The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-04-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April II, 1898.

II
gress acts upon President McKinley's
recommendation for armed interven-
Iltion for the purpose of driving Spain
out of Cuba, and there will be no
delay on the part of Congress in
adopting the resolution that will
place the authority in the hands of
the President to use the army and
navy of the U. S. to force the Spanish
out of Cuba. Proclaiming an armis-
tice in Cuba was a trick worthy of
Spain, but it failed to bring the delay
at the Washington end that Spain ex-
pected. Unless there is some unex-
pected delay, our warships will be de-
handing the evacuation of Cuba with
shot and shell before the close of the
present week. The Spanish will, of
course, have chance up to the last
minute before the shooting begins to
peaceably surrender Cuba, but there
is now nothing in sight to indicate
that they will get out until they are
creed out.
I1A1n intervening in Cuba this govern
ment has no intention of making
war of conquest, but in the language
of Mckinley is merely endeavoring
ito fulfill a duty of humanity by end
ing asituation the indefinite prolonga-
ton of which has become insuffera-
BILE. Therefore whether the war will go
further than is necessary to drive the
Spanish out of Cuba will depend up
on the Spanish themselves. While
the official plan of operations is not
known outside of those who are in
structed with the duty of carrying it
out it is understood that the initial
naval demonstration of this govern
ment will be made against Cuba
alone, and that no hostile movement
against the Spanish colonies in the
PHILIPPINE Islands, the Canary Islands,
or Porto RIGA will be made unless the
opposition of the Spanish navy to our
taking possession of Cuba shall make
such steps necessary.
There is an impression among naval
officers that if Spain does not make
an abject surrender before the fighting
begins, it will throw up the sponge
before we can get an opportunity to
completely destroy its navy, and call
upon the European powers to arrange
some sort of peace for her 1t is
thought that the distribution of the
Spanish navy indicates that an at
tempt will be made by her fastest
ships to attack some of our seacoast
cities and to avoid battle with us I'M
less they can catch some of our ships
in positions where they can be over
powered and either sunk or captured.
Naval officers will be surprised if
Spain places any portion of her navy
swhere it will come into contact with
the powerful fleet that we will send
to invest Cuba. Sixty days is the
outside guess of our naval officers as
to the length of the war.
Gen. Blanco did not improve the
relations between Congress and Spain
when he made a discourteous monkey
Of himself by refusing to see consul
Gen. Lee when he called to say an
official goodbye just previous to his
departure from Havana. 1t is likely
also that Gen. Lee may have some
stories to tell when he reaches Wash
ington that will likewise add to the
existing enmity towards the Span
iards.
An informal agreement has been
reached by the House Committee on
Ways and Means, which has been
considering the matter for several
weeks, that the war revenue bill to be
reported to the House as soon as hos
tilities begin shall include provision
increasing the internal revenue tax
on beer from 81 to 50 barrel, not
outstanding the arguments of the
representatives of the brewers who
were granted hearings last week 1t
is estimated that this increase in the
beer tax bill will add $50, 900, 900 year
to the governments revenues. To
bacco in its various manufactured
forms, is relied upon to produce as
much more; likewise a tax on several
kinds of commercial paper. A bill
has also been prepared by Chairman
Dingley providing for the issue of
bonds to the amount of 100000, 900,
as temporary loan, and from three
to five times that amount, as may be
needed, as a permanent loan. These
bonds will be payable in coin, just as
all our outstanding bonds are, and
are to bear per cent. interest. AL
though offers of more than $500, 100000
have been made to the government
by large financial institutions, it is
probable that any bonds issued will
be offered to the public and allotted
to those who first apply for them, at
their face value.
Although couched in the most