The Republican., 1899-03-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 20, 1S9

ley and Speaker Reed, are now busy
trying to invent plausible explana-
tions of why those two ''bitter enc
miesn are to be guests this week under
the same roof, at Jekyl Island. This
sort of thing would be amusing if it
were not disgusting to those who
believe in truthfulness and fair deal
ing towards public men, as well AS
towards private citizens. That there
has been, at times, differences of
opinion on important public questions /
between President Mckinley and
Speaker Reed, just as there has
always been at times between other
prominent members of the same par
ty, is known to all men, because nei-
ther of them ever hesitates about
stating their opinions; but that there
has been at any time any personal
enmity between them or any desire on
the part of either to split the repub-
lican party into factions for the indi-
yidual benefit or revenge of either, is
-santrue, and nobody knew its falsity
any better than those who concocted
the stories. Next year will be Presi-
Dental year and this class of yarns
may be expected to increase, because
the democrats know that nothing but
a division of the republican party can
give them any possible show to win.
The latest news from Gen. Otis is
decidedly satisfactory. His active
campaign against Aguinaldo and his
repeated victories have resulted in
breaking the backbone of the Philip
pine revolt, and everything now
points to a speedy ending of the fight
ing, and the capture Of Aguinaldo is
hoped for. Admiral Dewey has noti
fed the Navy Department Of the
arrival in Manila Bay of the battle
ship Oregon in splendid fighting con-
dition.
Senator Frye, Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Commerce, who
knows the subject about as well as
any man in the country, does not
smile upon the efforts of the French
Panama Canal Company to interest
Senators and Representatives in the
Panama Canal, the latest of which is
a Congressional free excursion, at the
Company's expense, Of four or five
weeks duration, for the purpose of
inspecting, etc. Mr.. Frye said, 81
shall not go on the trip of inspection
planned by the Panama Canal Com
pany. / was urged to go as were
other members of the Senate and
House. The men who are to go down
there on pleasure jaunt know about
as much now concerning the merits
of one route over the other as they
will when they reach home. / have
been building the Nicaragua Canal
for twenty-five years. Away back
when Dick Thompson was Secretary
of the Navy, we had committee to
investigate the feasibility of routes.
We sat for about six months and
examined a multitude of witnesses.
These witnesses established the utter
impossibility of a sea level canal over
the Panama route, as de Lesseps had
proposed. Then the Chagres river
was considered. The investigation in
that line established that man could
not control the waters, although God
might. The committee made no
report, and about the only direct out
come of the investigation was the
establishment of United States
coaling station by the Navy Depart
ment, in compliance with our person
al requests. When | was in Paris
(Senator Frye was one of our Peace
Commissioners they were after me
perpetually regarding the Panama
Canal; l met friends of the project on
every hand" 1t is very evident that
Senator Frye thinks we should steer
clear of the Panama canal scheme.
Mai. Demeritt, member of the
staff of Gen. Otis, is in Washington
on sick leave AS he came direct from
Manila his opinion is entitled tC
weight. He said, Nobody who ha'
seen the Philippines could ever be il
favor of surrendering them. an
satisfied that it is to the best Interest,"
of this country to keep them, for thei
resources are varied and valuable
and they will eventually be sourc
of large profit. 1t is not going to tax
very great while to completely re
duce the insurgent Filipinos to sub
lection. The more enlightened AM
well-to-do Spanish blood are quit
willing that this government shoul
establish it's sovereignty"
How idiotically rampant sensation
alism can become upon nothing wa
shown when the routine order of tn
Navy Department, detailing boar
of officers, in accordance with law, t
examine all of the Commodores, whic
grade has been abolished, promote
to be Rear Admirals under the la
for reorganizing the Navy, was seize