Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-03-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

chief topic in Washington both in
congressional and official circles. De.
spite the fact that the air has been full
OF sensational and contradictory ru.
mors. the administration has not
swerved from its determination to
await patiently the report Of the court
of inquiry before it acted. While he
has been calm and dignified in all his
course, the president has not neglect.
ed his duty to prepare for any
emergency. There has been activity
in the departments, but this has
been justified by the seriousness of
the situation, and the fact that
pftentimes an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound Of cure. 1t must be
confessed that the theory Of an acci-
dental explosion has been gradually
falling away, and even the admins
tration indicates that this theory is no
longer tenable. The question of re-
sponsibility, therefore, is the main
one now, but until the findings of the
court are laid before the president,
neither he nor any one else can tell
what will be done. Although the presi-
dent has taken the public into his conf
dence as to all reports from the scene of
the wreck, and it is known that abso-
lutely nothing in the shape OF direct
information has been received, yet,
indirectly, everything now coming
from Havana or Key West is opposed
i, <hn on.i1a kh nl or nm ntl l,an
the belief that the explosion was
caused by outside agencies. While it
may be true that the court will find
that the Maine was blown up by ex-
plosives outside, this does not mean
that it will fix the responsibility upon
the Spanish government, or that it will
cause declaration Of war. There are
a number OF ways for peaceful and
honorable settlement of the
affair, and to find one of these
is what the president is striving to
do. If one may Judge from the let
ters and messages coming to Washing
ton from all over the country, it is
certain that the people are quieting
down, and the excitement which was
caused by the first news of the explo.
sion is giving place to a calmer feel.
ing. Messages are coming to Wash.
ington to show that the people are in
dorsing the presidents policy, and
commencing him for his wise and
patient course. The president realizes
the responsibility that is upon him.
1t is also true that within the last
few days he has grown more anxious
over the situation, because of the CON-
viction that the Maine was not blown
up by accident, but by agencies yet to
be determined.
THE TREASURY SURPLUS Secretary
Gage and the treasury officials have
every right to express qualification
over the surplus which was shown by
the statement for last month. There
was balance of $945, 1853. 33 for the
month, and surplus of $4,000, 900
for the fiscal year The surplus shown
for January was due in part to the
receipts for the sale of the Union Pa
cific railroad. But that for the month
of February was a legitimate statement
of receipts of revenue without any out
side additions. The monthly state.
ment showed but $945, 1883 in ex-
cess of expenditures, when really the
amount was near $4,000, 900, because
over 5000, 900 which had been de-
posted as security for the government
in the sale of the Kansas Pacific was
turned back into the treasury,
where it had been charged as an
expenditure. In January, with 27
actual business days, the receipts
were over $14, 900, 900. During Feb.
ruary, with "a business days, the re-
ceipts were over $15, 900, 600, and the
treasury officials predict with conf.
dence that the receipts for March will
amount to at least $17, 900, 900. There
is healthy increase in customs, as
we'll as internal revenue receipts. and
now that sugar and wool are also being
imported, the expected revenues will
continue to increase and the surplus
grow each month.
PATRIOTISM "GoEs" - In view of
the excitement over the Maine explo-
sion, one of the features of the week
at the theatres has been the intense
patriotism and enthusiasm shown by
the audiences gathered every night
in the Washington playhouses. After
each performance the orchestras at the
theatres have played patriotic airs, and
the crowds have fingered long after
the curtains were drawn, to cheer and
applaud the music. Oftentimes the
audience joined in the singing of ''The
Star Spangled Banner''or Columbia"
and on several nights the bands were
obliged to play the music over before
the audiences would leave. At the per-
formances of the "French Maid" at
the new National theatre, during the
final chorus, each member OF the COM
pany displayed an American flag, and
brought the curtain down to the tune
of the "Star Spanglcd Banner, which
invariably caused the greatest amount
of enthusiasm. Dixey, who has been
giving his entertainment of magic at
the Lafayette Square theatre, made q
number of patriotic references during
his performances, which always caused
an outburst Of applause
The CoRBETT CAsE-The action of
the Senate this week in refusing to
seat ex-senator Corbett of Oregon,
who was appointed by the governor,
was foregone conclusion, and even
the ex-senator himself expected the
result. The vote in his favor, how
ever, was smaller than was expected,
and was not on party lines, Mr..
Corbett left for the Pacific coast,
thoroughly satisfied with his fight.
He said that he thought it had accom-
plished something for his cause in his
own state. He had notified the gov.
ernor of the hopelessness of his case
and stated that he wished to withdraw
his contest, but the governor had
urged him to fight it to the end.