Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-12-10
A PATRIOTIC DOCUMENT.
House and Senate In Session About
Secretary Alger's Report-The
Project of the Nicaragua
Canal to be Discussed.

From Our Regular Correspondeut)
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec s-Presi-
dent McKinley's annual message to
Congress is a thoroughly patriotic
document from start to finish There
is not word of partisanship in it,
The message will not only be 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 wal, and
of the results of the war, so far as they
are known at this time 1t is, in itself
alone, sufficient to place President
Mckinley in the very front ranks OF
Anne rican statesmen. il he had not
already attained that position. 1t is
necessarily long, but contains no
pla titudes, no striving after effect nor
bids for popular favor. 1t is a plain
statement of some Of the most i'm
portant events in the country's his
tory, made by man whose patriot
ism has been proven by trials such as
few men have gone through. 1t ought
to be read in every school house in the
land and studied as lesson in current
American history, written by maker
OF that history. Even the most parti.
san Democrats find nothing in it to
object to, which is something decided.
ly unusual in Presidents messages.
The attendance at the opening Of
Congress was quite up to the average.
both on the floor of the House and
Senate and in the galleries. Speaker
Reed opened the House, his smiling face
indicating contentment that must
have been envied by those Democrats
who have for months past been en-.
gagged in overthrowing him, on
paper. Vice President Hobart pre-.
sided over the opening of the Senate
n his usual urbane and dignified
manner. Among the notable Sena
torial absentees were Senators Davis.
OF Minnesota; Frye, of Maine, and
Gray, OF Delaware, who are detained
In Paris by their work as American
Peace Commissioners, but who ex.
pect to complete the treaty of peace
and start for home in very few davs.
the difficult part having been ac.
complished when the Spanish com.
missioners agreed to our terms, a
week ago.
NO man is better authority on
things Congressional than Senator
Allison, Chairmaniof the Committee
on Appropriations. His opinions
carry weight because OF his long lex
perience and the correctness of his
judgment in TIE past. He said ofthe
session of Congress that opened TO.
day: I'm my opinion, the session will
be an interesting one, and many of
the debates will be of great import
auce." or the prospect Of legislation
he said 1T can be laid down as a
safe rule that if any re.proposed
is antagonized by determined min
ority, it will be withdrawn. There
will be great pressure in behalf Of
legislation for the Nicaragua Canal,
and il any important measure is pass.
ed, outside oflthe appropriation bills,
ii will be the canal bill. That sub
ject has been so thoroughly threshed
over that it ought not to provoke
much debate" OF the treaty of peace
with Spain he said. at will be rati-
fed beyond doubt, and exactly as it
comes to us from thesPeace Commits
sion. We cannot lafford to stullify
ourselves in the face of the world bv
refusing to accept the work of the
Commissioners They have been very
careful 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 state of uncertainty. We
want to settle as soon as possible our
relations to the Philippines, and this
we cannot do until the treaty is rati-
fed"
Secretary Ayers annual report is
very interesting document, embracing
as it does, a briefI but comprehensive
sketch ofithe conduct of the war, with
copies of all official orders relating to
the army, etc. A careful study of it
will remove theilast vestige of founda-
ton for most of theGstories attacking
the management of the War Depart.
ment. For instance, the official fi0-