The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-12-16
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, d. G.. Dec. 9. 1898

oNiHcH' iIbtn start TO nnlSti.
ihere Is not word of partisanship in
IL. The message will not only read
with interest, but it will be carefully
preserved, as it is an authentic. con
-densed history of the events leading to
the war with Spain, of the war, and of
the results of the war, so far as thew
are known at this time. 1t is, in itself
alone, sufficient to place President Nc
kinley in the very front ranks of
American statesmen, If he had not al
ready attained that position. 1t is Of
necessity long, but contains no plati-
tudes, no striving after effect, no bids
for popular favor. It is a plain state
ment of some of the most important
events In the conntry's history, made
by man whose patriotism has been
proven by trials such as few men have
gone through 1t ought to be read in
every schoolhouse in the land, studied
AS a lesson in current American history
written by maker of that history.
Even the most partisan democrats find
nothing In it to object to, which is de-
-cidedly unusual in Presidents mes
Sages.
No one is better authority on things
Congressional than Senator Allison.
His opinions carry weight because of
his long experience and the correctness
nf his Judgment in the past. He said
of the session of Congress just opened {;
sin my opinion the session will be an
interesting one, and many of the de-
bates will be of great importance. 1t
can be laid down as safe rule that If
any measure proposed is antagonized
by determined minority, it will be
withdrawn. There will be great pres
sure in behalf of legislation for the
Nicaragua Canal, and if any impor-
tant measure is passed, outside of the
appropriation bills, it will be the Canal
bill. That subject has been so thor
oughly threshed over that it ought not
to provoke much debate. The Treaty
of Peace with Spain will be ratified be-
yond a doubt, and exactly as it comes
to us from the Commission. We can
not afford to stultify ourselves in the
face OF the world by refusing to accept
their work. They have been very care
ful and deserve the endorsement of the
country. / shall be in favor of prompt
action, because we ought to dispose of
the matter and not let it remain in a
state of uncertainty. We want to set
tie as soon as possible our relations to
the Philippines, and this we cannot do
until the treaty is ratified"
Secretary Algers' report is very
interesting document, embracing, as
it does, brief, but omprehensive,
sketch of the conduct of the war, with
copies of all official orders relating to
the army, etc. A careful study of it
will remove the last vestige of founda-
tion for most of the stories attacking
the management of the war depart
ment. For instance, the official fig
ures of the wounded in the Santiago
campaign are complete refutation OF
the stories that the wounded were not
properly cared for. There were 40
surgeons with Gen. Skaters army.
The total number of wounded was
l,431, of whom only 13 died OF their
wounds, percentage as remarkable in
the history of war as some OF the more
talked about achievements of the WAR;
Chairman Hepburn, of the House
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
anticipating early actiun on the MIC.
aragua Canal bill, has announced that
the committee will, grant hearings Tor
or against the Canal. The agents OF
the Panama Canal Company, now in
Washington. are prepared, 1t is be-
lieved, 10 spend a lot of money to de-
feat OF prevent Nicaragua Canal legls-
lation, but its friends are also here in
force, including delegation from San
Francisco, and they will work as they
have never worked before, because they
believe success is i'll sight.
Senator Thurston, of Neb., is one of
the most pronounced expansionlsts IN
Congress. He said, speaking OF the
various objections to our taking the
Philippines: ri am satisfied to trust
their future to the good sense of the
American people. 1t they become
burden rather than "a blessing, the
same patriotic spirit which demanded
their surrender by Spain would then
set them up in independence or other
wise dispose of them, without sacrific-
ing the liberties Of other peoples aud
without doing discredit to the Amer
ican name"