Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-12-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular CORRESPONDENCE


aag?" is regarded as committing him
in favor of expansion, and ofretalning
the Philippines, aud it has enthused
the expanNonists in Congress, and
out of Congress. Then came Col.
Brvan's visit to Washington for the
double purpose of trying to prevent
Senators OF his party opposing the
ratification cf the treaty Of Peace,
which he says should not figure in
the fight against expansion, and OF
sohdifying his party in both branches
of Congress against expansion. He
succeeded so well in the first that 1t
is now generally expected that the
treaty will be ratified by the Senate
before the close of this session OF
Congress, although it cannot be sent
to the Senate until the first week III
January. He wasn't so successful in
his other object. He found numerous
Senators and Representatives OF his
party who told him plainly that they
and their constituents believed that ii
was the proper thing for this govern
ment to keep all the territory 1t ac-
quired in the war with Spain, and
that so long as the administration
policy was legitimate expansion, and
not imperialism, they expected to
cordially supportit. Col. Bryan ad-
mitted in conversation with his
friends tn at public sentiment at the
present time is favorable to expan-
sion, but he argued that it will soon
be changed and will support the
position he has taken.
The Nicaragua Canal bill cannot
be SAID to have made any real pro-
gress during the week it has been
the unfinished business" OF the
Senate. Nearly all Of the Senators
claim to favor the Canal, but ma
joriiy of them appear TO have differ
ont ideas ofthe Legislation that will
best accomplish that result. The
consequence is a number of amend.
talk of several brand new
bills. Senator Morgan says he doesn't
care whose bill is passed or what its
exact form is, just so the construction
of the Canal is authorized a! this
session Of Congress.
The sentiment expressed by Prcsi-
dent McKmley-that the time had
come when the L. S. Government
ought TO share int care Of the Con
federate dcad-found an echo in Con
gress when Representative Rixey, of
Va, introduced n bill providing that
the government should also share in
the care of living ConEederates, who
are needy, by opening to them all
Homes and other institutions
maintained by the Government for
rx-soldiers, upon the same terms
that L. 5. soldiers and sailors are
admitted.
Members of the Anglo.American
Commission no longer speak hopefully
Of success in the negotiation Of a
treaty that will remove all friction
between this country and Canada,
and establish commercial reciprocity.
On the contrary, they now regard
any satisfactory agreement on reel
procity, as improbable, ifnot actually
impossible, and the negotiation Of a
treaty embracing any points OF real
Importance is very doubtful. The
Commission has adjourned until Jan.
8, when last atiemp. to agree on
something will be made.
Col. Bryan's friends are divided as
to whether the New Yorker who was
quoted as follows in a local paper, |
meant to be complimentary or other
wise: II think Bryan would have
made one of the greatest actors that
ever trod the boards, and even now,
if he would adopt the stage, there is
almost the certainty of success. lie
is a born actor, and had he started
in time, would have Outshone the
greatest we have seen in this genera
ton. His Chicago speech that won
him the nomination for President was
a mastery bit of actihg-so was his
going to the war. | don't mean by
that to accuse him of insincerlty, but
i, is the very nature Of the man to
play a part. He has a magnificent
face, fine voice, and magnetic presence,
all of which would have lifted him to
the topmost place had fate decreed
him TO be Thcspian."
Same Old Congress; same old talk
about working through the holidays
same old joint resolution providing
for Christmas recess of two weeks,
ii, IN the Dist inst. Amenl
London, Dec.20.-A dispatch from