The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-01-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. q, 10

President Mckinley may be, in com
mon with many other patriotic citi-
zens, thoroughly Disguised with the
game of small politics the democratic
Senators, with five or six exceptions,
are trying to play for the control of
the democratic party, with the treaty
of peace; but he knows that they can
not injure him. or the republican par
ty or the country, and that, although
they can delay the ratification of the
treaty, they cannot prevent it. The
most that the obstructionists can do
will be to prevent the treaty being
voted upon at this session of Congress.
In that case, an extra session will be
called to ratify the treaty. Neither
President Mckinley nor the republi-
can leaders of the Senate, will con-
sent to the compromise offered by the
obstructionists-to amend the treaty
by binding this government to a par
ticular policy towards the Philippines.
1.-THE right man in the right place"
is the general republican comment
upon Speaker Reeds selection of
Representative Payne, of New York,
to succeed the late Representative
Dingley as Chairman of the House
Committee on Ways and Means and
republican leader. Mr.. Payne has
been in the House fourteen years and
has long ranked as leading member
of that body.
The vote on the Nicaragua Canal bill
was delayed until Saturday afternoon,
mostly by obstructive tactics when it
was passed, after having been amend
ed, by vote of 49 to 6. If the House
Commerce Committee would report
this bill as it is, it could be passed, but
it is feared that it will not. If it
doesn't, the chance for getting the
bill through at this session is slim.
The River and Harbor bill has been
reported to the House. 1t carries ap-
preparations for more than 81, 000,0 600,
Wv lNlNN tLlliOll- VIII ONA'i oUtltCH, anu
is certain to become q law.
The attitude Of the two political
parties toward the Philippines was
graphically shown by the following,
from a spirited dialogue between
General Grosvenor, of Ohio, and Rep
resentative Carmack, of Tennessee:
General Grosvenor-"What would the
distinguished gentleman from Tenn
essee do with the Philippines" Mr..
Carmack-''I would turn my back on
them and sail away and never look
back" General GrOsvenor-"And all
the world would brand your back
with the word COWARD"
Representative Bailey, of Texas,
during the running discussion in
which much was said about the sla-
very Of the Pilipinos sought to discon-
cert General Grosvernor by saying:
II would like to ask the gentleman
if this new crusade upon the old sla-
very question is to fly in the face of the
Presidents generous offer to take
care of the Confederate graves?n
But he looked thrOughly ashamed of
himself when Gen. Grosvenor brought
down the House by quietly replying:
I'm the graves of the noble men who
fought for Il mistaken cause was bu-
ried the opposition to the great prin-
ciples of the republican party in the
controversy for liberty and justice to
all mankind; and, therefore, it is
meet and proper that the leader of
the republican party in this country
should be the leader of the idea of
protecting those graves; and endorse
every word he says"
Senator. Hawley has forwarded to
the town clerk of Hartford, Conn,
in accordance with law, a sworn state
ment as to the cost to him of his re-
election to the Senate, which is as
creditable to him as it is to the Con-
necticut Legislature. 1t shows that
Mr. Hawley spent no money, except
for postage, and that less than So was
spent for that.
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota made
an able speech against the Vest anti
expansion resolution, in which addi-
tional proof of our right constitution
ally to govern the Philippines as col
Onies, was produced, and besides, he
truthfully said; Our duty is to
breathe into the people of those is
lands the life and spirit which will en-
able them to enjoy and appreciate the
government and the privileges that
are to be given them" Mr.. Nelson
also gave Senator Tillman, of South
Carolina, whotried to put in his pitch
fork, by intimating that Senator Mel
son was better posted about Norway,
where ne was born. and Sweden,
than about the United States, a
knockout blow by referring him to
numerous histories from which all
the facts about the people of Norway
and Sweden could be obtained, and
adding: But, l think the Senator
will find that the Norwegians have