Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-12-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec 5, 1898.


There is little or nothing in Mr.. McKin-
ley's annual message to Congress, long as
that document is, that indicates with
any degree of certainty, what. policy he
intends to follow towards the Philippines.
This indicates that he has not decided
upgn policy, or if he has, that he is afraid
to make it public yet, and confirms the be-
lief of those who think that he intends
playing fOxey on the Philippine question
until after he gets treaty of peace ratified
by the Senate. and the $20,000,000 which
we are to pay Spain, appropriated by Con-
gress. An announcement of a positive
policy before then might result in making
too many votes against both treaty and
appropriation.
Mr. McKinleY's handling Of the war and
matters relating thereto, in his me sage,
contained no surprises. The message toll
lows Just about the lines it was expected
to follow lines plainly indicated for weeks,
aye months, past, by Official and semi-off-
cial emanations for the administration.
The message also indicates very plainly
that Mr. Mckinley isn't as anxious to push
along financial legislation as some of the
members of his party would like him to be.
Senator Hale is the most rabid Republic
can anti-expansionist who has yet unlim-
bered a rapid fire tongue battery and open
fire on the peace treaty which he says he will
fight to the last. He predicts that if the
treaty is carried into effects, it will add
many millions, on account of increased
army and navy, to the yearly expenses of
this government, without bringing the
slightest benefit to our people at large I;
that our country will in time become over
run by inferior races, and numerous other
minor evils will follow. In addition to
mis- predictions, he charges Mr.. Mckinley
foreign policy to have been inspired by the
British Foreign Office, and asked the Irish
Americans to Join him in opposing the ra-
LITIGATION of the treaty. Please remember
that Senator Hale is not Democrat, talk
ing for political effect. He is Republican
of standing in the councils of his party,
and no longer ago than at the last session
of Congress, Just after the Maine was des-
troyed, he acted as the mouth-piece of Mr..
Mckinley on the floor of the Senate, al
though his pronounced pro-Spanish views
were at that time we'll known. There is
no probability that sufficient number of
Senators will act with Mr.. Hale to reject
the treaty, but it may not be ratified before
the end of this Congress, making an extra
session of the Senate necessary.
Secretary Ayers annual report is some
what remarkable for its omissions. Itdoes
not contain the round robin" report,
sent from Santiago, nor does it contain
Teddy Roosevelt's report, which Teddy
told the Investigating Commission" he
hoped they would get and read. There
are others who would be glad to read that
report, provided it could be had as 1t was
written, and as it was received at the War
Department. 10 read Algar's report, one
would suppose that there had been no
scandal connected with the conduct of the
war, and that everything has moved along
as smooth as silk, whereas intelligent men
in the United States know to the contrary.
Some day the truth may be written about
the war, but there. are no signs that 1t will
be soon. Had a Democratic House been
elected, the outlook would have been very
different.
Boss Hanna has been giving the West
Virginia Republicans some lessons in
senator-grahbing, and scheme has been
concocted that is expected to result in wip-
ing out a small Democratic majority in
the Legislature of that State and the cleo
ton of Republican to succeed Senator
Faulkner. The Secretary of State of West
Virginia is to be the tool of the grab, his
part being to put the Republican con-
testants for seats IN the House of Delegates
on the regular roll, SO as to give the Re-
publicans majority of that body.
Senator Gallery, of Louisiana, is an anti
annextionist from way back. He says of
treaty of peace: 81 shall vote squarely
against the proposition to annex the Philip
pines. The Peace Commission had no
business to provide for their annexation
These islands would be the most expensive
gift that one nation ever received from
another. They can never be source of
strength, while they will always be an ele-
ment of domestic weakness and subject TO
foreign attacks in case of hostilities with
another Dation.n Mr.. Gallery thinks that
we are paying too much attention to things
away from home and not doing enough to
improve things at home.
There will be numerous conferences be-
tween Democrats after Congress opens, on
the policy that the party should pursue at
this session. There are differences of opin-
ion, some contending that aside from the
Chicago platform, there is no occasion for a
party policy at this time. A Democratic
House caucus held near the end of the last
session of Congress adjourned to meet
December 10Th. That meeting will be q
general party conference at which some
understanding may be reached.
Literary Notes.