The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Oorrespondent.1

WASHINGTON, D. O., April %, 1898.
President McKinley's ultimatum to
Spain was fitting elimination to his
able and patriotic management Of the
whole Cuban question. It fully recog.
nizes that the Intervention resolution
adopted by Congress, copy of which |
accompanied the ultimatum. is a decla.
ration Of war against Spain, unless it will |
agree to evacuate Cuba, and makes that
perfectly plain to Spain. Spain is given
until tomorrow Saturday to answer,
but only one answer is expected-a re.
fusal to evacuate Cuba. Before this is
in type Cuba will be blockaded by the
U. 8 feet. The programme, although,
OF course, not officially announced, is
understood to be to blocade all Cuban
ports and to avoid an attack upon Ha.
vana, unless it is provoked by the Span.
ish, until sufficient number OF troops
can be msssed at Southern ports, whith.
er they are now being rushed, to form
an army large enough to sweep the
Spanish off of Cuba. This programme
is liable to change by the movements of
the Spanish war vessels. If they show
up in Cuban waters, the fighting will be
opened at once.
Washington, in and out of Congress,
is in whirl of patriotic enthusiasm.
Old Glory is flying everywhere, from the
big business houses, the residences of
rich and poor, as we'll as from the pub.
lie buildings, and, if they could be &C
cepted, about half of the residents Of the
city who are eligible for military service
would gladly enlist for the war. Daugh.
ters of prominent men are offering their
services as hospital nurses. In Congress
there are no longer war men and peace
men all for strengthening the arm of
the government in order that Spain may
be taught useful lesson as speedily as
possible.
Secretary Alger is the proud possessor
of the pen with which President Nc
Kinley signed the Intervention resolu.
ton, and he considers it priceless relic
to be handed down to his descendants.
While the patriotism of our people as
whole has never been surpassed at any
time in our history, army and navy off
cials charged with the purchase of war
supplies and vessels for the government
have found few individuals who, in
stead of sharing in the prevalent patriot
ism, have coolly and deliberately tried to
take advantage of the pressing needs of
the government by asking extortionste
prices. In some cases these men were
acting as agents, but in others they were
principals. As rule no purchases have
been made from these would. be robbers,
but in several instances, where the need
could not be in time met elsewhere, the
extortion- was ageed to under protest.
No names have been mentioned in this
connection by government officials, but
it would be nothing but justice to pub
lish the name of every man or firm that
tried to gouge the country. Their fel.
low citizens should be allowed to know
them for what they are, instead of going
on believing them for what they pretend
to be.
Gen. Grosvenor, in speech protesting
against the construction that certain
newspapers had put upon words recent.
ly used by bim-"This war will be
fought under the banner of the Republi.
can administration of this government,
or not at all"-stated that he meant the
words to mean just what they said, and
not that the conduct of the war was to
be made partisan question. He con.
cludes a. follows, amid the enthusiastic
applause of the House and the crowded
galleries: II believe this war will be
energetically wsged both in a military
sense and in the legislation necessary
TO carry it on, and believe the response
to call to arms will be unanimous. There
will be no political division. It will
come from Democrats and Populists a,
we'll a. from Republicans, and especially
believe the response to patriotism will
come from every southern state, and thai
the whole Union will share the trium
phant echo Of loyalty"
' 1t has been decided that this govern
ment will not issue any letters of marqus
and reprisal, nor in any way countensncs
privateering. If Spain chooses to allow
privateering she can do 30, provided
the European powers, the commerce o
which would be interfered with thereby
do not forbid it.
A notable phase of the situation, il
Washington, is the number and tn,
heartiness of expressions of good viii
towards Englishmen. 1t has beer
known, of course, from the beginning
| hat kh, oauk;vvoonk of Enu1onA ~.