The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-11-29
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER.
Judge Penfield Returns From Brazil.
Where He Investigated Ger
nlany's Colonies.

from his more or less mysterious mis-
sion to Brazil, has caused an immense
amount of Specialization among those
in Washington not on the inside. And
in this case there are very few who
are on the inside The concensus Of
opinion seems to be that he was sent
to South America for a more serious
recreation that the inspection of con-
sulates, which is one of the standing
jokes Of the department, and it is ru-
more that his real mission was, to
look into the extent of German colon
ization in Brill and see what effect if
any it was likely to have on the Mon
roe doctrine. Now this if it was a
fact, displays rather apprehensive
attitude on the part of the admins
tration toward German doings in
South America. It is no secret that
Germany has for many years
had a covetous eye on South America
as a possible site for German colonies.
She would like to plant them there if
she could and failing that, she wants
all the Latin American trade she can
get, which is after all only natural.
The administration could have
learned without going to the expensee
of sending Judge Penfeld to--Brazll
that Germany has already settled a
very large number Of her subjects
there, that they do not take up the
customs Of the country and are not
absorbed as they are in the United
States. Also they have the bulk Of
the foreign trade there with England,
France and the United States coming
good way after. Of course if Ger
many ever feels that she is strong
enough, she may try to ignore the
doctrine which says the whole Ameri-
can continent is for Americans Any
nation will go just SO far as she dares
in trenching on another's rights if it
suits her convenience. International
law is not an exact science yet and
there is little conscience in interna-
tional dealings. The navy department
since long before Admiral Deweys
brush with the German admiral at
Manila has had a plan Of sea cam
paign against Germany all plotted out
and there are a great many officers
who would like to try it in operation
just to see how it would work. But
it will in all probability be very long
time before there is even the possibil-
ity of armed clash between the two
countries and Judge Penfeld's report
to the State department While it
doubtless will be interesting is not
likely to be Of much importance.
There is excellent news for the
manufacturers concerned in the an
nouncement of Secretary Shaw that he
at least will not jeopardize the husi-
ness interest Of the country by recon-
mending any financial legislation II
his coming message. He has been
"seen" by several important business
delegations recently and assured them
that the condition Of the country was
perfectly satisfactory from a financial
standpoint and that so far as his ad-
vice went the president would not IN
corporate any financial recommends
ton in his coming message. The Sec
retary contented himself with gene
ralities and did not say what the fig
cures would be graf deal better
than last year. 1t could be that with
out being very much.
There will be another factor that
will have to be reckoned with, how
ever, and that is the expenditures of
the Panama Canal Commission that
will have to be met out of the treasu-
ry till a bill is passed authorizing the
issue Of bonds. The Spooner act au-
thorized the issue Of bonds, it is true,
but there will have to be additional
legislation before they will be avail
able as the basis Of Nationla bank cir
culation and unless they are made
so available it will be hopeless
for the government TO dispose of them
even at par.
From one Of the lessons learned in
modern warfare and emphasized in the
late Russo-Japanese war, Gen. Crozi-
er, chief ordnance officer, has ordered
entrenchment tools for the use of the
enlisted men in the United States
army. According to this order the en-
tire army and part Of the organized
State militia will be supplied and
every soldier will have a small steel
shovel to carry with his other equip
ment. It will add something to the
;orIof y;