The times., 1899-02-07
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Ratification


History was made in the United States
Senate yesterday. The ratification of the
Paris Treaty was an event that will take
Its place with the signing of the Declara-
ton of Independence, the surrender at
Yorktown the meeting between Grant and
Lee at Appomattox Court House. and other
stirring and epoch making incidents in the
progress and development of this coun-
try. The narrow margin by which the
Treaty was ratified was matter of regret
to many people, but there was genuine re-
joicing over the fact that the supporters
Of the Treaty had won their fight. Al
together il was a great victory for Presi-
dent Mckinley and his Administration.
The conspiracy against the Government
of the United States failed. While the
Treaty would not have been killed. il it
had not received the votes of twO-thirds
of the Senate yesterday. as it could have
been brought up again later at an extra
session. an adverse vote yesterday in the
Senate would have caused the Admins
tration great deal of embarrassment and
would probably have resulted in the need
less sacrifice of the lives of a good many
American soldiers and sailors in the Phil
ippines and elsewhere. The President and
his friends did not attempt to conceal
their satisfaction over the result. The rat
the air. 1t will enable the Administration
to go ahead and carry out the manifest
destiny of the country untrammeled Ex-
pansion is now an accomplished fact. The
war with Spain is over and the predic-
tion is made that within very short time
the gentlemen who voted against the
Treaty will be straining every nerve to
prove an alibi. However, the record is
made and IL any of them are ever heard
of in In 4 bo n; af tba
it will be a reflection on the intelligence
and patriotism of the American people
An analysis of the vote on the Treaty
is most interesting. 1t shows that there
are still men in the Senate who place pa
triotism and country above party. Every
party and faction was represented on the
side of the Treaty. Republicans. Demo-
Gratis. Populists, Silverites, and the Inde-
pendent-kyle of South Dakota. Repub-
lican stump speakers in the next Fresi-
Dental campaign will probably attempt to
claim the exclusive credit for the ratjfica-
ton of the Treaty, but the record viii dis
prove ii.
1T was mighty tight squeeze sa d an
Administration Senator last night. Il did
! not feel sure that we had won until after
the roll had been called. When you take
into consideration the nature of the fight
made against the Treaty, 1t is really sur
prising that We pulled through. Influ-
| ences were brought to bear of the most
powerful character. This is hardly the
| time to go into details. but when they are
disclosed as they will be eventually, the
public will understand and appreciate just
| what the friends OF the Treaty had to con-
| tend against. The Treaty has been rat
ified. and it is just as well to let it go at
that. We have had enough scandal this
| winter already
German. Bryan. and Others--The
| friends of William Jennings Bryan were
| highly elated last night over the situation.
I They claimed the ratification OF the Treaty
as a distinct victory for their hero. When
| Mr.. Bryan resigned his commission in the
| volunteer army in December and came out
| against expansion but in favor of the rat
| iflcation of the Treaty he offended German.
| Jones of Arkansas, and other veteran Dem
! ocratic Senators. who imagined that they
| had charge of the future of the Democratic
party. What incensed them the most was
| that Mr.. Bryan did not consult them be-
fore giving his orders so to speak. Had
! he done so the result might have been diff
ferent. but German seized upon Bryan's
alleged discourtesy as pretext for antag-
| oniZing him. We do not need Mr.. Bry-
! ans advice" said German disdainfully.
We are Senator'S; Mr.. Bryan is only a
private citizen And yet Mr.. Bryan's in
| fuence probably may have had something
/ TO do with saving the day-that is, at this
session. 1t was due to his efforts, it is
said by his admirers, that Senator Allen
and the silver Senators voted for the
! Treaty. Germans idea was undoubtedly
TO sidetrack Bryan and the silver issue
| and make himself the commanding figure
of the Democratic party. But in the judg-
ment of impartial observers Mr.. Bryan is
the complete master of the Democratic sit
| uation. His nomination by the Democratic
party for President next year, they believe
| is assured. Germans star has set. His
political usefulness is believed to be at al
end. Incidentally, it is probably a safe
prediction that Senator James X. Jones
| of Arkansas Will not be Chairman of the
Democratic National Committee next year
Mason and IiOar.-Probably the mos
grieved and disappointed man in the Sen.
ate yesterday over the result of the vote
on the Peace Treaty was Senator George
| Frisbie Hoar of Massachusetts. The par
ticular cause for Mr.. Hoar's discontinue
was the vote of his friend and supposed
protege. Mason of Illinois. Hear sneeret
at Mason when the latter made his debut
-
We're especially shocking and irritating tc
| Hoar. He looked upon his colleague from
| the West wild and untutored savage
/ But when Mason espoused the cause of the
| anti-expansionists Hoar suddenly discov-
cred that Mason had the making of
statesman concealed about his person. Fl
| began to cultivate the Illinois Senator ans
, beamed upon him approvingly whenever
he arose to address the Chair. Mason and
in font hap otY
even went so far as to laugh at Mason's
off-coor stories. and, in fact. seemed tc
enjoy them. But when Mason voted with
the supporters of the Treaty yesterday he
nearly broke his Massachusetts friend:
heart.
TO think" Mr.. Hoar is reported to have
said last night. that | could have been sC
deceived in a man. ! knew that Mason
was coarse and unlettered, but thought
that he was a diamond in the rough; that
he only needed polishing to bring out his
true worth. But Mason has buncoed me
l shall never forgive him, never.
How the States Voted.-WhiIe tn,
Treaty was ratified by a scant two thirds
majority the vote by States makes a much
better showing. Only six States-Ar.
kansas, Tennessee. Texas, Virginia
Missouri and Florida-are recorded
against the Treaty. All OF the
other States gave at least one vote in
favor of ratification. The following State:
gave two votes for the Treaty: Rhcde ISL
and. Connecticut, New Hampshire. Yer.
4 mont, Pennsylvania. Delaware West Vir-
gina, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa. Min
( nesota. Nebraska, Colorado. Montana
Wyoming, Nevada. and Oregon. The re-
/ manning States gave the Treaty one vote