The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-03-23
Washington Letter.
Washington March 1S, 1899.

from the Philippines different from those
received by private psrti's s? That is the
question of the hour In Washington. At
both the war and navy departments it is
stated that all thenews received indicates
that the victories of the past week have
d4moralized the Filipinos, and that their
early submission is looked for. This is
decidedly cheering and there would be
great rejoicing were it not for private
dispatches received via Hong-Kong,
which say that the war is likely to go on
for an indefinite period, and that it is
liable to break out in fresh places any
time, owing to the treacherous nature of
Filipinos, and their enmity to America !;
lied and ready to take advantage of any
opportunity they may get to massacre and
burn, and that the whipping of Aguin-
aldo's army as body will only result in
guerilla affair. OF course. everybody
wishes to believe that the official news is
correct, but the private news is a. sort of
wet blanket all the same. One thing
everybody could and did rejoice over
Dewey's report that the Oregon had ar
rived in tip-top condition.
A warning has been sounded by Sena-
tor Frye, concerning the crafty methods
that are being used to create sentiment
in this country in behalf of the Panama
canal, project through which the poor
people of France have already been
robbed of millions and scandal created
which, for time threatened the existence
of the French republic, and which caused
Ferdinand de Lesseps to end his days un-
der the shadow of disgrace, that is worthy
Of mere than passing notice. Senator
Frye found out while he was in Paris, as a
peace commissioner, that the managers of
the Panama Canal company intended to
make the attempt to get control of the U.
S. congress, for the purpose of getting
legislation in favor of the Panama canal
and, Of course, big pile of Uncle Sam g
good dollars. The scheme succeeded to
commission to investigate both the Pana-
ma and Nicaragua routes, work which
senator Frye points out was done by a
committee, of which he was member,
more than twenty years ago The next
move in the scheme is free trip given to
such senators and representatives as will
go, for the alleged purpose Of Investigating
and inspecting the canal routes. The trip
| is to last Il month and the steamship that
| will carry the party will be we'll furnish
ed with everything good to eat and drink
and no money will be accepted from
passengers. Senator Frye says he refused
iunket, and intimates his belief that some
OF those who accepted will live to regret
having done so.
One mans prophecy is on general
| principals worth about as much notice as
another's, but here is prophecy made by
Capt. Thos. H. Mckee, journal clerk of
the house, who thinks himself and is
thought by many others to be high author
ity upon the drift of political events. Capt
Mckee says: II prophecy that inside Of
two years Cuba will be annexed to the U
S. Business interests In the island will
urge such action. The Cubans are entire
ly without revenues, and should they b.
left to govern themselves, they would
proceed to tax foreign corporations out o
existence"
Let those who are short on faith mak'
a little study Of the payment Of 5000, ,0O(
to Cuban soldiers it is an object lessor
on faith, from start to finish. To star
president that it appropriated $4,000, ,0O'
to he spent at his discretion then th'
president had faith enough in Hon. Robt
p. Porter to send him 10 dicker with Gen
Gomez, commander-in-chief of the CubaI
army, for the disbandment of that army
and to offer to distribute the $3 ,000, ,00
among the soldiers, il they would return
to peaceful occupations. Gomez, has 81
much faith in the offer that heaccepted it
although only verbally made, on behalf o
the Cubans, and In return this government
showed its confidence in him by maxim,
his o. K. the only thing that would en-
able Cuban soldier to draw his shart
of the money. 1t has been decided tina
each man who served in the Cuban arm
previous to the singing of the eprotocol be
tween Spain and the U. s., whether a
private or officer, will be given 800 upo
surrender of his arms and signing of tn
pay roll approved by General Gomez. Th
Z. S. government has so much faith i
the Cubans that it will not require thes
men to either take an oath of allegianc
or obligate themselves not to take u
arms against us. If that isn't real faith
pray what is it? Acting secretary of wa
Meikleiohn says the administration IL
tends that Cuba shall repay this none,
out of it's revenues, but there will
nothing indicating such an intention cor
nected with the payment, which Is
begin at Once,-not scrap of writin
showing that the money is loaned. Nj
Melikleiohn also made the interestin
statement that Gen. Gomez would no
receive cent of this money, which ha
set many minds to wondering wher
. Gomez got the money he is now splurgin
with in Havana.
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