The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-02-03

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. a.. 1889

A number of Developments have
arisen in the capital city dIlfing the
past week which have givenEa>od for
ample discussion among th0s lyfollow-
ing the course of affairs of tn coun-
try. Among the most nd eworty
have been the sending of a b tleship,
to Havana, the arrival of th presir
dent of the Hawaiian Republic, the.
Cuban discussion in the. Hou y, and /
the currency discussion in thesehnate. F
1t is quite evident that the attitude
of the new administration upeh our
foreign relations is to be as VI .prous,
clear-cut, and satisfactory k,P the
American people as that which, it has
already assumed with reference to the /
tariff and currency. The develop |
ments of the past few days, and, in
deed, the developments since Presi-
dent Mckinley undertook the duties |
of his office, clearly indicate this. The
definite, vigorous policy upon which
the administration entered with ref
began its duties, has been followed,
step by step, with an equally clear |
and equally vigorous line of policy. |
But a few weeks of the term Of the |
new administration had passed before
every American citizen who had been
confined in Cuba prisons was released,
and, as soon as it was practicable ,-sAe
Spanish government was given clear
ly to understand that the United
States could not sit silently by and
witness a continuation of the cruel
ties and horrors which had marked
| the course of events in Cuba during
the years preceding the Inauguration
of the new administration. Whether
| the autonomy which has been in
augurated will prove successful can
scarcely be fully and accurately de-
termined in the few weeks since it
was adopted, but the general feeling
here is that the attempt of the House
leaders of the democracy to force the
administration to further action be-
fore the success or failure of that
proposition can be determined is not
justified and is not meeting with the
approval of the American people.
Word received here from all parts of
the country shows that the course of
these in attempting to force action by
the President upon this subject is not
meeting with popular approval. The
announcement, however, that a Z. S.
war ship has been sent to Cuba to
protect American interests is received
with most earnest commentator,
both here and in all parts of the coun-
try, judging from the expressions re-
ceived here by Congressman and
others who are in constant communi-
cation with the people of their own
States and districts. What will be
the next step in the Cuban question
it is impossible to say, for it must de-
pend upon developments in the island
and in Spain, but the general feeling
at Washington is that the admins
tration, which has accomplished SO
much in this line in so short time,
can safely be trusted in this matter.
The friends of the new tariff law are
in good spirits over the showing be-
ing made by that act and its gradual
fulfillment of the claims made for it
when enacted. The receipts of the
Government, aside from postal reven-
ues, have averaged nearly one million
dollars during the month, and as the
expenditures seldom exceed 1855, 000,-
600 per annum, the friends of the
Dingley law naturally feel that their
measure is nearing the time at which
it will supply all funds needed for
current expenses While this months
receipts will probably not equal the
expenditures because of very heavy
interest payments to be made in Jan
uary, there is every reason to expect
surplus in February and another in
March, and that the receipts of the
Government during the year just be-
x Will Dt several lllIllOIl UOlldTS
in excess of it's expenditures.
President Dole's arrival from Ha-
wall is leading to Il good deal of dis
cussion and has greatly increased the
interest in the Hawaiian annexation
project and it's probable confirmation
by the Senate. 1t does not follow,
however, that the failure of the Sen
ate to confirm President McKinley's
treaty for annexation of the islands
would mean the failure of the propo-
sition. In such an event simple act
of Congress, for which only major
ity vote would be necessary, would be
sufficient to incorporate Hawaii as q
part of the United States, and while
it is now believed that a sufficient
vote will be had in the Senate to con-
firm the treaty under the two. thirds