The times., 1898-12-05
MONDAY, DECEMBER >, 1898.
The Meeting of Congress.

Inc hettlhS Oh long ress.
Throughout the history of the coun-
try it has rarely happened that Con-
gress has convened for its Winter ses-
sion with public interest concentrated
upon its movements to the extent that
it is this year
We have just emerged victoriously
from glorious war for humanity in
the course of which it has been our
happy fortune TO release millions of fell
low beings from the yoke of the most
cruel and bloodthirsty power that has
held sway over helpless peoples in mod
ern times. In connection with that war,
which was splendidly American and in
no sense partisan in its inception or
prosecution as far as the American peo-
pie are concerned, we have accomplish
ed things other than the rescue
of Spanish victims and the acquisition
of a magnificent colonial empire, over
which the Stars and Stripes are destin-
ed to float forever. We have cemented
the bonds of brotEerly union between
the American North and South, and
we have wiped out the old scores and
suspicious which for century have
kept us unfriendly to and apart from
the government and people of the other
great English-speaking nation.
We have annexed Hawaii. the key of
the Pacific and the island gem of the
Eastern Ocean. Porto Rico is ours, and
so is TIE rich Philippine archipelago. All
these are accomplished facts, TO which
may be added another of sacred i'm
port We have freed Cuba and stand
committed before the civilized world to
give that stricken and impoverished
country the blessings of peace and
good government
In the successful doing of all these
things the country has been favored in
having at its head a man filled with
American ardor and patriotism. Con-
sidering his malign surroundings and
their lamentable influence upon his
course in matters of detail, he has done
remarkably well. To the limit of his ac-
ceptable action in carrying on war and
in securing peace with advantage and
honor to the Republic, he is entitled to
and will receive the hearty commenda-
ton and support of the nation and its
Congress.
He will be entitled to that support
and will need it the more, because the
very coterie of Hessians, Tories, and
corruptionists who formerly compelled
him TO maintain an infamous alliance
with Spain against human liberty, is
now threatening his Administration
with its dishonest, if not reasonable,
opposition to final war settlement, the
conditions of which are necessary to the
welfare and glory of the United States.
and represent practically the universal
demand of the people.
In this. as well as in all other vital
national and international matters, we
do not hesitate to predict that President
Mckinley will have the good will and
cooperation of all true Americans in
the Senate and House without regard to
their party affiliations.
While nothing can be clearer than
that such course in Congress will re-
dound to public good and the future
greatness of America, il is no less clear
that something of a drastic nature
should be done at once and without hes
itation to purge Mr.. McKinley's Ad-
ministration of the disgrace with which
it has been foully sm'rched by Alger-
Fm and Sampsonism, At this time it
Is only necessary to use those express
sions. unhappily Of universal and in
famous meaning. to indicate what is in
tended. While Congress should be pa
triotic and appreciativa in holding up
the hands of our Moses. in all his
worthy efforts to serve his country. it
should be no less insistent, and ii
should be ineXorable, in taking bodily
hold of our Ali Baba and dragging
him out of the company and influence
of the Forty Thieves that infest his
presence and his counsels.