Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
Washington. ID. c., December 30.

Washington. d. c., December 80.
General Won Bobuslawski's violent de-
nunciation of the Monroe doctrine cabled
to this country this morning is
regarded among officials here as a
semi-official utterance of the German
government upon that principle
1t also makes a conviction out of a
suspicion that Germany had seized
the Venezuelan situation 10 make
assault upon the doctrine. No doubt
exists here that the generals con-
tribution is an inspired statement of the
German attitude, for without high au-
thoritv an officer OF the German army
would not have dared TO discuss in any
German publication matter OF interna-
tional bearing. After Bismarck S
death series of events led the
State Department to believe that
Germany had abandoned her opposi-
ton to the American policy. Not the
least factor in this reinsurance was
the fact that the American delegates to
the Peace Conference had declared in
full or open session that nothing contain
ed in the convention should make it the
duty of the United States to relinquish
its traditional attitude on purely Ameri-
can questions However, it was believed
here that silent acquiescence by all
of the European powers had been
given to the validity of the Mon
roe doctrine. Apparently, Germany
reserved her opinion on the subject 1t
is recognized that a single rash act on
the part of any one, on either side,
might precipitate condition far more
serious sthan the present Venezuelan
complications. That is the reason why
President Roosevelt and Secretary Hay
are working to secure cessation OF the
blockade at the earliest possible moment.
Checks in payment due on January l.,
on government obligations, will be mailed
tomorrow from the United States Treasu-
rer The amount due is 81, 56l 40, OF
which there has been prepaid in an
ticipation of interest 81, 026, APO. This
leaves the amount to be disbursed to-
morrow SO, 53s, O7O.
The War Department today received
a cablegram from Gen. Davis at Manila
stating that the transport Sherman had
arrived December % under her own
steam. The ship had struck reef in
San Bernardino strait and took consider
able water. The extent of damage is
not yet known.
Efforts are being made to have Senator
Hawley, of Connecticut, retired as a
brigadier general of the army. 1t is now
certain that Senator Hawley, because of
his physical and mental ills, will not be
able to occupy his seat in the Senate.
He served in the army during the civil
war, attaining the rank of a major gen
eral of volunteers and is chairman Of the
committee on military affairs of the
Senate. When Representative Boutelie,
Of Maine, became so i'll that he was COM
PEELED to remain in a sanitarium Con-
aress passed bill retiring him at the
same rate as a captain in the navy.
During the civil war Mr.. Boutelle served
in the navy. He was chairman of the
House committee on naval affairs.
The Secretary of the Navy today de-
tached Captain Robert NJ. Berry from
the navy yard at Norfolk, and ordered
him to the command of the battleship
Kentucky. Captain Craig has been
ordered to duty as commandant at the
Norfolk navy yard.
At today's session of the American Negro
Academy. Orishatukeh Faduma, native of
Africa, and graduate of Yale, spoke upon
1.-The Defects Of the Negro Church" The
speaker maintained that one of the greatest
disadvantages under which the negro labored
was his excessive emotionalism, and said that
his religious training tended TO make him a
nervous rather than moral being.