Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-08-10
wAsHiNGToN LETTER.


lSDITOb CRAWFOSD AVALANCHE.
Secretory koot Is showing his good
sense by putting In all his time ia
miliarizing himself with the work
ings of the mammoth business ma
chine known as the War Depart
ment, leaving the routine affairs of
the department In the hands Of his
capable subordinates until he gets
all the information he desires. Every
day since he was sworn In he has
spent consulting with the heads of
the various bureaus OF the depart
ment, and he is already beginning to
get hold of the numerous threads of
the departmental system. The talk
about probable changes that he will
make is idle at this time. AS he put
it: @Better wait until / know what
is being done before talking about
changes"
That the war with Spain was a
good thing for the II. S. is conceded
by most intelligent men, but Mr.. d.
N. Demetriades, an educat ted Greek,
who has been connected with our
Consular service at COnstantinople
for more than 25 years, and who Is
now in Washington, says it was also
the best thing for Europe that has
occurred in a long time. In explain
ing he said: "The effects Of the war
were more far reaching probably
than the average American dreams
of. 1t brought good to Europe in
this way: it proved beyond doubt
the potency of the great American
Republic, and 1t showed to the pa-
tions that America had at last taken
up position as great w0rld-p0wer.
It's forces hitherto had been latent.
Now along with this new conception
of the Washington government came
a realization that hencefOrth and
forever the English speaking races
would assume the dominant role
in the affairs of the world. En-
gland had been regarded as isolated,
but after England acted as she did
in our war with Spain IL was clear
that a bond had been established
that was of no temporary character.
This then is the great result OF your
triumph over Spain: the peace of
Europe is put on basis Of almost
absolute safety, and the Anglo Amer
lean reaproachment, which was an
other result, that fair play shall exist
between all nations, and that En-
glish and American ideas of liberty
and civilization shall! be the stand
ard Of the world"
Mr.. j. r. Burton, the widely known
Kansas lawyer, is in Washington on
business. He said OF the sentiment
of his state: NINETY per cent of
the people of Kansas approve Of the
administrations policy in regard to
the Philippines, and will stand by
President Mckinley in every thing
ne does in line NTH the doctrine of
Expansion. The democracy of our
state is hopelessly demoralizcd, and
the intelligent element Of 1t will re-
main passive and inert, seeing the
futility of trying to cope with the
Bryan crowd, and recognizing more
over, that republican success in 1900
is foregone conclusion. l think
that Bryan will be re-nominated and
that Aguinaldo would be an excel
lent choice for second place on the
ticket. North Of Mason and Dixon S
line Colorado Is the only state this
ticket can possibly carry, but, Of
course, it would get great support
among the Tagals."
There is more or less alarm among
the timid in Washing ton because
of the existence OF yellow fever
at the soldiers home in Hampton,
Va, and in the adjoining village Of
Phoebus, but Surgeon General Stern
berg, of the army, and Surgeon Gen.
eral Wyman, OF the Marine Hospital
service, whose combined forces are
working In concert against the dis
ease, say there is little danger of the
disease spreading beyond the infect
ed districts.
The U. S. Consul General to Berlin
has written an interesting official
report of contemplated change in
the consular system of Germany,
which indicates how wide-awake the
Germans are becoming In trade-get-
ting. The report says Of the pro-
posed method of consular appoint
ments: "Young men carefully Sc
lected and specially educated for
service in designated field, will 90
out and pass from clerks through the
successive grades to consul.general In
that one district, and as the final
reward Of competent. faithful SER