The times., 1897-12-29
CONGRESS- HAS MUCH TO Do.
An Inert PoIity VIII Not BE
Tolerated

Unless tle President settles some OF the
foreign complications that arc staring the
United states in the face. in a way salts
factory tC the 4 merican sentiment he VIII
probably have Congress on his hands for
mucl longer period II an he may desire.
There is 6 growing feeling among Senators
that Congress should not adjourn until SOM.
positive steps have been taken in the mat
ters nov pendng. in which this Govern
ment has vii al interest. In other words,
the Congress is afraid that the President
Will not deal with the subjects in IN Il
merican n.anner promised for him befDr-
election, but oT which since election, there
has beer 10 evidence. The lack OF veTte-
bEae on the part "a the President Is caus-
ing severe criticism, and these CRITICISMS are
growing il Intensity every day.
promiIilt member OF the Senate Com
mittcc on Foreign Relations said yester
da that il would be unsafe for Congress
to a. ;ou,n until the skies had cleared off
very materially. There are so .nIIy
things stirring now in which We are in
terested," said he. that II would be
most uuwise for Congress 10 adjourn until
the situa tiou las made itself plain.
am quite confident the senate will no:
agree 10 an sd dtUHrnmeut, Whatever the
House ms do, until we know what the
future haS III store The cOmPl.c3 tfons
in Chue 20 IS the most vital Importance
to US True, we do not care to Co
operate liz the cutting up OF that en-
pire, noi do we hook for n slice Of that
country. Stul, we have interests there
that caDnot he 5eopardiZed. Our trade
relations with China are large ami our
trade is growing yearly. IL we run up
aga inst new conditions that VIII be en-
furced 9i list us b. be European powers
thai take possession we Will lose all that
we have z ii.ed during the years that we
have beer building up II commerce with
that c1unTy.'
The HawHiian annexa lion question viii
also prolong the session for that result
greatly TO bc desired. though it is, will
not be- reached without much delay anG
only after long debate. The situation
in :hc Orient only makes it the more i'm
pcratige that this country sIouId control
the islands. ard the friends Of annexation
will renew the fight after the holidays
with iucreascd zeal.
The CHhaI question is also one in which
Congress viii rot lose interest. The time
seems 10 f'c almost a hand when Congress
will throw aside the Executive shackIes
and deal with this question after its own
fashion. The President ma Y he given a
few Taorc weeks in which 10 see W hat tbs.
policy of Spain may bring forth and if. in
the meantime there has not harn a Spanish
outhreaR Ia prccipitate matters, or the
Cubans have not settled the question in
heir own way. by whipping the Spaniards
off the island. Congress viii take action
that viii notify the world what it telieyes
should he done. and tha action will be of
the most decided character. The President
as it now appears. will he una ble to keep
the House Of RepT7sentati5 rs much longer
in check: The Senate is. IF course. ever
readyto act S il has act ed in TIE past.
Another foreign complication that Con
grCsS wishes &c see dispose,. Of before II
leaves tie city is tie entanglem ent with
Great Britain growing out of the seal ques
tion. Great britain has backed and filled
on this matter 50 long tiiat the American
people are fast losing patience with TIE
British. THAT government is properly
charged with acting in bad faith. The
United States has done everything in its
power TO stop the killing of seals ana
now it is compelled und er the terms Of
an arbitration treaty to pay the Canad-
ians u round sum of money for protecting
the property uf the United States.