Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-12-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. %, 1898

The ease with which Mr. Kinley COM
PEELED Spain to cease its dilly-daliying and
accept terms offered by this government, as
soon as he himself got down to business,
shows that the treaty of Peace might have
been signed month ago had the admins
tration made proper use of its power. The
inference is plain that the delay was al
lowed because it suited the plans of the
administration
lobbyists are swarming to Washington
because of the impression that the admins
tration will seek to get Nicaragua canal
legislation through Congress The Presi-
dent of Costa Rica, which claims right to
be consulted in the matter, is in Washing
ton as an official guest of the government;
a representative OF Nicaragua is also on the
ground. Representatives of the old canal
company, which by its greedy demands,
has done more than any one thing to pre-
vent legislation in the past, are on hand to
demand compensation for what it claims to
have spent, and the agents of the New
York syndicate, which claims to have
brand new canal concession are putting out
feelers to ascertain what prospect they have
of getting some money for it. In addition
to all these interests, there is lobby en-
ployed by the French company, that
is now working on the Panama canal,
for the purpose Of trying to prevent action
by Congress looking towards the construc-
ton OF the Nicaragua canal.
Representative Mcmillan, who was re-
Gently elected Governor of Tennessee, by
majority of thirty-five thousand, will not
resign his seat in the House until about the
first of January, as he will not be inaugura-
ted Governor until after that date. There
has been some talk in Washington about the
probability of his being elected to the Senate,
if he desires to be, although it is not known
that Senator Bate, whose term will expire
next March, is candidate for reelection. MIR.
McMiIlin pleasantly, but positively de-
clined to discuss the subject. He was
asked what he thought of the Republican
assertions that the silver question is dead,
and said in reply: ut is not even sleeping.
It is a live issue and it will be the
pivot upon which the National Campaign
of 1900 will turn. AS long as there is
heavy taxation. heavy Indebtedness OF in
dividuals, corporations and government,
and vast commercial transactions requiring
a large volume OF currency, the question OF
the extent and nature of our currency will
be undecided. 1t will be a live issue
until it is settled to the satisfaction of the
mass of the people. I see that Senator
rhurston says that in the West no attention
was paid to the speakers who endeavored
to discuss silver. | am afraid he listened
only to the speakers who were on his side.
| know that in Tennessee what is
true of Tennessee, is, believe, true of the
entire South-the silver question Is still
uppermost."
Senator Cockrell, of Missouri, has returned
to Washington to remain during the
session of Congress. He thinks there will
be very little new legislation at this ses-
sion that the important business accom-
plished is likely to be confined to the
regular appropriation bills, river and
harbor bill, enough army legislation to
meet emergencies, and bill providing
government for Hawaii. Senator Cockrell
is opposed to our taking permanent pos
session of the Philippines, although he fully
approves of their being taken away from
Spain. He says we should aid the natives
to establish an independent government,
to be under our protection until able to
stand alone. Speaking of the political out
look, the Senator said The Democrats
are not downcast at the result of the cleo
ton. The heavy Republican losses show
the strength of the Democracy and indicate
that the. next general election will return
the party to power"
Senator Hale makes it plain by his talk
that he intends to join Senator Hoar in
opposing the ratification of the treaty OF
peace because it provides for U. S. owner
ship of the Philippines. Whether there
are other Republicans who will oppose the
treaty, is not positively known, but, unless
there have been some recent changes, there
are a sufficient number of Democrats who
will oppose it, to make it almost certain
that no attempt will be made to bring the
trea Y to vote during the life of this Con-
gress. After March 9TH, it is expected that
the required two-thirds vote can be con-
tr0lled in the Senate, which can be called
in extra session for the express purpose of
distressing of the treaty, without calling an
extra session of the House, if Mr.. McKin-
ley SO wills it.
That portion of Secretary Longs annual
report, which treats of the destruction of
Cervera's feet, is so thoroughly full of
Sampsonism that it has disguised many who
had not heretofore believed in the exist
ence of the clique in the Navy Depart
men, which started out with the deter
mination to exploit Admiral Sampson as a
hero, at the expense of Admiral Schley.
regardless of facts IF Schley didn't do
any more than Longs report credits him
with, why did Mr.. Mckinley make him
Rear Admiral?