Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-12-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

ance Of the subjects dealt with is ann
pie excuse for the unusual length of
President McKinley'e annual message
to Congress, the greater portion Of
which is about the war, the events
leading up to it, connected with and
following it, up TO the acceptance OF
oar terms of Peace. The general
tone of the message Is highly COM
mended; also the handling of the
more or less delicate question con
uected with our requirement Of the
Philippines. II is free from rancor
and bombast, although fully recogniz.
ing the unprecedented achievements
of the country in the war with Spain.
lis dominant note. is patriotism of the
highest order patriotism such rs
every good American fees, regardless
ofpolitical utilization and can endorse.
If the sentiment in Congress is repre-
sentative of that of the country, and
it usually is the message will be gen.
orally commended.
While the legislation Of the session
of Congress, which opened today,
will have little direct connection with
the newly acquired territory of the
country, several of the regular ap
preparation bills, notably those for
the army and for the Navy, as well
as the bill for the increase of the REG.
ular army, will furnish texts for
many speeches OH that subject, and
the talk of Senators aud Representa-
uves indicated an intention to take
full advantage of those texts. Conse
qucnty the debates Of the present
session are expected to be unusually
lively and interesting.
Secretary Alger says, in his annual
report, in favor of his recommends.
ton that it be provided in the legisla-
ton for increasing the regular army
to 100000 men, that natives OF islands
occupied by our troops may be en-
listed" These men are acclimated,
understand the language and habits
of their countrymcn, and their enlist
ment will not only give them employ
ment, bnt also have the tendency to
enable the government to get into
closer touch with their people than
it would otherwise be able to do.
This would also relieve our own men
from serving in those climates to a
large extent, and would, moreover,
enable the volunteers TO be mustered
out of the service and return to the
avocations of civil life" That last
sentence will do more to hurry army
Legislation than any other one thing.
Every Senator and Representative is
besieged with requests to get this or
that regiment of volunteers mustered
out, and they all know that no con-
siderable number of the volunteers
will be ordered mustered out until
Congress provides for the enlistment
Of regulars to take their places. 1t is
believed that this peculiar situation
will keep men Quiet who otherwise
would bitterly oppose the bill provid-
ing for the increase of the regular
army.
Senator Hale sees nothing but
trouble and expense III the annexa-
ion of the Philippines, and declares
his intention to fight the ratification
Of the treaty of peace to the full ex-
tent Of lis ability, regardless Of what
other Senators may do. Mr.. Hale's
pictures of the calamiIies likely to
follow the ratification of the treaty Of
peace would he truly awful if he could
make everybody see through his eyes.
BIT it has not been forgotten that
Mr.. Hale drew some very weird pic
ures ofwhat would happen to this
country fit dared to make war on
spain, which were a long ways from
What actually did happen; there
ore his doleful talk isn't fetching any
ears of alarm.
The probability ofNicaragua Canal
egislation is going to be a good
hing for Washington hotel keepers,
his winter, and it may be that some
npccuncOus statesmen who will be !
lropped from Uncle Sans pay roll
t the close of the present Congress,
5ill also handle some ofthe Panama
ANAL Company's money, which it is I
Understood will be literally spent to ,
lock Nicaragua Canal legislation.
he House is the doubtful body; the !
enate is known to be overwhelming {
7 favorable to the construction of J.
ne Nicaragua Canal by this govern q
rent. There are signs that the ad-
will use its influence up
n the House in favor of canal legis- :,
ton.
Mr. Hardin Norris, clerk OF the drug
ore of X. Shoemaker, Perry. H., says: