Richmond planet., 1898-04-16
WASHINGTON LETTER
ON TO CUBAl
The Cry for Intervention.
THINKS SPAIN WILL
BACK DOWN.
General Blanco Criticized.
General Blanco Criticized.
WAR TAX PROPOSED.
The Reply to the Great Powers.
(FrOm Our Regular OOrrespondent.)

AAo AsouAt " tuo 0Ioab ICWorN.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
WARRINGTON, d. c., April IL, '98.
On to Cubal That is the order that
will be issued the minute that Con-
gress acts upon President McKinIey's
recommendation for armed interven-
tion for the purpose of driving Spain
out of Cuba, and there will be no delay
on the part of Congress in adopting the
resolution that will place the authority
in the hands of the President to use
the army and navy of the United States
| to force the Spanish out Of Cuba, Pro-
claiming an armistice in Cuba was q
Trick worthy of Spain, but 1t failed to
bring The delay at the Washington end
that Spain expected. Unless there il
some unexpected delay, our warships
will be demanding the evacuation of
Cuba with shot and shell before the
close of the present week. The Span
ish will, of course. have q chance up to
the last minute before the shooting be-
gins to peaceably surrender Cuba, but
there is now nothing in sight to indi-
cate that they will get out until they
are forced out.
NO WAR OF CONQUEST.
In intervening in Cuba this govern
ment has no intention OF making a war
of conquest, but in the language of
President Mckinley is merely endeav-
oring Ito fulfil duty to humanity by
ending situation the indefinite pro-
1 longation o. which has become insult
4 81 Il, -
will go further than is necessary t0
drive the Spanish out of Cuba will de-
pend upon the Spanish themselves.
While the official plan of operations is
not known outside of those who are in
trusted with the duty of carrying it
out, it is understood that the initial
| naval demonstration OF this govern
ment will be made against Cuba alone,
and that no hostile movement against
the Spanish Colonies in the PHILIPPINE
Islands, the Canary Islands or Porto
Rico will be made unless the opposi-
tion Of the Spanish Navy to our taking
possession of CHba shall make such
steps necessary.
THE SPANISH PROGRAMME.
There is an impression among naval
officers that IL Spain does not make an
abject surrender before the fighting
begins, it will throw up the sponge be-
fore we can get an opportunity to GEM
lpletely destroy its navy. and call upon
the European powers to arrange some
sort of q peace for her. 1t is thought
that the distribution of the Spanish
navy indicates that an attempt will be
made by her fastest ships to attack
some of our seacoast cities and to avoid
bsttle with us unless they can catch
some OF our ships in positions where
they can be overpowered and either
sink or captured. Naval officers will
be surprised if Spain places any por-
tion of her navy where it will come in
to contact with the powerful feet that
we will send to invest Cuba. Sixty
days is the outside guess of our naval
officers as to tho length Of the war.
REFUSED TO SEE HIM.
Gen. Blanco did not improve the re-
lations between Congress and Spain
when he made a discourteous monkey
of himself by refusing to see consul
General Lee when he called to say an
official goodbye just previous to his de-
lparture from Havana. It is likely also
that General Lee may have some sto-
ries to tell when he reaches Washing
ton that will likewise add to the exist
Ing enmity toward the Spaniards.
THE TAX ON BEER TO BE INoRRAsED.
An informal agreement has been
REACHED by the House Committee on
Ways and Means, which has been con-
, sidering the matter for several weeks
, that the war revenue bill to be report
ed to the House as soon as hostilities
: begin shall include q provision increas-
ing the internal revenue on beer from
81 TO 81 barrel, Notwithstanding the
arguments OF the representatives OF
: the brewers VINO were granted hearing
last week 1t Is estimated that this in
crease in the beer tax will add $35 GOO
> 600 year TO the government reve-
nues. Tobacco. in its various manu-
; factured forms, is relied upon to pro-
4 duce as much more; likewise q tax or
several kinds Of commercial psper.
III TO BORROW MONEY.
A bill has been prepared by Chair.
. man Dingley providing for the issue ol
D bonds to the amount of 81 ,OOO. .OO0, 900
as temporary loan, and from three &C
five times that amount, as may be
needed. as q permanent loan. These
: bonds will be payable in coin, Just al
all our outstanding bonds are, and are
to bear 3 per cent interest. Although
offers of more than $500, 900. 900 have
3 been made to the governments by large
financial institutions, it is probable
! that any bonds issued will be offered Il
the public and allotted to those who
!, first apply for them, at their facC
: value.
A POLICY ABANDONED.
Although couched in the most mod
4 crate language. President Mckinley
# reply to the joint note of the six great
e est European nations. on our relation
If with Spain, will take its place in hlsto
Try alongside of the Monroe doctrine
There was no word of bluster, but ev
cry European power understood it
meaning perfectly-that the u. s. ha.
determined that Spanish rule in Cub
should cease forever. and that no Eu
ropean interference with its polio
)f would be tolerated. The represents
Ie tive Of at least two European powers
n France and Austria-and possibly thos
of third. Italy, had hopes of srrano
g ing some sort of European Joint inter
vention, but they abandoned them a
ly ter hearing Mr.. McKinley's reply t
the joint note which was intended {
be friendly feeler.
Messrs. Miller & Rhoads offer 70