The St. Johns herald., 1897-12-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Hawaiian Treaty Not a Par
 tisan Measure.


 From Our Regular Correspondent
 WASHINGTON, December IA, 1897.
 Democrats and populists are not be- hind the republicans in joining in the general sympathy extended to MT. Me Kinley because of the great sorrow which has come upon him through the dying agonies of his mother. For the time, the strong opposition to the rec concentrations of his annual message is held in obeyance, and the criticism to which the message is open remains un- spoken. In the presence of he Angel of Death, as it were, any display of par tisanship would he 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 numeroui empty seats in both house Snd senate a'.'... -'. tho attenda7ce was, on the whole. about up to the average of open ng days.
 Senator Daniel was warmly conRratu- lated by his colleagues on his unani- mons renomination by the democratic caucus Of the Virginia legislature.
 Because it happens that all of the out spoken opponents of t annexation of Hawaii in the senate are democrats, it has beer stated that party lines a'e to strictly drawn III the discussion of the treaty, and that a democratic caucus IS likely 10 he held for tha purpose of de- claring against annexation There is no disposition on the part of those demo- cratic senators who are opposing the ratification of the treaty. tl make 1t a part question although they will do all .i1ep can to defeat the treaty. This ought to he apparert :o all, when Sena- tor .5 rgsn, oi Ala-ama, democrat of the -o.k ribbed kind, IS one oi the io'e- most aiv Cates of the ratification of the treaty While the advocates of annex ation ate just as confident az ever that it will be accomplished, not few of them express donbts of the ratification of the treaty. and believe that It will have t0 be done by joint action of con- gress.
 Representative Allen, of Mississippi, who enjoys the reputation of being the wittiest man in the house, says: Down in Mississippi. we have not, as yet been deIuged with prosperity The advance agent is tarrying long time on his way to our section. Tupelo (Mr. Aliens town) is waiting for him and will give him 2 brass band reception. Our peo- nle, however are not suffering for the necessities of life. We live modestly and contentedly and are tong on hog and hominy however short we may oe on filthy lucre We dc not go much on clipping coupons, but as The poet "e.. says, We are the people.
 Senator McLaurin, of South Caroilh"' is opposed to the postal savings oahK scheme. unless mate'Ial changes are made. because he thinks 1t would Iih- pose hardships on owners of real estate especially farm lands. He says that the national banks having no legal right 10 make loans on real estate. the private and savings banks are the principal sources from which such loans are nec- essariIv obtained, and that the opera
 II tion of the postal srvings banks would drive all the idle money into the United States treasury and the national banks, leaving no place where land owners can borrow money. If the scheme be amended so that the money deposited in the postal savings bank can Oe loaned to land owners, Senator McLaurin will gladly support it.
 It isa real pleasure to be able to give this administration credit for go com mendable an action as the official action of the post office department, closing the mails to all newspapers that print advertisements offering chances in any disguised lottery scheme, such as miss ing letter words, guessing, etc. These sSindles have been gbown up almost si