustice, discreditable to a
great country like the U. S., to take the
islands from Spain and leave that country
to pay indebtedness incurred for public
improvements on them. The question is
likely to be much discussed as soon as 1t
becomes absolutely certain upon what
terms we are to acquire the Philippines.
At the headquarters of the republican
and democratic congressional committees
in Washington the claims are about equal
as to which party will elect majority OF
the house, but the opinion outside Is that
the republicans will retain control of the
house by reduced majority. Some dem
ocrats say that they would prefer that the
house should remain republican, because
If their party carried it they would have
to share in the responsibility of the ad-
ministration in inaugurating the expert
ment of colonial policy, or take the re-
sponsibility of hampering that policy, and
that they would prefer doing neither dur
ing the next two years. If that senti-
ment exists to any extent among the
voters of the party, there is no doubt of
the result of the election.
Among the noted officers now In Wash
ington are Gems. Miles, Wheeler, Lee and
Lawton of the army, and Capt, Robley
d. Evans and Lieut.. Hobson of the navy.
The latter officer is here to report to a
board of the chiefs of bureaus of the navy
department on his work upon the wrecked
Spanish ships. This board will decide
whether the work shall be continued.
Hobson's confidence in success in raising
the ships is not shared by all of the naval
officials. But If public sentiment is con-
suited, they will not stop Hobson's work
on account of its cost, If there is any GER
tainty of his succeeding in saving the
ships. Those ships would, in the eyes of
most people, be worth more than new
ones would cost, as object lessons In the
patriotism, bravery and Workmanship OF
the American sailors, and If they can be
saved, neither cost nor jealousy of Hob
son should be allowed to stand in the way.
A rather curious request has been made
of the navy department by the Acme
wrecking company of San Francisco.
This company wants to raise the battle
ship Maine and bring her to the U. S.,
claiming to have method by which the
work can be accomplished, and asks
nothing more of the government than
permission to do the work at its own ex-
pense. The company states in It's re-
quest that If the government wishes the
ship after 1t has been safely brought to
some U. s. harbor, that it will not ask
more than the usual salvage payment,
through condemnation proceedings. 1t
is not supposed that the government
would care to buy the wreck. In fact,
the real object of the company is to 1aise
the Maine In order that she may be ex-
hibited in this country, although nothing
of the kind is said in it's letter to the navy
department. According to the request OF
the company, it intends to blow the mud
from under the wreck with streams OF
water under high pressure, and then to
pass chains under and attach them to a
framework Oh each side connected with a
system of steel air-tight barrels. The
gradual winding up of these chains is
counted upon to raise the wreck.
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both Well Posted.
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