The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-03
Coming Session Of Congress.
Waiting Upon Action Of the t5o


w ASHlNGION, Dec. z-N0pecldl. ne
three coordinate branches of the govern
ment, all of which will be in active OPP
Grafton on and after Monday next, will
be once more in entire political harmony
The president is Republican, congress is
Republican in both houses, and the su-
preme court stands six Republicans and
three Democrats Upon the Republican
party. therefore, will rest the threefold
responsibility of the enactment, the ex-
ecution and the Interpretation of new
laws No party in years has had such
complete power, such undivided RESPONSE
bility. During Grants last two years as
president. and the Hayes administra-
ton, the house of representatives was
Democrat tic. and in the last two years of
the latter the senate also During the
first two years of the Garfield-Arthur
term the house was Republican. but the
senate was equahy divided while in the
last two the house was Democratic and
the senate Republican. During CIeve-
lands first administration the house was
Democratic, but the senate Republican.
During the first two years of Harrison s
administration both houses Were Repub-
l1can. but the silver men OF that party
had already begun to exhibit the spirit
that later led them to abandon their or
ganlZaticn upon the adoption of the St
Louis platform, and In the second half
of that administration the house became
Democratic. During the first half Of
Cleveland's second administration both
branches Of congress were Democratic
but even then the differences on the mon
etary question that split the party in
1896 began to make themselves felt, and
the supreme court had a mai Ority of Re
publican members. In the second half
or that administration the house again
became Republican. and has remained so
UP to this time. During the first half Of
this administration the house was Re
publican. but in the senate neither party
had a majority though the Republicans
had a plurality, and succeeded by the
help Of the protection Democrats in paas-
ing the Dingley tariff bill through that
body.
The power and responsibility now de-
volvfng upon the Republican party are at
once more exacttng than at any previous
time in the quarter of a century here
briefly reviewed.
The Fifty-sixth congress will be called
upon to enact legislation of an altogether
novel character. The new possessions
that have come to US as one of the re-
suits Of the war with Spain present prob
lens to which our statesmen have here
tofore been strangers. The principal of
these new possessions is the Philippine
archipelago with Its hundreds OF islands
teemtng with a strange population made
up of different races. protesting different
religions, speaking different languages,
governed by different laws and customs,
frequently hostile to each other of vary
ing degrees of intelligence. some anxious
Lessons of O{U vii ofE
preferring a life of barbarism or saw
agery-aH these go ITO make conditions
radically different from any with which
the American congress has heretofore
dealt. Yet 1t will have to take positive
action in regard to them. No mere Faissez
fa1re method can be followed with credit
honor or safety. Still congress Is apt to
act upon the plan Of making haste slowly
So far as this session Is concerned what
ever is done in the way of legislation
will of necessity be hardly more tenta-
tive, leaving to a future congress and
wider knowledge Of the crying needs and
capabilities Of the people and the posi-
bilities in the way of the development OF
the vast resources Of the islands them
selves.
90 Porto Rico stands in a class by itself
Small IN extent, rich soil, dense in popu-
lation, 1t Will probably present few diff
ficultfes in government either now or
hereafter. The precise form Of govern
ment that will be established there by
congress Is not yet known, but is likely
to be something like that which prevails
In cur territories with as large local con-
troll or "home rule" as existing condi-,
tons will permit.
Guam. Wake island. and Tutuiia will
rnh "a ha Of oil
sible. Capt. Leary is governing Guam
satisfactorily and perhaps will be re-
tanned there for some time. Wake Island
is dot In the Pacific cce9n and is val
liable only as a way station between
Honolulu and Guam for a cable between
San Francisco and Manila. Tutuila is
one Of the Samoan group and includes
the harbor of Page Page, one of the best
in all that region, and which has belonged
to the United States for years.
Hawaii came to us by resolution as
Texas lid, with the understanding, how
ever, that instead of becoming a state 1t
was TO be a territory in form, though
ultimately 1t may be erected into a state
Indeed this possibility exists as to all Of
our new possessions, no matter how un-
likely such a result may seem at this
j
for more than half a century, though for
q generation 1t has knocked at the doors
Of congress for admission as a state. II
will be necessary for this congress to en-
act needed legislation for Hawaii, that
duty not having been performed by the
last congress, the one which annexed It,
/ Alaska will also demand attention at
the hands of congress. The new c0ndi-
tons that have obtained there since the
discovery of geld in large quantities
makes 1t imperative to conform the laws
and form of government 10 the situation.
A bill was reported at the last congress
to bring Alaska into line in the matter of
government with its present impoltanc
but, as was the case with the proposed
legislation for Hawaii, 1t failed of pas
sage. Another failure in the case OF
either Alaska or Hawaii would be dis
creditable to congress and is not likely
tn happen.
Cuba presents a problem peculiar to
itself because of the Teller amendment
declaring it to De our purpose to witt
draw from the island after the expulsion
of the Spaniards, as soon as the Cubans
had formed a stable and responsible gov
eminent. The time appears to be sp-
preaching when this act of self-denial
will have TO be carried out in good faith
unless Indeed we intend to play the game
in Cuba that England has done in Egypt
Under the guise of a temporary occupa.
ton to protect her interests she has ruled
the country for more than twenty years.
1t rests with congress to decide our
future policy as tc Cuba, and If we are
n withdraw To saw when bO,.. oDd