The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-15

THE WAR, FEELING IN WASHING TON.

Washington. ID. c., April 1t Edito-
rial Correspondence.l-'M Mckinley is
not in it with Lee said
the barber who shaved me this morn
ing. ..Why, there wasn't Il twentieth
part of the enthusiasm in Washington
when McIlinlcywas inaugurated as there
was over Fitzhugh Lee when. his train
came into Washington. At the inau-
guration. there We're plenty of soldiers
and lots of music, but not enough Ell
ahusiasm for a fourth of July picnic.
1t looked like a grand funeral compared
10 the cheers and hurrahs that greeted
Lee If Mckinley had to be inaugurateu
over again, / don't believe he'd run the
risk of being Missed by people who live
i'll Washington"
rs his policy as unpopular as that!
] asked as the lather was spread on
by the deft manipulation of the razor.
Unpopular" he said. why that is
not the word for it. Half the folks pos
it;vely despise him that's the word
that fits it-and the other half pity him
because he is not real President but an
automaton."
This is about correct idea of the sen
timent among the masses of the people
i'll this city, noted for its policy of being
in favor of the ruling powers. Wash
ington is a pretty good barometer of the
sentiment Of the whole. country. It's
population is made up of folks from all
the States and territories. Most Of them
came here originally to hold office. They
fell in love with the place-and it is
the most beautiful city the sun shines
on-antl after their term of office ex-
PRED they decided to stay. Most of
them keep i'll close touch with their old
homes and the home sentiment. Those
who care to exercise the night of suf-
frage, keep their citizenship in the State
of their birth and are much more in
fiuenced by that sentiment than by that
here in the district. 1t is unlike any
other city in the world in this particular
and is therefore the only representative
city in America. But for the strong all
legance to old home-ties, Washingto-
mans would be influenced largely by the
administration, and so along with it.
That the country sentiment still has
much sway here is the saving salt that
makes this city typical of the Republic.
=
Washington, locally, is always in favor
Of an appropriation. Its belief in big
appropriations is not free from a
modicum of selfishness, fora big appropri-
atoms means that Washington viii be
helped by it. While most of the money
spent in getting ready for war is ex-
pended elsewhere, the fact that it is
setting the pace for an expensive goyeI--
ment pleases Washington. Its growth
and expansion depend largely upon the
office-holders who reside here. All the
new bureaus created, all the new depart
ments~ made, and all the spreading out
means bigger plant here, more cierks,
more salaries, more business, more
houses. Holman, of Indiana, was a
very unpopular man in THIS city. No
economical legislator is popular here. The
legislator who believes in 1.-THE old
flag and an appropriation" with en-
phas;s OH the word appropriation" is
certain TO be the most popular man
with Washington people. In this the
people of Washington are not peculiar.
The people of Raleigh and every other
State capital are very much VA iayof
of big appropriations il they build up the
city and increase the trade. That's
Why we want an army post in Kaleigh
NOW and why we are working for it.
But it would be an unwarranted reflection
upon the patriotism of the people of
this city to attribute their attitude to
tie Cuban question 40 selfish considera-
lions. 1t may color their feeling; s.
does not make it or lie at the bottom Of
it,
"If Washington could vote said a
well informed gentleman to-day, "it
would be nine to one in favor Of
war" Outside of influences at work
elsewhere there is another strong in
fuence here that makes war sentiment.
This is the home of very many Of the
retired officers of the army and navy;
the headquarters Of an army post the