The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-27
" Washington Letter.

tuS Ot Op7tu. uat 10 tuS dite ~ toSdH'uE
seutim ens in v asbiogton since the war
actually begao. Now that Mr.. Nc
Kialey has shaken of the Haaoa pesce-
s:-any.price crowd aod their beoumbiog
ioAaence. be has become thoroughly
alive to the necessities OF the situation.
This has been particularly noticeable
during the past week He started on
the righ, track when he asked Congress
for authority to use the army ADD navy
to drive Spain out Of Cnoa be took the
proper step when he sent that uI,i-
matum to Spain again wheD be recog-
uizad the dismissal of our minister by
Spaio as an act Of war; agaio when be
issued orders for our fact to blockade
Cuba. aud yet again when be issued his
proclamation calling for 125. 900 men
to serve two years uoless sooner dis.
charged Congress is right behind
every one Of these moves aod the people
are right behind Congress. The en-
ttusiasm in unprecedented, aud every
Spanish flag captured by our warships
add to it. The only regret that is
heard is that all who desire TO partici
pate 10 aveogipg the Maine csnoos do
so, as each State will insist oa furnish
ing it's full quota Of the troops called
for. The National Guard of the Dis.
triot of Columbia is already on duty 10
camp of instruction, and although
only about one third can hope to go
every mau of them is spxious to start
for Cubs.
The Law authorizing the volunteer
army which was enacted BY Congress
last week. provides for four Maj.
Generals, and the impression is general
in Washington that Fi'z Lee, and Joe.
Wheeler. of Ala. will be rendered com
missions of that rank. Teddy"
Roosevelt, the ssrappy Assistant Secre-
tary Of the navy. will resign tba. posi-
ton in order to serve on Fitz. Lees
staff in Cuba.
When oaoe our army gets in Cuba 1t
will make sbor: work Of whipping the
NSpaoiards. but several weeks must
elapse before that army can be gathered
on the southern coast, preparatory to
embarkation for Caba. Until then we
shall have to eonteD. ourselves With the
knowledge that cur warsbips will give
good account of themselves in any
engagements they will have either with
the Spanish forts in Cubs OF With the
Spanish warships !; apd We may as we'll
also prepare ourselves TO hear of the
occasional capture Of an American ner-
chan. ship on the other side Of the
Atlantic BY the Spanish. We can hope
that the boastful Spanish navy will come
over and figh. our ships, but there are
ns indications nov in sight that it will
do 30. 1t looks as though We will
have to 60 after them when We have
captured Caba. Bu. Cuba comes FIRST.
Fhe bonds authorized by the war
revenue bill reported to the House from
the Ways and Means committee are
coin bonds-.he gold IDEA had to be
abandoned by the few who entertained
it--beariug 8 per cent interest. $780,
100000 is the amount, to run from
ten to twenty years at the pleasure of
the governnent. The issue of $100.
000. 900 in 8 per cent treasury certi6-
Gates of Indebtedness is also authorized.
The bill makes Increases in the internal
revenue tax on beer aud manufactured
tobacco. and provides for new taxation,
mostly by stamps, similar. TO the system
in vogue gust after the var. that will, it
is estimated add 500. .00G. 900, year
to the governments revenues.
There is very little doubt that the
witty speech Of Private John Allen, Of
Miss shamed enough republican mem
bers of the House to save the seat of
Representative Carmeck. of Tenn ),
which vas contested BY Josiah Pa,ter-
son, who rau against him as a gold
democrat aud was supported by repub-
licaus. Six republicans voted. for Car
mack aud number did not vote at ali.
1t bad been understood that the solid
republican vote had been pledged to
Patterson by Gen. Grosvenor and other
leaders Of the party. but after John
Allen had shown up in his own mimi
table manner the zigzag foancial career
Of Josiah Patterson. emphasizing bis
points by string Of bis best stories,
the vo.e was taken and Josiah was de.
feated by vote of 139 to 120.
A long story might be told about the
Tightening cabinet change. 10 whioh
editor Charles Emory Smith succeeded
Merchau: James Gary as Postmaster
General. but It so old an enemy of
Smith as Senator Qaay was willing to
keep quiet and even move that Smiths
nomination be coO6rmed by the Senate,
surely others can Go so. at least until
after the war is over. Just now noth-