The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1899-04-14
WASHINGTON LETTER
From Our ReguIar CorrespondcnLl


Washington, April 7. 1899
The largest and most impressive mill
tary funeral ever witnessed at the M
tional Capital was that held yesterday in
honor OF 1863 bodies OF privates and nom
commissioned officers brought from Cuba
and Porto Rico and inferred Ia Arlington
Cemetary. IL can truly be said that IL
represented Columbia weeping for her fall
leu sons. The military consisted Of regu
lars and the District Of Columbia Nat ion
al Guard. A member OF the Diplomatic
Corps who was at Arlington with an A.
merloan friend said 10 him: mo wonder
your soldiers are invincible in battle; no
other nation honors its private soldiers
as America does
IL is not the intention OF legislators that
counts most, but the construction placed
upon law after IL Is placed upon the
statue books. Possibly there were some
Senators and Representatives who did
not intend TO abolish the army canteen.
In the clause IN the army bill dealing
with that subiect-in fact, the accusation
is made that the trick was intentional,
but the most Of them so intended when
they voted Is beyond question Of doubt.
At the request Of the War Department,
Attorney General Griggs has rendered an
elaborate opinion on the law. which de-
clares that it does not prohibit the sale of
intoxicants In army cantccns
A New York business man who went
to Porto Rico to see what he could find
in the way Of profitable investments, pas
sed through Washington this week on his
way back home. In answer to questions
he said "a good many Americans are
prospectingih Porto Rico but | must
say that the field is not very alluring.
There Is scarcely any opening there for
capital and enterprise. The condition of
the country is still unsettled At first
the Porto Rlcans welcomed our soldiers,
but that earlier spirit OF kindness has de-
parted, and now Urcle Sans blue coats
are anything but popular The truth.
however, disagreeable, must be told, and
it is only telling the truth to say TINT the
bad conduct OF our volunteers is the
cause Of the dislike for them. They have
committed all kinds Of excuses, and have
been the aggressors in nearly all the
troubles that have arisen. I was in San
Juan long enough to see the utter futility
OF using natives to police the towns.
The local police, composed Of natives,
couldn't cope with our volunteers, and il
n row started were too much in awe of
the soldiers to put down disorder As
far as the country is concerned. its pro-
Life soil and fine climate are admirable
but the population for the most part have
no redeeming quantities. There are some
honorable exceptions, hut the most Of
the people are Ignorant and lazy, with no
thought of progress or ambition to better
their condition"
The suggestion that the L. S trade the
Philippines for the British West Indies,
is being talked up to considerable ex-
tent in Washington. but not by those in
authority. The idea seems to find its
greatest support among he 3mthernars
and its slrongest oppositioh among c,ti-
zens of the Psoina Uoasi The sugses-
tion FIRST came from ci'i2.ns of the Ice
ward Islands There l. nothing in site to
indicate That g viii he seriously consider
ed by either this or thc British Govern.
went.
The membessof the Cuban Assembly
fairly fell Over th-m-s,iyeS. in voting 60
dissolve, as soVn a. hey realize that II
WAS II question Ur descending from their
perch or seeing those three million Ancri
can dollars sent back to the IT, s.. in
stead Of being put into the pockets Of the
Cuban soldiers.