Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-07-15

Imperial Colonial Policy of the
Administration.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, July s, 1898.
Good news and lots of it has been
the striking feature of the present
week. But the rejoicing over the
destruction of Cervere's fleet was
somewhat lessened by news that was
not so satisfactory from Santiago.
Gen. Garcia, who was expected with
his 5000 Cubans to keep the Spanish
reinforcements out of Santiago, was
not equal to the occasion, and con-
sequently the Spanish army in Ssnti-
ago is now more than twice as strong
as it was, and with the reinforcements
went provisions and ammunition.
The storms which have been raging
there for several days have added
much to the discomfort of Gen Shat
ter's army as well rs interfering with
the forwarding OF needed supplies, and
it is feared will have bad effect on
the men. But worse than all was the
news that Shafter and Sampson were
pulling against each other, instead of
pulling together. OF course, nobody
has any doubt of our taking Santiago,
but that does not lessen the aggrava-
ton of encouragement that adds I'M
necessarily to the danger of our boys
over there. By the first of next week
Shafter will have received reinforce
ments enough to enable him to take
the town whether Sampson helps
him or not, but it could be done at
once if Sampson would take his fleet
into the harbor.
Mr. Mckinley is constantly called
upon to decide disputes between the
two tighing branches of the govern
ment. Gen. Shafter telegraphed to
Washington that Admiral Sampson
had positively refused his suggestion,
that his fleet should be taken into
Santiago harbor so as to cooperate
with the army in bombarding and
attacking the city. Mr.. Mckinley
wired Sampson to act in concert with
Shafter whenever and wherever pos
sible to do SO. There WAS another
squabble as to which branch of the
service should take charge of the l.
600 Spanish prisoners taken with
Admiral Cervera, when his fleet was
destroyed. Arrangements have been
made by the War Department to
take care OF the Spanish captured
by the army in Cuba, and it put in a
claim for these naval prisoners, but it
was resisted by the Navy Department,
and Mr.. Mckinley stood by the latter,
which will keep the prisoners, now on
their way TO the Portsmouth, N. H.,
navy yard.
Admiral Sampson has been much
criticized in Congress because of his
failure TO mention Commodore Schley's
name in his dispatch announcing the
destruction of Cervera's fleet, when it
was we'll known that Schley was in
command and directed the fight that
resulted in the destruction of the
Spanish feet, and that it was to
Schley that Cervers surrendered. As
a result OF this criticism, q resolution
WAS offered in the Senate by Senator
Pettigrew and in the House by Repre-
sentative Berry, OF Kentucky, extend.
ing the thanks of Congress to Com
modore Schley, and the officers and
men under him for destroying the
Spanish fleet. Mr.. Berry said of this
resolution: al propose that the
officer to whom the glory is due shall
be recognized. Schley is the real
hero of the incident. He and the
brave band of officers and men under
his immediate direction are the ones
who achieved the victory. and all
honor should be given Them"
Everybody was delighted when the
news came that Gen. Skaters offer to
exchange some of the Spanish prison.
ers for Lieutenant Hobson and his men
had, after being once refused, been &C.
cepted by the Spanish commandsnt at
Santiago. 1t was especially desired
that Hosbon and his men should he
out of town before we started to bonn
bard it.
The opposition grew tired of the
one-sided contest in the Senate and
the annexation resolution was voted
upon and adopted, as everybody knew
it would be whenever vote was
reached.
Senator Hoar's protest against the
adoption of an imperial colonial policy
of this government, made in u speech
favoring the annexation of Hawaii
it seems a little paradoxicsl to favor
the annexation Of some particular
islands and oppose the taking Of any
others, but that is Mr.. Hoar's posi-.
tion-caused a sensation in the Sem
ate, especially on the Republican side.
OF the annexation of Hawaii he said
" II this is to be the first step in q
policy of dominion over burbarous
archipelagos; il we are to join with
Europe in the plumber OF China and
the pillage of Africa, if we are to be
governed in part by people whom the
Declaration of Independence is a
stranger. or, if we are to govern peo-
pie with whom life and property are
not sacred. then we should slIun this
proposition" He thus spoke of a
colonial policy: believe that if we
come out OF this war without entering
upon the fatal folly of retaining far
distant possessions. the world will be
90 impressed with our strength that no
nation will attack us for hundred
years." He declared that this coun-
try did not want the enormous debt
and increased taxes that a large stard-
ing army and great navy would
bring, and that. "The starry flag is no
emblem of dominion! In time Of
peace let it not fly over conquered ter
ritory. 1t is the emblem of peace and
freedom" Dem.
Ocosta's empty houses are filling up,
and it is said that there are no idle
men in town.