The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-04-21
Washington Letter.
,(From Orr Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Anril 18th 1899

President Mckinley was as
much grieved as any man in
w Washington whhen the news was
received that q party Of American
and British marines had been
by the natives on the
leland of Samoa aud an American
and q British lieutenant and five
marines killed, but he did not
share in the excitement which
prevailed for q time; he accepted
as sincere the prompt disavowal
Of responsibility made by the
German ambassadors on behalf of
his government, and declined to
be carried off his feet by the
newspaper talk of German treach-
cry" in connection with the am
buscade, although he will take
the necessary steps to see thst the
matter is thoroughly investigated.
There is no denying that this am
buscade came at an unfortunate
time. Although it will not neo-
essarily prevent an amicable SET
Element Of tho whole Samoan dis
pute, it may greatly delay it. 1t
had been expected that the Com
missioners representing the U. S.,
England and Germany would
start for Samoa this week, but
there is now a hitch in the pro-
gram, and matters have not been
improved by a statement issued
from tho German Embassy In
Washington rejecting upon the
motives of the British govern
ment. AS Senator Thurston, of
Nebraska, remarked, it is uncon-
ceivable that this insignificant
group of islands should cause war
between any two of the three gov
ernments which are parties to the
treaty for their control. Of course
if Investigation shall show that
Germans had any part in plan
ming that murderous ambuscade,
Germany will be held to a strict
accountability ty this govern
ment, and doubtless also by Great
Britain.
The u. S. is not giving Spain
any room to say that We are slow
in resuming diplomatic relations
that were dissolved by the war
As soon as copies of the treaty Of
peace were exchanged and the
President had officially proclaim.
ed peace, Spain was notified that
the $780, 100000, called for by the
treaty was subject to it's orders
and the announcement semi-ofii.
cially made that Hon. Bellamy
Stoyer, now u. s. Minister to Bel
GUM, had been selected as ou1
minister to Spain, and would pro-
coed to Madrid as soon as Spair
appointed a minister to the o. 8
There are several reasons why
the selection of Mr.. Stoyer al
minister should be pleasing t.
| Spain, the principal of which ii
that he is a Catholic. The new
| minister to Spain will have i'm
portant duties to perform as all
of the commercial treaties be-
tween the two countries which
were abrogated by the war viii
have to be replaced by new trea
ties,
It is thought that this week viii
complete the taking of evidence
by the Military Court of Inquiry
The most prominent witnesses o.
the week were Gems. Shafter anc
Chaffee, and their testimony wal
strikingly alike so far as ittrelat
ed to the meat issued to the army
in Cuba. Neither heard any Of
fetal complaints or any sensation
| al stories about tho meat until af
ter their return to the .. s., and
both thought that the army wal
well supplied as existing circum'
stan ,es would permit. President
Mckinley gave a dinner in Gen
Skaters honor this week.
The news from the Philippines
this week has been somewhat
disappointing. Not from any
lack Of success on the part of Our
gallant soldiers, but because it
has been found necessary to con.
tinue the fighting, and that Ag-
| uinaldo should still be able. to
get a sufficient force together to
be attacked again and again, al
though driven away from every
where they have attempted to
make a stand. There has alec
been disgusting news of the
treachery of professedly friendly
Filipinos within our lines, which
does not promise we'll for the flu
ture. ss.s j..
When your commercial rivals
commend your methods you have
the strongest proof attainable that
you are on the right road. A re-
port Of German Imperial Com
missioner on the emigration from
Germany in 1893, Just published,
ann cabled to Washington, con-
tains this strongs commentator
Of the republican tariff policy: