The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-03-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D, c., Feb. 81, 1S9!

| TO PRESIDENT MCKINLEY, which is
alone sufficient proof that the demo-
cratic claim of having compelled its
acceptance by the republicans is bit
of moonshine. The simple truth is
that the democrats were clearly out
| generated by the republicans. In
their anxiety to escape censure from
| the people for trying to tie the hands
| of the administration, by opposing
the Hull army bill, the democrats of
fered to vote for u bill that gives
practically everything the Hull bill
would have given, except that it only
provides for the additional mon for
two years from next July, instead of
leaving it discretionary with the
President how long the additional
men should be kept in the army.
President Mckinley and the repub-
! lican Senators took advantage of the
opportunity thus presented to pre-
! vent an extra session of Congress.
Their object in doing this is obvious.
First, they avoid an extra session,
which no one wanted; second, the in
creased army is secured at once, when
it is needed, and last, but by no mears
least, the next Congress can be de-
pended upon to pass any permanent
army legislation that may be recon-
mended by President Mckinney 1t
] will no thAppfnpa m h., L.;
of victory by the democrats is Just
about as substantial as that set up by
the Spaniards after Dewey had de
strOyed their fleet at Manila and later
when they announced that Cervera
| had won a great victory. President
Mckinley has won a double triumph:
secured the soldiers he needs and
avoided an extra session of Congress.
So far is Secretary Long from enter
tanning a feeling Of ill-wili towards
Admiral Schley that he has caused it
to be announced that in the event of
the failure of the Senate, to act upon
Schley's nomination to be Rear Ad-
miral, which ne does not expect, the
Navy Department will not allow
Schley TO be forced out Of the service,
although failure Of the Senate to act
on the nomination would leave
Schley without official status, as
another man has been nominated
and confirmed to succeed him as
Commodore. which leaves no vacancy
in that grade.
Representative johnson, of In
diana, made another speech attack
ing the President-probably his last,
as he retires from public life at the
end of the present week-which was
effectually replied to by Representa-
tive Lands, of the same state, who
declared that Mr. johnson had been
repudiated by his constituents whose
sentiments he did not represent in
any sense, and supported the declara-
ton by reading extracts from repub-
lican papers in his district. ''Those
editors, " said Mr.. Lands, ARE the
lhCi wiz CSo up
held the hands of Oliver p. Morton,
against the assaults of the copper
heads. If the gentleman returns to
his district, he will be crucified by
public opinion and spat upon with
Indignation"
Senator Warren made a successful
firbt for on a,nan1,nopt +o Tho Riyar
and Harbor bill that means much to
those who live in the arid sections of
the country. 1t provides for the es-
tablishment of group of reservoirs
in Wyoming and for surveys to dem
onstrate the praticability of Great
ing other reservoirs in arid and semi
arid states, especially along the head
waters of the Missouri river.
How strong the Nicaragua Canal
is in the Senate, was shown by the
fact that only three votes were cast
against the River and Harbor bill,
containing an amendment providing
for the construction of the Canal.
The only thing that can prevent the
amended bill going through the
House is lack of time, and that can
probably be arranged:
When Senator Sewell expressed the
fear that we could not satisfy the Gu
bans, no matter how much was done
for them, and that we should sooner
or later have them fighting US, he said
many have been thinking without
saying, although hoping that the Gu
bans would in the end justify the
high opinion which Senator Foraker
and others hold of them. 1t is diff
cult, however, to make peaceable
citizens of men who have been profess
sional revolutionists all their lives, as
most of the Cuban leaders have been.
In view of the situation at Manila,
when Aguinaldo's horde are firing on
the Red Cross, using the white flag to
lure our soldiers in range of their
rifles, acting as midnight incendiaries,
and otherwise showing themselves to
be outside the pale of civilization, the
speeches in praise of the Filipinos that
have been made in Congress are close