San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-09
PATRIOTISM, PEACE AND PROS
PERITY FROM THE KEY NOTE
OF THE MESSAGE.
Will Keep New Jersey Iu Line -Fa-
vOr a Short SeSSiOn-Frauiulent
Lottery Schemes Much Money
To Be SpeEt On HartOr And
River improvements,

Washington, d. c., Dec. 9.-Special-
In every life there must be sorrow,
If not today, then tomorrow;
But of all sorrows there's no other
Like the loss of mother.
The great sympathy felt for the be-
reavement of President Mckinley
tinged the assembling of Congress
with unusual sadness, which not even
the great interest felt in the strong
message of the president could dissi-
pate. There were the usual crowds in
the galleries of both house and senate,
but the sorrow expressed in the faces
of senators and representatives was
reflected in the faces of the visitors
above them. There is something in
the death of ones mother that appeals
to the sympathies of others as does
the death of no other relative.
Had President Mckinley followed
the example of his immediate prede-
cessor, who rarely finished one of his
messages to Congress until the day
before Congress met, his message
would not have been ready, but he
completed the message a week ago,
and did not have that on his mind
while travelling to the bedside of his
stricken mother. from which he re-
turned TO Washington to perform the
duties incumbent upon him at the
opening of the session of Congress.
As soon as those duties were perform
ed he started for Canton again, to per-
form more painful duty, carrying
with him the sorrowful sympathies of
the whole country.
Three P's patriotism, peace and
prosperity form the keynote of Pres
ident McKinley's annual message to
Congress. His treatment of the an
nexation of Hawaii, the Cuban and
other foreign questions, including that
of commercial reciprocity, is patriot
ic to the core, without the slightest
trace of jingoism, and his treatment
of the financial and other domestic
questions is that of a man who only
desires that which will continue and
increase the prosperity the country is
now beginning to enjoy.
In addition to getting a first-class
man to fill the important position of
attorney general, President McKin-
ley's choice of Gov. John w. Griggs,
of New Jersey, to fill the vacancy in
the cabinet that will be made by the
nomination of Attorney General Nc
Kenna to succeed Justice Field, who
retired from u S. Supreme Court last
week, after having served there long
er than any of his predecessors, is
considered to be a good political move
one that will aid materially in keep
ing New Jersey in the Republican
column, and the wish is general that
Gov. Griggs will accept the rendered
portfolio.
The activity in certain quarters in
efforts to make the public believe that
some money is being spent for the
purpose of creating anti-annexation
sentiment, if so, is being thrown
away, as annexation is absolutely
sure to come before the close of this
session of Congress. Two-thirds of
the senate are ready at any time to
vote for the ratification of the annexa-
ton treaty, but the rules of the SEN
ate put it in the power of the oppon-
ents-not more than twenty at the |
delay the vote. Should |
it become apparent that this power is |
being used for filibustering purposes,
will be secured by legis-
lation, which will only need a majori-
ty vote.
The more conservative element in
Congress is strongly in favor of max
ing this session as short as possible. |
This eminent was voiced by Repre-
sentative HeatwOle, of Mimi, when
he said: "In my opinion, this Con-
gress should get through it's routine
work by May /, and adjourn. The
smallest amount Of legislation will be
Of the greatest benefit to the country,
and if we can finish and go home by
that date, a good many millions of
our countrymen will rise up and call
US blessed" Speaker Reed says he
sees no excuse at present for making
the session very long one.
Nothing of more general benefit to
the morals of the country has been
lone lately than the official announce
ment of the Post Office Department