The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-04-07
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID. =. April 2, 1899.
President Mckinley had decided to
return to Washington early this week
before he got the news OF the beginning
of hat there is every reason to believe
will be the final campaign against the
organized Filipinos, by Gen. Otis, but
1t is probable that the knowledge that
The fighting SO victoriously started by
the troops of Gen. Otis, on Saturday
and continued on Sunday, would be
continuous uHtil Aguinaldo's forces
have been crushed, would have caused
him TO do SO anyway, as it is perfectly
natural that be should wish to be in
Washington while the fighting is
going on. This is not because of any
lack of confidence III Gen. O:is he has
so much confidence in him that he
has refused to interfere with the order
issued by Gen. Otis, putting stop to
the negotiations by Agents of Spain
for the ransom of Spanish prisoners
held by Aguinaldo but becaused of his
belief that it is the duty of the Com
mander-in-Cheif of the Army and
Navy to be at headquarters when his
subordinates are fighting.
care you dollar man, or are you
ten dollar one?" That question is
asked of every prominent democrat
who has shown his face in Washing
ton since the ridiculous controversy
between Bryan and Belmont, over the
! $40 Jefferson dinner, in New York,
| and Bryan's acceptance of an invita-
tion to attend the 81 Jefferson dinner,
in the same town, has been before the
public, by everyone who is on terms
sufficiently familiar to justify little
kidding" Democrats are, as rule,
not willing to talk for publica ton
about the silly and ridiculous affair,
but Mr.. Bryan would be crestfallen if
he could hear the disgusted manner
in which many Of them talk about it
among friends. Republicans are SIM
ply amusen. They did not regard the
chances of the democrats to win next
year, with Bryan or anybody else, as
sufficient to make their lessening,
which this controversy will certainly
do, cause for any particular rejoic-
ing.
Senator Quesada, who represented
the alleged Cuban republic in Wash
ington, although never officially recog-
nized by this government, from almost
the beginning of the Cuban revolution
until disposed by the Cuban Assembly,
the other day, is still in Washington.
He takes a hopeful view of the situa-
tion in Cuba, and believes that every
thing will come out right in the end.
He said: 81 think we are going to
get a fair deal. / think that the U. S.
will do we'll by Cuba, and that Cuba is
worthy of the sacrifices that have been
made in her behalf by the U. S." He
thinks the question of annexation is
one that should he and will be left
until Cuba has a government and
congress properly elected by its people
to decide whether it would prefer
maintaining an independent republic
or being annexed to the u. S. He
| says he is perfectly satisfied that the
people of the u. S. would not consent
to the annexation of Cuoa upon any
other basis than the request of ma
jority of its people.
Senator Hansbrough, who has earn
ed reputation as careful observer
Of the political drift of the country,
gives this summary of past, present
and future: "The mistakes in the
conduct of the war were all minimized
by glorious successes everywhere. The
democrats will go amounting before
the people all of the complaints about
the little things. They never size up
to the great things. The war was SO
short, that it was over before the faults
and wickednesses were discovered. Ii
the war had been prolonged all of the
misdoings of contractors would have
been discovered, and they would have
been punished. McKinley's admins
tration has brought success at every
|point, and prosperity to every part OF
the land. OF course he will be renom-
mated and reelected"