Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-05-05
JOY AT WASHINGTON
People Express Their Delight at
News from Manila.
BELIEVE A GREAT VICTORY WAS WON
President Mckinley, His Cabinet and
Army and Naval officials Srntf-
fed Mt Admiral Dewey's Sue
cess, But Are Reticent.

cess, But Are Retfcent.
Washington, May 2.-Washington is
reioiced. Not since the dark days OF
the great civil conflict of third of
century ago have the people of this city
been so profoundly moved by war news
as they were Sunday evening. The first
battle of the Hispano-American war has
been fought and victory lies with Ad-
miral Dewey's squadron under the stars
and stripes.
That was enough TO set the people of
Washington almost in a frenzy of en-
thusiastic rejoicing. For days they, in
common with the people throughout
the country, have been awaiting news
from the Philippine islands, as every
thing pointed to battle at Manila that
might be a decisive conflict of the war.
When the news came indicating great
victory for the American squadron the
enthusiasm of the people was let loose
and the streets of the city rang with
cheers all night.
Great Display of Feeling.
The first news of the battle received
in Washington came in a brief cable
gram from Madrid about eight o'clock
Sunday evening. AS the night wore on
the cable continued to sing the news of
victory for the squadron of Admiral
Dewey and the interest grew into
tremendous excitement. Ordinarily
Washington is the quietest of cities on
Sunday, but as bulletin after bulletin
was posted in front of the newspaper
Offices, each successive one conveying
information more gratifying than its
predecessor, the crowds in the streets
became uproarious. Good as well as
bad news spread rapidly, and by ten
o'clock the streets were crowded with
people, all discussing the one exciting
topic of the hour. Hundreds gath
cred in front of the bulletin boards
and greedily caught every scin-
tilla of news, and it was received
with enthusiastic cheers. While vic
tory had been expected, the news Of it
coming as it did from Spanish sources
gave vent to the patriotism of the
people, which has been pent up for days.
1T was a spontaneous outburst of patri-
cite feeling that scarcely knew bounds.
Admiral Dewey's name was on every
lip and his praises were sung in the re-
joicings of the people.
President Reticent.
Thus far no official advices have been
received by the government, but press
dispatches were transmitted to the
president and officials of the admins
tration as rapidly as they were received
The president, in company with several
of his advisers, read the bulletins in the
library of the white house early in the
evening, but later in the night he went
to his office on the second floor of the
executive mansion where. until late
hour. he continued to peruse every dis
patch with deepest interest. The news
was evidently of the most gratifying
character to him, but no statement
could be obtained at the executive man
sion concerning the battle or it's pos
sible consequences.
Officials of the navy department were
reticent in discussing the conflict, in
the absence of official information. but
they made no pretense of concealing
their great qualification. Secretary
Long declined to comment upon the
subject, but it was evident that he felt
relieved. It has been known for days
at the navy department that a conflict
at Manila was inevitable, and while nc
great fear Of the result was expressed
there was yet deep concern in the
heart of every official. The news re-
moves a great weight from the minds
of all.
Calls 1t n Glorious Victory.
Secretary Alger declared that it was
GLORIOUS victory" but, in common
with other officials of the administra
ton, declined to make extended com
ment upon it.
cifc injury to the American vessel:
in the Madrid advices was construed as
convincing indication that they had moi
suffered appreciate injury, and thi:
was especially pleasing to the nava
students of the news. Not only was the
preservation of the American ships anG
men considered in itself a happy out
come. but was commented upon as in
dicating that Admiral Dewey and his
associate officers and the men under
their command had discharged splen
didly their several duties in directing
and executing the fight.
Squadron's Great Work.
In this connection it was pointed ou
as little less than marvellous that the
American squadron escaped without Sc
we're injury, because, notwithstanding
the disparity in the naval forces, TIL
Spanish feet, assisted by the shore bat
teries, should have beer able to inflic
severe damage to its foe before itsel
being destroyed. It's failure to do s.
was eXplicable only upon the hypothe
sis of perfect and swift work by tn
Americans.
Predict Early End of the War.
An opinion freely expressed by nava
officers is that the very decisive vic
tory of Admiral Dewey's fleet will meal
probably an early end to the war, with
out further naval battles of importance
The American fleet, it is suggested, i
now supreme in the waters of Spain
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