The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-23
70 HAVE No OPPOSITION
Enemies of Spanish-American Peace
Treaty Decide to Agree to Its
Ratification.
POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATIC Patty.
Question of Expansion to BE Fought
Out After the Treaty Is Disposed
Of-The Treaty Itself Does Not, It
IL Thought, Involve the Principle
ut Issue.

New York, Dec. 22.-Clark Howell,
member of the democratic national
committee from Georgia and editor of
the Atlanta Constitution, after consult
ing with the leaders of both of the po-
litical parties at Washington. tele-
graphed as follows to his paper Wednes-
day night:
with the adjournment Of congress for
the holidays the final decision on the peace
treaty is as clear as it will be after vote
has been taken in the senate. Two weeks
ago the matter was in doubt-to-day 1t is
certain that the treaty will be ratified, as
1t will be that 1T has after the vote has been
taken. Mr.. Bryan has been in Washington
for several days. and has conferred fire.
quently and freely with the democratic
leaders in both the senate and the house.
He has advised ratification of the treaty,
and he is outspoken in the opinion that
aside from the question of national obli-
cation, 1T is matter of party policy for
the democrats to throw no obstacle in the
way of ratification. There are leading
democrats of both the senate and house
who less than a week ago were in doubt
as to whether or not democrats should as
sist in ratifying the treaty; more than that,
some of them were outSpoken in the opin-
ion that it was perhaps better to reject 1t.
To-day many of these democratic leaders
be ratified, and that it will be. no one who
has studied the situation from the inside,
can have any reasonable doubt.
Not Expan sionIsts.
''It must not be understood that the ratt-
flcation of the treaty will carry with 1t the
assumption that all those who vote affirm
atively are in favor of national expansion
across the Pacific OF the senators who
will vote in favor of the treaty there will
be republicans. as well as democrats, who
are opposed in principle as we'll as in the
DRY to the tranS-oceanic expansion of our
national domain. They take, however, and
very properly, the view that the question
OF expansion, per Sc, is not involved in the
consideration of the peace treaty, and that
after the treaty has been ratified and Spain
has been eliminated as a factor in the Phil
ippine problem, it will be time enough to
consider the policy to be pursued in deal
ing with the Philippines. and just here will
come the real contest of the question Of
expansion"
Declaration of Policy.
Mr. Howell then says that after the
treaty has been finally disposed Of reso-
luton will be introduced making declara-
ton OF the proposed policy Of this gov
eminent in dealing with the Philippines
and that this resolution will be framed
very much on the basis of the Cuban reso-
luton adopted coincident with the declar-
alton of war, in which 1t was declared that
the policy of this government would be te
give the people of Cuba free and indie.
pendent government of their own. Mr.
Howell says: 1T is the determination te
present resolution of this kind as rally
ing point for the expansion and anti-ex
pansion clements. both democrats and re
publicans, that takes from the considera
ton of the peace treaty such doubt al
might have existed as to the outcome an,
which now makes its ratification a fore
gone conclusion"
Outcome II I'm Doubt,
Mr. Howell further says that 1.-The vot
on this proposed resolution will not be con
fined by any means to party lines, and tn
outcome is in doubt. A large majority q
the democrats will vote in favor of it, an
large majority OF the republicans wi
vote against it, but the size Of either min
nority Ia sufficiently involved in doubt a
to render exceedingly questionable tn
final action that will be taken on the rese
lution.' He says: 1.-THE republicans as
body will favor the ratification of tn
peace treaty. and will oppose any turtle
action. They will hold that 1t will be tim
they get to it, and in the meantime tn
islands should be held under strict mil
tary government, and that, II in Gods ow
time, 1t Is demonstrated that the Filipino
are able to take care OF themselves. an
desire to maintain government OF the
own, 1t will be time enough for the Unite
states to take up the question and act q
cordingly."
Mr.. Howells summary concludes as 70
lows: "As the result Of the final encount.
over the resolution 1t may be that ii
country will witness the spectacle Of bad
severed party lines. and that out OF 1t ma
BE- furnished the battle cries around whic
will be formed the lines Of the next pres
Dental fight"
Me- NJ. a 1hasnnu<sumnA