The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-12-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsHINGToN, ID. c., December oh.
MIR. EplToE-Democrats and populists
are not behind the republicans in joining
in the general sympathy extended to Mr..
Mckinley because of the great sorrow
which has come upon him through the dy-
ing agonies of his mother. For the time, the
strong opposition to the recommendations
of his annual message is held in obeyance
and the criticism to which the message is
open remains uuSpoken. In the presence
of the angel of Death, as it were, any dis
play of partiSanship would be unseemly.
The opening of the session of Congress
was, owing to the circumstances, quieter
than usual although the crowds were
there as usual. There were numerous
empty seats in both House and Senate, al
though the attendance was, on the whole,
about up to the average of orening days.
Senator Daniel was warmly congratu-
lated by his colleagues on his unanimous
denomination by the democratic caucus OF
the Virginia legislature.
Because it happens that ali of the out
spoken opponents of the annexation of
Hawaii in the Senate are democrats it has
been stated that party lines are to be
strictly drawn in the discussion of the
treaty, and that democratic caucus is
likely to be held for the purpose of de-
claring against annexation. There is no
disposition on the part of those democratic
Senators who are opposing the ratification
of the treaty, to make it party question,
although they will do all they can to de-
feat the treaty This ought to be apparent
to all when Senator Morgan, of Alabama,
a democrat of the rock ribbed kind, is one
of the foremost advocates of the ratitici,-
ton of the treaty While the advocates
of anne nation are ust as confident as ever
that it will be accomplished, not a few of
them express doubts of the ratification OF
the treaty, and believe that it will have to
be d ne by joint action Of Congress.
Representative Allen, of Mississippi,
who enjoys the reputation OF being the
w.ttiost man in the House says: Down in
in Mississippi, we have not, as yet, been
deluged with prosperity. The advance
agent is tarrying a long time on his way
to our section. Tupelo Mr.. Aliens town.
is waiting for him and will give him
brass band reception. Our people, how
ever, are not suffering for the necessities
of life. We live modestly and contented
ly, and are long on hog and hominy, how
ever short we may be on filthy lucre. We
do not go much on clipping coupons, but
as the poet well says, we are the people"
Senator McLaurin, of South Carolina
is opposed to the Postal Savings Bank
scheme, unless material changes are made
because he thinks it would impose hard
ships on owners of real estate, especially
farm lands. He says that the National
Banks having no legal right to make loans
on real estate, the private and savings
banks are the principal sources from which
such loans are necessarily obtained, and
that the operation of the Postal Savings
Banks would drive all the idle money into
the United States Treasury and the Ma
tional Banks, leaving no place where land
owners could borrow money. If the
scheme be amended so that the money de
posted in the Postal Savings Bank can be
loaned to land owners, Senator McLaurin
will gladly support it.
1t is real pleasure to he able tn give
this administration credit for so commend
able an action as the official action of the
Post Office Department, closing the mails
to all newspapers that print advertise
ments offering chances in any disguised
lottery scheme, such as missing letter
words, guessing, etc. These swindles
have been shown up almost as often as the
green goods business but SO long as they
could advertise they could always find new,
victims.
Although it is perfectly clear that Il
large majority of the House are just as
strongly in favor of adopting the Morgan
resolution for the recognition of the bel
ligercncy of the Cubans, viii, !. was adopt
ed by the Senate at the extra session, as
they were at the extra session, it is equal
" clear that they will not do it. Gar
Reed and his lieutenants agree with the
Mckinley policy of waiting and will not
give the House the opportunity to vote
upon the Morgan or any other Cuban reso-
luton. Thus, the country is shown how
mistaken it has been in supposing that,
under our government, the maj ority rules,
in cit her or both branches of CONGRESS-
The majority rules all right, when allowed
to vote, but voting is only done i'll the
House 10y Gar Reeds permission, and in
the Senate voting is only done when the
minority consents.
The fight against Mr.. Mckenna has
probably already caused Mr. Mckinley to
regret having promised to nominate Lin
to the United States Supreme Court. It's
rrnwinr p,Iitn hot and a onl * not ypt