The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1898-04-16
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WAsHINGToN, D. c., April II, 1898.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April II, 1898.
! Congress has weghtier business on
hand than to find fault with the reasons
which Mr.. Mckinley says caused him to
ask for armed intervention in Cuba, and
is willing to provide for the interven-
ton and let it go attliat, knowing that
every man who fires gun in the war
with Spain will feel the sentiment ex-
! following verse from annem dedicated
| to Capt. Slgshet:- IA
"Rcmember the Maine in tie midst of the bat
Strike down to the death where black cannons
rattle
Remember forever, remember the Maine y
To tell the truth, Congress is so much
relieved by the action OF MIR. Mckinley
in sending in that much postpond.d
| message in favor of armed intervention
| that it is willing to forgive MIN mole
serious sins, both of omission and COM
mission, than saying that we are not
making war of vengence on the Span
iards. They feared that instead of get
ting the message they would get anOth
Ell excuse for another postponment, on
account of that thick armIstice that
Spain has proclaimed in Cuba. To
show further that they have no desire
to quibble because the message did not
contain everything they would liked it
to contain, Congress is going to make
that intervention resolution exactly
what Mr. Mckinley asked for-no more,
no less. A solid front will be presented
to the Spanish, and all differences will
be left to be settled after the Spaniards
are disposed of.
Consul Gen. Fitz Lee, having COM
pleted the task of getting all the Amer
leans who desired to leave out of Cuba,
is now on his way to Washington to tell
Mr.. Mckinley and Congress what he
thinks is the best and quickest way to
get the Spanish out of Cuba. 1t is un-
derstood that he also brings evidence
that will convince even Mr.. Mckinley
that we have good reasons to seek ven
geEce on Spain. In addition to insult
ting the country by refusing to see Gen.
Lee on the day of his departure from
Havanna, Gen. BIanco has done some
other things that Gen. Lee will tell
about when he arrives, but the most
important thing he will bring is the
evidence making it absolutely certain
that the Maine was blown up by
Spanish official in Havana, although he
will also probably bring other infor-
nation that he did not care to make
public while theie were numerous
Americans in Cuba liable to be made
victims of Spanish treachery.
While not possible at this time to
specify the exact time that our big fleet
of warships at Key West will start to
Cuba, they will certainly get off this
week, unless there shall be some delay
on the part of Mr.. Mckinley in carrying
out the authority that will be conferred
upon him by Congress, or the Spanish
shall announce their recognition of
Cuban Independence and intention to
evacuate the island. Naval officials re-
gard the taking Of the seaports of Cuba
as an easy task, and are impatiently |
awaiting orders to proceed.
The sO-calied army reorganization
bill, which provides for increasing the
regular army, whenever in the opinion
of the authorities there was an exiRen-
cy, to 1O4 900 men, is virtually dead, the
House having voted to send it back to
the committee ON military affairs. which
reported it, 1t was an administration
measure.
In response to request for informa-
Cooper, of Texas, Secretary Alger
stated that the work of fortifying the
coast of Texas was being pushed rapid
ly to conclusion and that su fficient
heavy guns had been allotted to Sabine
Pass to protect the pert from any attack
the Spanish could make upon it.
The Democrats in Congress are ready
to vote the government all the
money that will be needed to thor
oughly thrash Spain, even to the ex-
tent of an issue of from S1OO,OOO,-
900 to $50O,0O0,OOO in coin bonds,
but they have made it plain to the sche.
ners who have been sounding Congress
on the subject that even if every gun
owned by Spain were trained upon the
Capitol building, in easy range, they
would refuse to Sote for the issue of
one single gold bond. Their position
ported 10y all the Populsts and CON
siderable number of Republicans.
stopped all talk about the issue of gold
bonds, and the bill that will be reported
from the Ways and Means Committee
to the House, as soon as the actual
fighting begins, will provide for 3 per
cent coin bonds.
Judge B. F. Buckner, of KY, who is
wellposted on Kentucky p0liticis, saws:
"Our people are not satisfied with the Re-
publican regime, state or national, and
Kentucky will get back into the Demo-
cratic column at the earliest possible
date, to remain there permanently.
The legislature that will elect Senator
successor will in all probabil-
ity send Hon. j. C. 5. Black burn back to
the Senate, where he would be still,
but for one of those unaccountable
political accidents that gave Kentucky
it's first Republican Senator,
Col. Jed. Hotchkiss, of Va, who par
ticipated in more than 100 battles in the
civil war says: 1--WE have ample Just
ification for war and will wage it, but
| do not think the crash will be severe,
fer the Spanish government too we'll
its inferiority. 1t may
make semblance Of fight in order to
apDeas the home rabble but with the
absolute certainly of being rushed.
it will speedily bow to the inevitable"
The Colts firearms company have in
vented new rapid-fre magazine gun,
which can be operated by one man and
is capable of discharge 200 shots in
minute. This gun has been adopted by
tue government. and at recent test