The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-12-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 18th, 1873

bHe dJJcuUlOH Vi HIS COlledSueS WIGu
he speaks, although he is not an ora
tor, in the general acceptance OF the
term, His strong point is facts, and
he brought out an unusual lot of
them when he proceeded to demOlish
the things set up by Senator Vest in
the name of an argument in favor OF
his resolution, declaring that this
government had no constitutional
right to acquire territory except with
the intention of admitting it to the
Union as a state Mr. Platt made it
as plain as A, b. G, that this govern
ment had clear right to acquire
territory to be disposed OF in any
manner it might see fit, and clinched
it by showing that it had almost from
the beginning of the government eX
ercised this and right without ques-
ton.
Republicans in Congress are de
lighted with President McKinley's
triumphant tour of the South, and
enthusiastically endorse everything
he said about expansion and the gov
eminent caring for the Confederate
dead The enthusiasm with which
the Presidents straight -from-the-
shoulder expansion talk was received
in the South was pointer for some
of the democratic anti-eXpansionists
that is being carefully studied
Mr.. Bryan was not altogether sat
isfied with the results of his "trip to
Washington. He did not find the
democratic response to his ami eA-
pansion keynote all that he expected
it would he. On the contrary, he
was plainly told by number of demo
cratic Senators and Representatives
that they could not endorse his posi-
ton, and that their constituents
would not If he had it to do over
again there is very little doubt that
Mr.. Bryan would be less emphatic in
expressing his opposition to eXpan-
sion, but as he has fully committed
himself, there is nothing left for him
to do but to stand by what he said,
and take the consequences.
Strange as it may seem, there are
Senators and Representatives-none
Of them republicans, - who oppose
the bill to increase the regular army
to 100, 900 men, and to otherwise put
it upon u modern basis. Some of
these men were very loud in their
complaints, because the organization
of the army at the beginning Of the
war with Spain was so inadequate
to the occasion that there was una
voidable delay in getting the army
into fighting condition. Now, they
want TO perpetuate the Old aud in
adequate organization, forgetting the
advice Of Washiugton-"In time Of
peace, prepare for war. Fortunate
ly for the country, these obstrutt-
ionists are in the minority; their OPP
position may delay the increase Of
the army, but it cannot present it.
Congress will this week adjourn for
the customary Christmas recess of
two weeks No time will really be lost
by the recess, as all of the important
committees will work right through
it. The Auglo-American Commission
has taken recess until Jan. 5. The
work of the Commission has not been
progressing very rapidly of late, and
it is now practically certain that if
there is treaty at all, it viii not in
clude commercial reciprocity.
Hon. DavidJ. Hill. Assistant Seerc-
tary of state, delivered am interesting
address on the "eXpausion Of civiliza-
ton" at banquet. Referring to the
disposition in some quarters to harp
on the word "imperialism, Mr.. Hill
said "A malignant disposition could
not have selected u worse word than
imperialism. A better word, which
expresses the true condition is eXpan-
sion 1t is not new one and the idea
is not novel. 1t has existed since the
inception of national growth. Civil
zation must go on until there is not
one province, one island, one indivi-
dual upon which it's benign light does
not fall" lie answered those who
argue that it would be Il violation Of
the constitution to set mp a form Of
government overanY people, without