The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-03-25

may continue to be used by them; that
any person or persons who shall tear
down, trample upon, or treat with indig-
nifty, or Wantonly destroy the national
flag or coat of arms of the United States
shall be guilty of a misdemanor; that
any person, corporation or company ViO-
lating any provisions of this act shall be
punished by a fine.
Senator Hansbrough's bill is nearly
the same, only a little shorter and less
specific as to details.
The abandonment of the treaty pro-
Viding for the annexation of Hawaii, and
the substitution in it's stead of joint
resolution to accomplish the desired re-
suit, means that in all probability these
islands will become part of this country
during the existence of this congress,
whereas if the annexation project had
only been kept alive in the form of q
treaty the fate of the proposition would
have been enVeloped in considerable
doubt although the surmise is, of course,
that if the treaty could have command
ed the necessary tWO-thirds vote of the
senate, it would not have been abandoned
by it's friends.
Be it understood that to ratify q
treaty requires a two-thirds vote of the
senate the house not being consulted at
all. A plain resolution providing annex
alton simply requires a bare majority
in both branches. For instance, in the
present instance, to ratify the treaty
would have required so votes, whereas the
joint resolution which has been intro
duced can pass if it can procure As SEN
atorial votes in it's favor, which is not
doubted. In the house it would have to
receive 178 votes, and while up to with
in a short time it has been generally
thought that this number of votes could
be obtained in favor of a joint resolution
providing annexation, in view of recent
events some people are inclined to ques-
ton the accuracy of such predictions.
Johnson of Indiana, a leading Republic
can, has made fierce onslaught on the
annexation idea, and he will have quite
coterie of Republicans at his back.
! They have been against the scheme all
along but saw no anchorage for their OPP
position until he boldly took the stand
hich he did.
This Hawaiian matter is distinctly an
| administration measure Mckinley has
| the project deeply at heart. The inf1u-
! ence which he can bring to bear on repre-
| sentatves and senators inclined to vote
against the joint resolution will, at the
proper time, be invoked, and may save
| the resolution from an inglOrious end
in the house, where it will fail if any
where, it being generally believed that
the senate will readily pass it.
Speaker Reed is opposed to making
these islands a part of this country at
this time, and his active opposition, un
der the rules of the house, would of
course mean deep and early grave for
the joint resolution which has just been
introduced, but it is not believed that he
will strenuously fight the project be-
cause it is we'll known that the scheme
is a pet one of the administration, and
he would not openly appear as antag-
onistical to it's desires, although he
might personally be against the annexa-
ton of Hawaii
But, as 1 say the proposition will fail
in the house, if at all. AS a whole, the
project seems to be losing ground. This
is evidenced by the fact that a short
time ago it was said that if a vote could
have been had on the treaty so votes
would have been recorded in it's favor.
Now that the treaty has been aban-
doned for a measure requiring less leg
islative strength, it is apparent that the
annexation idea is losing ground. 1t
was thought that the presence of Presi-
dent Dole of the Hawaiian republic in
this city would stiffen up number of
senators and secure more than the nee
essary 60 votes for the treaty, but it
seems to have operated just the other
way, as, since his departure, senators
formerly in favor of the treaty have
come out against it. He was simply I'M
able to convince them that the islands
ought to be annexed, and so it was
deemed advisable to drop the treaty and
take another tack.
It's friends think annexation can be
accomplished by a joint resolution.
Hence the recent change of horses in
crossing the legislative stream. 1t may
come as a result of the passage of this
resolution. The reason the administra-
ton is so active in this matter and SO
earnestly in favor of acquiring the ISL
ands is because the Republican national
platform, upon which Mckinley was
elected was particularly strong in this
regard, and Mr.. Mckinley realizes that
the time is ripe for carrying out party
pledges and the making of platforms
to act on as well as run on.
ATIIEpTnN