The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-05-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

LIS cdlleTS, many Vi WHOln lie surprises
by his intimate knowledge of politi-
cal conditions in their states. Col. w.
L. Durbin, Republican candidate for
Governor of Indiana, who was one of
his late callers, assured the President
that the Republican party of that
state was in splendid condition and
would carry the state by handsome
majority.
Governor Roosevelt's visit to Wash
ington has demonstrated that he is
one of the most popular men in pub
lie life. This was shown wherever he
went, and his popularity is by no
means confined to Republicans. When
he went to the Capitol he was greeted
quite as cordially by Democrats as by
members of his own party
Democrats are saying, on the quiet,
many harsh things about Senators
Butler and Pettigrew, who are chare
ed with responsibility for the nomi-
nation of Towne for Vice President,
by the Sioux City Populist Conven-
tiop. Publicly they are afraid to ex-
press opinions about Townes nomi-
nation.
Senator Spooner has, according to
the understanding in Washington, Sc
cured the honor of presenting Presi-
dent McKinley's name to the Phila-
Cnn-antior IIo = ,ro11 =
ted to do justice to the subject and to
the occasion. Among the prominent
men who will make speeches second
ing the nomination will be Gov Roos-
evelt, of New York.
Representative O'Grady introduced
a delegation from Rochester, N. Y,
to President Mckinley. They extend
ed an invitation to the President to
attend the banquet to be given in
honor of Gen. Otis, June 18th, and he
told them he would consider it priv
ilege to join in honoring Gen. Otis,
whose work in the Philippines emit
tied him to the unstinted praise of the
American people, but for the fact
that he did not think any person
should be present, who, by reason of
superior rank, would share the hon
ors intended for Gen. Otis alone.
Senator Lodge made a short speech
while the Naval Appropriation bill
was being discussed by the Senate,
which is regarded as an official notice
to Europe that this Government is
prepared to fight to maintain the
Monroe Doctrine, if necessary, which
was supplemented by Senator Daniel,
with a few remarks, showing that
the maintenance of the Monroe Doc
trine, is the one important question
upon which there is no political divi-
sion in the Senate. incidentally Mr..
Lodge served notice ON Germany that
no dickering for the possession of the
Danish West Indies would be tolerat-
ed by this government. 1t was not
jingo speech, but plain statement
of the situation. Said Mr.. Lodge:
my reason for desiring more ships
and desiring them quickly is my be-
lief that the safety of the United
States depends upon the strength of
our Navy. We do not need the Navy
for the protection of our insular pos
sessions. The danger lies in our great
coast line and in the defense of the
Monroe Doctrine in this hemisphere
OF the relation of a stronger Navy to
the Isthmian Canal, Mr.. Lodge said:
I'VE are about to enter upon the
construction of an Isthmian canal,
and we must be the naval masters OF
the Caribbean sea. We must have a
more powerful fleet than we have to-
day. The safety of the canal de-
ponds upon the strength of our navy.
All admit that the canal ought to be
built, and the time is near when the
work will begun. If we are to protect
the canal as our own coast, we must
have a navy proportionately strong.
/ hope and believe that we shall have
no war, but great fleet is the best
insurance of peace. However, we
would be foolish, indeed, if we should
close our eyes to the possibilities of
the situation. We could never allow
the Danish islands to pass into any
other hand than ours. Any European
nation which should undertake to
take possession of those islands, right
on the road to the Canal, and to
make them great naval station
would by that very act become an
enemy of ours. We could submit to
no such thing as that" The speech
made sensation in diplomatic cir
Giles, and was cabled in full to all of
the great European powers.
That shortage in the accounts of
G. F. w. Neeley, who has been finan-
cial agent of the Cuban Postal Sys-
TEN, has been greatly exaggerated.
The full report of Col, Burton, of the
Inspector Generals Department of
the army, who discovered the short