The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-03-10

an Alliance with this Country by De-
cIaring in the Present Crisis that Her
Navy Would Help to Protect Our Coast.
The House of Representative Tues
day responded to the Presidents first
call to meet the crisis in the relations
of the United States with Spain by
passing a bill putting in President
McKinley's hands $50,0O0,000 to be
expended at his discretion for the ma
tional defense. Party lines were
swept away and with a unanimous
voice Congress voted its confidence in
the administration. Speaker Reed,
who, as the presiding officer, seldom
votes eXceptein case of a tie, had his
name called and voted in his capacity
as Representative The scene of
enthusiasm which greeted the an
nouncement of the vote-ayes 311,
nays 0-has seldom been paralleled in
the House.
Secretary Long had conference
with the chairman of the naval com
mittee of Congress and with naval Of
ficers of high rank 1t was decided to
send Captain Brownson, of the in
spection board, to Europe at once
with a view to purchasing warships
nearing completion in foreign ship
yards. Captain Brownson will arrive
in England early next week, where he
will be joined by Lieut.. J. G. Colwell,
naval attachee of the American en-
bassy in London. A visit will be made
as early as possible to France, where
he will inspect two battle ships now
building for the Brazilian navy, and
which, it is said, can be purchased by
the United States.
Despite the active preparations
made by the War and Navy Depart
ments, there is said to be feeling in
official circles in Washington that re-
latfons with Spain have taken a more
favorable turn since Monday. Senior
du Dose, the Spanish charge d'affaires,
in an interview, stated that ''notwith-
standing the apparent agitation,
actual occurrences are adjusting
themselves naturally and in a man
ner most satisfactory to both govern
ments.'
The new Spanish minister, Senor
Polo Y Bernabe, arrived in New York
yesterday. He is expected in Wash
ington today, and arrangements are
being made for the presentation of
his credentials to President McKin-
ley.
The President Tuesday signed the
Hawley bill, providing for two addi-
tional regiments of artillery to man
the coast defenses.
Thecruiser Montgomery sailed from
Key West Tuesday afternoon. She
will take the place of the dispatch
boat Fern, which will carry relief sup
plies to Matanzas and Sagua La
Grande.
The Spanish gunboat Ardella has
seized the American schooner Esther
on the southern coast of Cuba, inquir-
ing the reason of her presence in Gu
ban waters. The Ester's captain re-
piled that his vessels rudder was
broken. He has protested against
the seizure.
Consul General Fitzhugh Lee has
been urged to resign, but he said to a
correspondent: II will stick by the
ship of state until the clouds roll by
The naval court of inquiry, which
is investigating the wreck of the
Maine, continues to make slow pro
gress and its report is not expected
until the latter part of March.
The Diario Marina, a Havana news
paper, says that Lieut.. John j. Blan-
din, of Baltimore, an officer of the
Maine, has talked so freely as to make
himself Objectionable to Madrid and
Washington.
A semi-oflicial statement was made
in Madrid Tuesday to the effect that
"after brief uneasiness there is a gen.
eral belief that the relations of Spain
and the United States will continue
amicable.n
Spain has placed large orders fol
war supplies in England within the
last week. An American naval au
thority in London is quoted as limiting