Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-02-16
THE TREATY RATIFIED. !
senator TilIman Voted Against the
~ ..E Ratification. &; as :,

senator TilIman Voted Against the
Ratification. i. 7 sSl :.
WASHINGTON, February 8.--The treaty
OF peace negotiated between the commits
sioners of tho United States and Spain,
at Paris, was ratified to-day by tho United
States Senate, the vote being 81 ayos to +.
n nays, or ona vote more than tho two
thirds majority necessary to secure Soma
torial c. ncurrence in a treaty document.
The vote was taken in executive session,
and until the injunction of secrecy was
removed tho result was supposed to DO
private, bu. tho vice president had no
more than announced the figures before
Senators rushed out of every door lead
ing from tho Senate chamber, declaring
that the treaty bad been ratified. Some
made tho mistake of stating that there
were three votes to spare. There was, in
fact, only ono vote moro than necessary.
No vote had been taken in tho Senate
since that on the repeal of tho purchas-
ing clause of tho Sherman law that has
been followed with as close interest as
was tho vote Of to-day. The anxiety was
duo not only to the magnitude of tho
question At Issue, but to tho uncertainty
which attended the matter up to tho last
moment. Many of tho vast throng
which was turned from tho galleries after
tho doors wore closed in response to
Senator Davis's motion, fingered in tho
corridors, all waiting eagerly for tho first
news from inside.
Within the chamber tho interest was
even more intense Very fow Senators
loft tho chamber except those engaged in
tho cloak rooms ir trying on ono side to
gain votes for tho atty and OH tho other
to prevent break in the ranks
Tho call proceeded quietly until tho
namo of Senator McLaurin was an
nounced,
He created tho first stir by speech in
| explanation of his vote for tho treaty.
This was tho initial break in tho ranks
of tho opposition. Senator McLaurin
made brief statement in explanation of
his change of position, giving the open
ing of hostilitios in Manila rs tho reason
| for it.
II am as l have boon from the first"
he said, "irrovocably opposed to tho ex-
pansion of our territory, and should have
voted against ratification but for tho news
that has como to us ovor the cable in the
past two days.
He thcn wont on to say that the attack
upon our troops had brought about new
condition of affairs, and that ho should
vote for the treaty.
| ThiJ announcement created hubbub
of excitement, for while somo Senators
wore informed that he had decided upon
a change, there were many who were not
in possession Of this information. Tho
announcement brought some of tho oppo-
sition Senators to his side with remon-
stranccs, but ho replied to them that ho
could not any longer see his way clear
to cast his vote against IL y treaty.
He had hardly concluded whom Senator
McEnery, of Louisiana, approached him
with q word of congratulation, saying
that he had decided upon tho Same
course. The Louisiana Senator made
speech of explanation to tho Senate, pub
licly announcing himself only by means
of his vote.
News of tho ratification of tho treaty
reached the White House almost immo-
diateiy after tho announcement of tho
vote. Postmaster General Smith was
with the President at tho time, and was
tho first to congratulate him. Naturally
the President was gratihod at the vote,
and 80 expressed himself. Within forty
minutes after its ratification, Gen. Cox,
tho secretary Of the Senate, appeared with
tho treaty itself, which he promptly do
liyered into the Presidents hands, and
| then retired.
Tho Cabinet members. as they loft tho
White House were jubilant over tho rati-
fication of the treaty and spoke of it as
n great triumph.