The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1899-02-03
THE OPPONENTS OF THE TREATY

Torrance of the little gang of Demo.
cratic malcontents. and obstruction
lists and of Republican renegades who
have been delaying the ratification of
the Spanish treaty. The treaty was
laid before the senate on January 4th,
just after the holiday recess. That
is twenty-three days ago. The gen.
eral expectation was at that time that
it would be ratified in two or three
weeks at the latest. Nobody had
any right to suppose it would be held
up longer than that. No other peace
treaty was ever delayed so long as
this one has been. The confedera-
tion congress ratified the treaty of
1888 with England at the close of the
war of independence in one day. In
less than a week the senate disposed
of the treaty of 1914, which brought
the second war with England to a
close. Even the treaty at the close
of the war with Mexico. which was
antagonized by several elements, and
which was amended, was before the
senate only seventeen days, or six
days less than the time which has al
ready passed since the Spanish treaty
went to that chamber.
Moreover, the delay in the present
10
the opposition to the treaty repre-
sents the hostility to the retention of
the Philippines which is, manifested
by the fragment of obstructionists.
The treaty, however. settles nothing
as to the ultimate fate of the islands.
The attitude which the United States
shall, take toward them in the future
is not determined by the treaty.
That contract cedes them to this
country, but the country can do what
1t pleases with them after it is signed.
No policy is formulated in the treaty
or even hinted at. Spain gives the
islands to US, and we can and will do
with them what the majority of the
people dictate. The treaty leaves
our hands entirely free, in this par
ticular. We can give the islands in
dependence or we can establish ter
ritorial government in them and
thus start them on the road to state
hood, as the interests or desires of
the country may determine. The
treaty does nothing except bring
peace, and peace can not be definite
ly established until the treaty Is
ratified.
The principal offenders in this con
spiracy against the country's interests
and wishes are the little band of Re
publicans led by Hoar and Hale. The
Democrats opposition is easily un-
derstood. They want to embarrass
the administration and humiliate the
Republican party. But Hale, Hoar
and Mason lack this excuse for their
perversiLy. Presumably these gentle
men want themselves to be consid-
cred Republicans still, although their
acts would bring disgrace upon the
party If it could be held responsible
for them. Their conduct admits of
no extenuation or apology. More
over, their blindness and folly are
sure to get fitting and emphatic re-
buke by their chamber, for the treaty
will pass without the alteration of a
syllable. The Republican party will
not compromise with this gang of
Democratic and Republican copper
heads. The treaty will not be
amended. No pledges of any sort
regarding the future fate of the
Philippines will be made by the adj
ministratior or by any of its friends
in congress. The vote will be had
on February 9Th, at the hour stipu-
lated. The wrath of the people,
which is already aroused against the
Aguinaldos of the senate, will shame
these obstructionists into silence and
roll mn an overwhe lninO majority f,)r