The Republican., 1899-11-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 80, 1899.
afPresident McKinley's visit to Rich
mond, tomorrow, to witness the
launching of the Shubric, the first
government vessel ever built in that
city, will show that he has no politi-
cal object in view in mixing with his
fellow citizens, as it must be plain to
even his most narrow-minded critics
that he has nothing political to gain
by visiting Virginia.
There is reason to believe that the
Philippine Commission, which met
in Washington, to-day, will prepare a
preliminary report at once, covering
its investigation from the opening of
hostilities by Aguinaldo and existing
conditions ON the islands, leaving the
future to be handled in a later and
fuller report, which may take the
civilian members of the Commission
back to the islands after peace is re-
stored.
Senator Sewell, whose military and
personal experience adds weight to
his opinion, said of the Filipinos:
There is only one way of dealing
with the Filipinos, and that is with
powder, ball and bayonet. | learned
this many years ago, when on a
cruise in that vicinity. l had some
experience then with Philippine char
acter that l will never forget. The
sooner we show the leaders of the in
surrection that we are in real earnest,
the sooner the trouble will be settled.
The President is alive to the situa-
tion and is handling it with skill :"
Inasmuch as this language was used
by the Senator just after he had been
in conference with President McKin-
ley, it was significant Senator Cul-
lom, who had also just seen the Pres
ident, said: 1.-The proper action for
those fellows is just such as we are
taking-a substantial enforcement of
the authority of the government"
Men from the far west who come to
Washington these days all tell one
story--great prosperity and almost
unanimous support of the foreign
policy of the administration. For in
stance, Mr.. G. W. Hartley, of Boise
City, Idaho, said: II voted for Bryan
at the last Presidential election, but l
will never do it again. l have been
studying tt subject up little since
that time. More than 80 per cent. of
the silver Republicans in Idaho have
decided to go back to the Republican
fold, and, unless there is a very per-
feet fusion of all the opposing parties,
Idaho is sure enough Republican
state for 1900. Anti-Expansion does
not go out our way. We want the
islands in the East and lots of trade
/ for our western cities"
That there isn't the slightest doubt
in administration circles about our
permanent retention of the Philip
pines is shown by the decision of Sec
retary Long to recommend in his
annual report the construction of a
number of light draft gun boats, for
use in Philippine waters. 1t is prac-
tically certain that the insurrection
will be over long before these boats
are built, but they will be needed in
/ Philippine waters to look after our
commerce all the time.
Post Master General Smith, who
has just returned from a stumping
trip in Ohio, says it is only question
of how large the Republican majority
! would be. His last speeches were
made in the western reserven, where
Democrats had been making all sorts
of claims about Republican apathy.
Mr.. Smith says he found no Republi-
can apathy in that section of the
state; that the Republicans there, as
in all sections of the country, had
been so busy making money that
they waited later in the campaign
than usual before giving their time