The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-27

Last Monday it was alleged that
Mckinley was sick. Speaking OF 1t
the Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun says
1t was not physical aliment alto
eether which disinclined Mckinley to
give audience TO callers.
1t is absolutely correct that the Pres
ident is very much depressed by the
situation in the Philippines Not only
this, but the contemplation Of other
complications which will. 1t is now
seen, eventually grow out OF our ex-
pansiOn policy is more than suiilclent
TO produce disquiet and apprehension
in the mind Of the man responsible for
conditions which exist
Sooner or later the President will
have to call for the volunteers provided
for by Congress 1t has beer several
times semi officially announced there
would be no necessity for this There
will be, if we are to hold the Philip
pines, and constantly the answer to
all arguments by the opposition is that
we cannot afford to let go. A very
high government official says We
must hold on. even should it take half
a million of men. h." The cost IN
money he did not consider worth while
to discuss.
The President was not too busy to see
several members Of the cabinet, in
Guiding the Secretary of War, with
whom he talked long over the news
from the East The President is Bit
terly disappointed at the protracted
and stubbon resistance which the army
is meeting in the Philippines. lie had
not the least idea Of such thing when
he concluded TO insist upon the cession
of the islands. Now, such vista OF
immensely opens up before him that 1t
may well trouble his waking and sleep.
ing hours. The treasure to be dropped
from the Golfers Of the country in this
far of land is consideration quite
serious enough of itself, when com
pared with the probable equivalent
Far more that this. infinitely more are
the valuable lives offered up AS daily
sacrifice with the most Insignificant
result. Where is it to end?
After all that has been done our
forces are scarcely out Of sight Of the
spires of Manila. Dewey with his
ships had Manila at his mercy, and
our army has not been able to hold
foot of ground that the navy could not
have controlled without its assistance.
II this is all twenty or thirty thousand
men can do, it may be found before
we are through with this business that
the estimate Of the official above allud-
ed TO is not excessive.
T-.to,c Tho Ei1inipoo arc nQpiflpf we
might employ every ship in the navy
and be entirely unable to maintain
more than paper blockade. Whether
they have money or not, they Will never
have any trouble in securing all sup
plies, war-like or otherwise, which
they may wish Nations Of Europe. so
anxious to block our game, will see TO
that There is much talk just now
over what are alleged to be the indis-
Greet utterances of Captain Coghlan.
They may be indiscreet. but they are
literally true, except they go very little
towards telling the whole story This
country would be set afiame did 1t
know all that is hidden in the Off
cial breast in Washington, and which.
il whispered under the breath may be
taken, will be divulged in due time.
The same correspondent concludes
his letter with this significant statement :;
lone whose opportunities give him
exceptional advantages for the posses.
sion of inside intelligence predicted
most confidently this evening clash OF
arms growing out of the Philippine
situation between the United States
and nation much more powerful than
Spain.
The Washington, ID. o., Post OF
the same day says:
1--WE are on very delicate terms with
Germany just now