Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-21
Not Disc ourasing.

The conflicting claims of those for
and against the ratification Of the
treaty may well leave more or less of
uncertainty in the public mind respect
ing just what to expect of this Sena,e
There appears to be plenty of oppor-
tunity in the pressure of other bust
ness for fllibustering, and the record
OF the present Senate affords ample
evidence of the ability of certain
members in that sort OF opposition.
One certainty which is likely to some
what curb attempts at delay is that
the next Senate in extra session would
in all probability be found prompt TO
ratify, and that delay until next March
would not be likely to seriously preju-
dice the treaty. However. it would
certainly, be more gratifying to have
this Senate dispose of the matter.
Those in favor of ratification have all
along displayed a reasonableness that
ought to be met half way at least by
those opposed.
The public has not much sympathy
with flights of oratory which picture
Aguinaldo and adventures of his stamp
as patriots comparable with our fore
fathers, and no well informed person
can infer from the information SO far
received that we have any assurance
that those of the instmgent leaders who
are melting their forces to oppose the
American occupation of the islands
either have the welfare Of their coun-
try at heart or are really supported by
the public sentiment of the inhabitants
they assume to represent. According to
the statements made by General Char
les A. Whittier, this week, on his.return
from Manila, where he served as col
lcctor until the first of November,
Aguinaldo acknowledged TO him that
about half the people favor an A1neri-
can protectorate. General Whittier
ALSO declares that the people. the ma
tives, are far more intelligent and IN
dustrtous than is commonly supposed
and it is certain that they are cour-
aSeous people. II will also be recalled
THAT General Wood On his return from
Santiago, where he has succeeded IN
accomplishing Il wonderful work,
brings an excellent report of the char
acter which the, Cubans have thus far
displayed in his dealings with them.
And. it must be acknowledged, judg-
ing from reports. that the people of
Santiago have shown greater apprecia-
ton Of his grand reform work than did
the citizens of New York of the efforts
Of the late Warning to clean that city.
These reports ought to be encourag-
ing alike for those who would ratify
and those who would not and the lat
ter. if sincere, must admit that though
all their claims of strength in opposi-
ton were admitted the cause of ratifi-
cation meets with nothing really dis
couraging in the situation. especially
when we consider the difficulty that
usually attends anything requiring the
assent of two-thirds of that body and
the practical certainty that within two
months such vote can be secured if
necessary. The "antis'' will not re-
ceive large accessions of public sup
port until they can show necessity
for defeating or amending the treaty in
order to secure what they assume to
desire, an ultimate government of the
Philippines by the Inhabitants them.
not by any means preclude such a
result.
The people are back of the admins
tration, case in point being the
avowed attitude Of the Legislature of
this State and it will be well that re-
ports of such State legislative action
as that taken by the Maine Legislature
on Thursday, find way to the people of
the Philippines and counterfeit the err
roneous impressions received there re-
speeding certain speeches in Congress
Those resolutions embody sentiments
by no means confined to the conserva-
tive State Of Maine, they are as wide
spread as the domain of the govern
ment. and in view of this it may be
said that the situation not only is no,
discOuraging. it is encouraging to tn,
point of certainty that the wise course
of President Mckinley and his advis
erS will prevail.
The public awaits notice of the pl'J
1n,,tio,, IF tl,.,t Nou, Work World 20,