The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-03-24
TIE RETIRING CONGRESS.
us '"urs" Throughout Wns Marked
b, Extravaganza ana Ig-
norance.

The congress which expired March
will be memorable in The history Of
the country. The war with Spain com
menced during its first session and the
fruits Of the struggle had 10 be gath
cred as far as possible during the ses-
sion which has just closed. The coun-
Try has taken new departure since
the late congress was elected in 1890.
Whether the change in the direction Of
our national progress shall be for good
or evil the future years must demon
strate. We have gone in direction
from which we cannot turn back and
which we must pursue 10 the end. ac-
ccptlng all its consequences.
What is most striking in the con
eress which has just adjourned is its
perfect seif-abncgation in claiming
power and in using Il. The congress
which adjourned two years ago, at the
close Of President Cieveland's admin
istrati0n, was in constant wrangIe
with the executive department in re-
gard TO the extent Of its prcrogaiives.
Repeated efforts were made 10 guide
the diplomacy OF the country by in
structions 10 the president on the sub
jcct Of foreign affairs and By attempts
to legslate directly in relation to 9th
er nations. especially in relation to
Spain and Cuba. The administration or
President Cleveland resented these at
tempts to interfere with the discharge
OF its legitimate duties. and hostile sen
fIf hot I Il
of tho government were excited. Some
heated republican pariisans in congress
threatened the president with impcach-
ment because he would not submit TO
congressional usurpation in interna-
tionai affairs. This attitude Of oppos.-
ton on the part Of the executive and
congress remained 10 the last.
The late congress assumed and re-
tanned a decidedly different attitude
toward the president. At first there
were some symptoms OF attempts at
nagging Mckinney as Cleveland had
been nagged- Hut they were only lem
porary. After the war began congress
became almost scryile in is relations 10
the president. The mob OF congress
men Were not taken into the confidence
of the president, and they did not re-
sent the slight, as they did in the case
Of the previous president. Mckinley
conducted the war through his naval
and army boards. negotiated peace.
Porto Rico and bought the
for $20.OOoOO0. parleyed
with Gomez and contracted to pay him
s3h0O.00o for his Cuban soldiers-never
asking the opinion. wishes or approval
Of congress until he sent the treaty
with Spain to the senate for ratifica-
ton and demanded the appropriation
Of the money that he had agreed TO pay
for his bargains. Two different nations
could not have displayed conditions OF
greater difference between the two de-
parfments OF the government than was
displayed by this country under the
two admin islrations of Cleveland and
The late congress appropriated four
times as much money for the expenses
Of this year as any previous congress /
for any one year. Ten
years ago. when th, appropriations for 4
wo years amounted TO nearly $1,000 /
10000. it was regarded as monstrous |
and prohiyacy. The APP
for the pres,n fiscal year
amount to Sl.7500OO.DOO. or Is per cent.
more than for the two years Of the "bil-
ion dollar congress- Much Of tbs
um was for war and other cxtraordi-
lary purposes. But that fact does not
ightcn the burden nor remove the
probability that new issues of govern
nent bonds VIII be required 10 meet
he obligations of the treasury.
There has been no currency legisla-
ion to answer the demand of very
Trcat proportion OF the people. The
act is that congress did not know what
hould be done in order to avoid future
Anglers TO the financial system. L.
Icrarce and timidity prevented action.
0 congress stood still. like man in
he dark surrounded by pitfalls. The
ouniry was permitted to drift where
oevcr the currents should lead. trust
~ to luck and Providence for a happy
scape in the end Chicago Chronicle.
PRESS COMMENTS.