The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08
" Wasbingtol Letter.
Washington, Dec. 6. 1897.

democrats anu poputiSt0 are uo'
behind the republicans in joining in
the general sympathy extended to Mr.
Mckinley because Of the great sor
row which has cone upon hirntthrough
the dying sgonies of his mother. Fol
the time. the strong opposition to
the recommendations Of his annual
message is held in abeyance, and the
criticism to which the message ie
open remains nnspoken. In the pres
ence ofthe angel Of Death. ae it were,
any display of partisanship would be
unseemly
The opening of the session Of Con
gress was, owing to the circDmstan
ces, quieter than usual, although the
crowda were there as usual. There
were numerous empty seats in both
House and Senate. although the at
tendance was, on the whole. about up
to the average of opening days.
Senator Daniel was warmly con-
graduated by his colleagues on his
unanimous denomination by the
democratic caucus of the Virginia
legislature
Because it happens that all of the
outspoken opponents of the annexa-
tion Of Hawaii in the Senate are de.
mocrats it has been stated that party
l;nee are to be strictly drawn in the
discussion of the treaty, and that q
democratic caucus is likely to be
held for the purpose of declaring
against apnexation There is no dis.
position on the part of those demo-
cratic Senators who are opposing the
ratification of the treaty, to make.it a
party question, although they will do
all they can to defeat the treaty.
This ought to be apparent to ali when
Senator Morgan. of Ala, demo
crat of the rock ribbed kind, is one
of the foremost advocates of the rati-
fcation Of the treaty While the
advocates Of annexation are just as
confident as ever that il will be &C.
compliehed, not q few of them ex
press doubts. of the ratification Of the
treaty, and believe that it will have to
be done by joint action Of Congress
Representative Allen, of Miss.
who enjoys the reputation OF being
the wittiest man in the House says:
Down in Mississippi. ne hayesnot,
ss yet, been delnged with prosperity.
The advance agent is tarrying a long
time on his way to our section Tup
.elo lMr Aliens town) is waiting for
him land will give him a brass band
reception. Our people, however, are.
not suffering for the necessities of
life We live modessly and content
edIy and are long on hog and homioy,s
however short we may be on filthy
1ucre Ne do not gomuch on clip
ping cupons, but as the poet well
says, .. e are the people"
Senator McLaurin. of South Caro-
lima, is opposed TO the Postal Savings
Bank scheme, unless material changes
are made. because he thinks it
would impose hardships on owners
Of real estate. especially farm lands
He says that the National Banks hav.
ing no legal right to make loans on
real estate. the private and savings
banks are the principal sources from
which snch loans are necessarily OBJ
tained, aud that the operation of the.
Postel Savings Bsnks would drive
ali the idle money into the United
States Treasury and the National
Banks, leaving no place where land
owners could borrow money If the
scheme Be amended so that the
money deposited in the Postal Saw
ipgs Bank can be loaned to land
owners. Senator McLaurin will glad
y support it.
1t is real pleasure to be able to
give this administration credit for 80
commendable 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 missing letter words,
guessing, etc These swindIes have
been shown mp almost as often as the
green goods business, but so long as
they could advertise they could al
ways 6nd new victims
Although it is perfectly clear that a
large majority Of the House are just
as strongly in favor Of adopting the
Morgan resolution for the recognl-
ton o. the belligerency of the Gu
bans. which was adopted by the Sen
ate at the extra session, as they were
at the extra session. it is equally
clear that they vill not do it Czar
Reed and his lieutenants agree with
the Mckinley policy of waiting, and
will not give the House the oppor