Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-22
IT WILL Be RATIFIED
This the Outlook With Respect
to Peace Treaty,
BRYAN ADVISES SUCH COURSE.
Democrats in Congress Will Throw No
Obstacles in The Way.
EXPANSION PER SIC NOT INVOLVED.
After Spain Has Been Eliminated,
Our Future Philippine Policy VIII
he Considered-ResoI Declar-
ing That Policy.

NEW YORK, December I-Clark
Howell, a member of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee from Georgia, and edi-
tor of the Atlanta Constitution. after
consulting with the leaders Of both OF the
political parties at Washington. tele-
graphed as follows TO his paper Tonight:
with the adjournment of Congress for
the holidays, the final decision on the
peace treaty is as clear as II will be AFTER
a vote has been taken in the Senate
Two weeks ago the matter was in doubt
to-day it is certain that the treaty will
be ratified.
"NIr. Bryan has been in Washington for
several days, and has conferred ire
quently and freely with the Democratic
leaders in both the Senate and the House
He has advised ratification of the treaty
and is outspoken in the opinion that
aside from the question Of national opll-
cation. it is a matter of party policy lor
the Democrats toe throw no obstacle IN
the way Of ratification. There are lead
ing Democrats in both the Senate ana the
House who less than a week ago were
in doubt as to whether or not Democrats
should assist in ratifying the treaty
More than that some of them were out
spoken I'm the opinion that 1t was per
hans better TO reject it. To-day many oil
these Democratic leaders take open posi-
ton that the treaty should be ratlhed'
and that it will be. No one who has
studied the question from the inside has
a reasonable doubt
EXPANSION NOT INVOLVED.
oft must not be thought that the ratifi-
cation of the treaty will carry with II the
idea that n those who vote IN laNoI Oh
il are i'm favor Of nauOnal expansion
In the ratification OF the treaty theIe
will be Republicans as well as Democrats
VINO are opposed to expansion Ot our
national domain. They take, however,
and very properly, the view that the
question Of expansion per Sc Is not IN
volved in the consideration Of the peace
treaty. and that after the treaty has been
ratified and Spain has been eliminated
as a factor in the Philippine problem, IL
will be time enough To consider the pollcy
10 be pursued in dealing with the Philp-
mines. and lust here will come the real
contest on the question Of expansion.
RESOLUTION DECLARING POLICY.
Mr. Howell then says mat after the
treaty has been finally disposed OF, a re-
solution will be introduced. making decla-
ration of the proposed policy of this gov
ernment i'm dealing with the Philippines
and this resolution will be- framed very
much on the basis Of the Cuban resOlu-
ton. adopted coincidently with the d.
claration of war. I'm which it was stated
To be the policy of this government 10
give the people of Cuba q free and IN
dependent government OF their own.
AIr. Howell says: 1T is the determina-
lion To- present resolution OF this Kind
as a rallying point for the expansion ana
anti-eXpansiOn elements, both Democratic
and Republican, that takes from the
consideration of the peace treaty such
doubt as might have existed as 10 the
outcome. ana now makes ratification a
foregOne cbnclusion."
VOTE OUTSIDE PARTY LINES.
Mr.. Howell further says that the vote
ON this proposed resolution will not be
confined by any means TO party lines
and the outcome is in doubt a large
majority Of the Democrats will vote in
favor Of it, and "a large majority Of the
Republicans will vote against IL, but the
size of either minority is sufficiently in
yolved I'm doubt a. TO render exceedingly
questionable the final action that Will be
taken on the resolution"
He says "The Republicans, as a body,
will favor the ratihcation or the peace
treaty. and will oppose any further ac-
tion. They will hold that ii VIII be
time enough TO cross tn Philippine
bridge when they get 20 IT, and that IN
the mean time the islands should be-
held under strict military government;
that if. in Gods own time, it is demon
strated that the Fiipnos are able 20
take care of themselves, and desire to
maintain a government Of their own, IL
will then be time enough for the United
states to take up the question and act
accordingly
NEW POLITICAL BATTLE-CRIES.
NJ. HoWelHs summary concludes as
follows: 'As a result Of the final en-
counter over the resolution, it may be
that the country will witness the specta-
Gle Of badly severed party lines, and that
ont of il may be furnished the battle
cries around which Will be formed the
lines of the next presidential hght.'