The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-12-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


itI.t .n.oay, then tom Jrrpw;
Bu, ufa.I sorrows there's IL ether
Lie the /, - Of mo,her,
Tie greet sympathy felt for the
bereavement Of President Mckinley
tiDged the assembling Of Congress
with unusual sadness, which not even
the great interest felt in the strong
message the President could dissipate.
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 illness OF ones mother that APP
peals to the synpathies Of others as
does that 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 ii week ago, and did not
have that on his mind while traxeLzlg
to the bedside of his stricken mother,
from which he returned 10 Washing
ton 10 perform the duties incumbent
upou him at the opening OF Congress.
As soon asthOse duties were performed
he started Tor Canton again, to per
form a most painful duty, carrying
with him the aorrowful aympathies
of the whole country.
Three P's, patriotism, peace and
prosperity form The keynote Of Presi-
dent Gchinley'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 pa
triotic to the core, without the slight
est trace of jmgoism, and his treat
ment of the financial and other do
mestic questions is that of man who
only desires that which will continue
and increase the prosperity the coun-
try is now beginning to enjoy.
In addition to getting first class
man to fill the important position Of
Attorney General, President Ncizin-
ley's choice Of Gov. John W. Giiggs
of \. J., 10 ill the vacancy in the
Cabinet That will be made in the
nomination OF Attorney General he
Kenna 10 succeed Justice Field, who
retired from the Z. S. Supreme Court
last week, after having served there
longer than any Of his predecessors, is
considered to be a good political move
one that viii aid materially in keep
ING New Jersey III the Republican col
umn, and the wish is general that
Gov Griggs will accept the rendered
portfolio.
The activity in certain quar- in
efforts to make the public believe that
there is some doubt about the annex&-
ton Of Hawaii, indicates that some
money is being spent for the purpose
oflcreating NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
If so, it is being thrown away, as an
neXation is absolutely sure to come
before the close of this session of Con
gress. Two-thi:;,s of the Senate are
ready at any time to vote for the rati-
licatiOn of the annexation treaty, but
the rules of the Senate put it in the
power of the opponents-uot more
than twenty at the outside-to delay
the vote. Should it become apparent
that this power is being used for fill
clustering purposes, annexation will
be secured be legislation, which will
only need a majority vote.
The more conservative element in
Congress is strongly in favor of MAX
ing this session as short as possible.
This sentiment was voiced by Repre-
sentative Heatwolc, Of Mimi, when
SAID: "in my opinion, this Congress
should get through It's routine work
by May /, and adjourn. The smallest
amount of legislation vii! be of the
greatest benefit to the country, and if
we can finish and 90 home by that
date, a good many million 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
morals of the country has been done
lately than the official announcement
of the Post Office Department that
the mails would hereafter be closed to
newspapers that print missing-letter
word contests, or any other kind of
advertising matter containing chance
or lottery schemes. Some of the most
daring swindling of the age has been
conducted by this class of advertisers,
. all of which violated the spirit, if not
the letter, of the anti-lottery law.
Inasmuch as about $20,000,000 will
be expended upon River and Harbor
improvements, under contracts pre-
viously made, during the next fiscal
year, there is quite strong feeling in