Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-05-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
s,.I CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MONITOR
Washington, May 21ad, 1898.

Hr0SlQ0uU MChIuloy Ids OVOIy rcd
son to feel highly gratified with the
progress of the war as well as with,
the progress of the preparations for
more active work. Our new navy has;
shown itself to be a worthy successor
to the old navy, the fighting record of
which has never been surpassed un-
der any flag. This week the army is
to have its first chance of participate
ing in the war, unless the reported
coming of the Spanish fleet changes
the Presidents program. A land
ing in Cuba is to be made by portion
of the regular army, for the purpose
establishing base of supplies for the
Cuban army and giving it chance to
see what it can do when it has arms
and plenty Of ammunition, while the
volunteer army is being gotten into
good fighting shape. Naval officials
only fear that the reported coming of
the Spanish fleet is untrue. They
wish them to come either to attempt
to relieve the Cuban blockade or to
attempt to attack our coast cities.
Should they do either they would give
us an opportunity to put a speedy and
to the war by destroying the Spanish
navy. While hoping for their COM
ing the average naval officer believes
that we shall have to cross the Allan
tic before getting an opportunity to
fight the Spanish navy.
While tho od trof ior, 10 not J;o-
posed to indulge in any Boosting or to
cross any bridges before they are
reached, it can be stated upon un-
questionable authority that this gov
eminent will not change it's policy or
method of conducting the war against
Spain for any diplomatic protest from
Europe, whether made by one nation
or six nations in concert, not even if
supported by a naval demonstration
in force, such as France appears to be
threatening to make. 1t was known
when Commodore Dewey was ordered
to proceed to the Philippine Islands
and capture a port to be used as a
base of supplies for our Asiatic squad
ron that European protests were like
ly to be made against such action, but
that did not change or effect in any
way the orders. We are not inviting
trouble with any other European ma
ton, but if any of them feel disposed
to give Spain something more substan-
tial than their moral support they will
not stampede us with fright. Such
action would only mean an extension
of the war; it would not change the
result-victory for the United States.
The democratic roll of honor con-
tanning the names of those who voted
with the republicans for the war rev.
enue bill passed by the House, which,
in addition to numerous new internal
revenue taxes, mostly the same that
were imposed during the Civil war,
authorizes the issue of $500, 900 in
8 per cent bonds, is not long one.
There were only six of them-Cum-
mings, Mcclellan, and Griggs, of New
York; Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts;
McAleer, of Pennsylvania, and Wheel
err, of Alabama. A few democrats
declined voting at all on the bill. Two
publicans-Linney, of North Caro-
lima, and Thorpe, of Virginia, voted
with 129 democrats and populists
against the bill, while IT'S republicans
and six democrats voted for it. A
majority of the democratic Senators,
all of the populists Senators, and all
of the SO called silver republican SEN
ators are going as far as they dare to
go in opposition to the war revenue
bill in the Senate, but a canvass of
the Senate has shown that enough
democrats will vote with the republi
cans to ensure the passage of the bill,
substantially as it came from the
House, and as every attempt to fill
much delay is expected inreaching a
vote on the bill in the Senate. The
eight or ten democrats who will vote
with the republicans for the bill will
be headed by Senator German, who,
after many years service as chairman
of the democratic caucus, has resign
ed that position largely because in
supporting this bill he will be acting
against majority of the democrats.
It is but justice to say that those who
oppose this bill claim not to be actu
ated by any desire to hamper the
fighting power of the government.
They seem to have an idea that the
issue of bonds authorized by the bill
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