The Press., 1899-09-21
Washington Letter.
washington, Sept. l8, 1899.

washington, Sept l8, 1899.
While 1t is unquestionably true, as
stated by government officials, that the
object in ordering Prof. Worcester and
Mr.. DENLY, civilian members of the Phili-
pine commission, to proceed to Washing
ton at once, was to enable the commits
sion, with the exception of Gen. Otis, to
assemble at Washington and prepare a
report before congress meets, there Is an
other, and many consider more import
ant object, In getting the civilian COM
missioners away from Manila before the
next campaign opens. That is, to put
stop to negotiations, which SO hampered
the last campaign in Luzen and were pro-
ductive Of nothing but delay, which was
advantageous to the PHILIPPINES. Present
plans do not contemplate any more nego-
tiations, and the surest way to prevent
them was to order the last of the civilian
commissioners away from the Philippines.
Nothing but unconditional surrender is to
be allowed to stop the fighting during the
coming campaign.
The administration was prepared to
make the Ohio campaign one of national
Importance, and to fight it upon national
issues. 1t recognizes that Mr.. Mclean
is strong candidate, and that the presi-
dent cannot afford to lose his own state
this year. At least two members of the
cabinet -Postmaster-G General Smith and
Secretary Wilson-will stump Ohio, and
ask an endorsement of the administration
and its policy. They will defend expan-
sion as just the thing needed to extend the
foreign market for the surplus products of
this century, and vigorously combat the
claim that expansion and Imperialism are
Synonymous terms. AS the opposition
seem willing to make the fight on. .natiora'
lines, the voters of Ohio are not likely to
lack full information on both sides of the
questions at issue during the next few
weeks. Both sides will agree until efec-
tion day that the result will practically
settle the presidential contest; after the
votes are counted, the losers will, of
COuE60, U0CltEo tudl IL Will uOb
the national campaign at all.
AS war-like as the situation in the
Transvaal republic now looks, the average
educated Englishman who visits Wash
ing!on expresses the strongest confidence
In peaceful settlement of the squabble
between the little South African govern
ment and Great Britain. The cause of
this feeling of confidence in peace, ac-
ton, is the belief that Queen Victoria has
fully made up her mind that no war shall
mar the last yeals Of her long reign, II it
can be avoided with honor. 1t may be
| that distance lends enchantment to the
view, but it Is certain that the average
American does not see the British foreign
tpefIcy-fn ony such rosy -iight, uor uuus
he believe that the Queens wishes con-
troll that policy to any marked extent.
AS matter of cold everyday fact, there
has not been single year of Queen
Victoria's long reign, not excepting the
present one, In which Great Britain has
not been engaged in war of some sort
In some part of the world.
The rest of the world Is just beginning
to realize that Russia will be a future
factor in Industrial matters, Siberia,
which for years was thought to be vast
wilderness, used principally to shorten the
lives of Russian prisoners of state, Is nov
known to be one of the finest agriculture
regions on earth. A late report to thu
state department from the U. s. consul a
Chemnitz, says: "Siberia and the Amu
lands are rich beyond belief. Theil
5,213,956 square miles are inhabited b.
only 1900, 900 persons. In recent years
however, the number of imigrants-40O,
600 last year-has been equaled only b.
the tide which poured into the U. S. II
the past. This vast territory, long look
ed upon as a barren waste, is destined tt
be one of the worlds richest and mos
, productive sections. The industries O
Siberia are In their infancy; still they ar
growing and are bound to grow, so ricl
are the rewards promised" The wbea
crop of Siberia ripens in 107 days, agains
1877 days In Northern France, and wi
some day become enormous.
If report just made to the departmen
of state, by the U. s. consul at StratforC
Canada, is not based upon exaggerated IL
formation, 1t is only question of tim
. when the market for coal from the U.
will be very poor in Canada, where it no.
: has practically monopoly. The repol
> says that Canadian company expects t
!. put compressed peat fuel on the marke
shortly, which is in some respects superic
:, to coal and which has almost as muc
y heating power. The company claims tha
the supply of raw material is PRACTICAL
;. inexhaustible and that the fuel can /
produced for so cents ton. The preser
retail price of American coal in Canada
about SO a ton.
"Much ado about nothing" describe
the amount of newspaper space used