The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-03-10
Washington Letter.
from our regular Correspondent

The new Army bill is satisfactory
to President Mckinley, ahich is alone
sufficient proof that the democratic
claim of having compelled its accept
ance by the republicans is bit of
moonshine.. The simple truth is that
the democrats were clearly eutgeneral-
ed by the republicans. In their anxiety
to escape censure from the people for
trying to tie the hands OF the admin
istration, by opposing the Hull army
bill, the democrats offered to vote for
bill that gives practically everything
the Hull bill would have given, except
that it only provides for the additional
men for two years from next July, in
stead of leaving it discretionary with
the President how long the additional
men should be kept in the army.
President Mckinley and the republi-
can Senators took advantage of the
opportunity thus presented to prevent
an extra session of Congress. Their
object in doing this is obvious. First,
they avoid an extra session, which no
one wanted; second. the increased
army is secured at once, when it is
needed, and last, but by no means
least, the next Congress can be de-
pended upon to pass any permanent
army legislation that may be recon-
mended by President Mckinley. 1t
will be seen therefore, that the claim
OF victory by the democrats is Just
| about as substantial as that set up by
the Spanlards after Dewey had de-
stroyed their fleet at Manila and later
when they announced that Cervera
had won a great. victory. President
Mckinley has won double triumph
secured the soldiers he needs, and
avoided an extra session of Congress
Representative Johnson, of Ind,
made another speech attacking tbs
President-probably his last, as he re-
tires from public life at the end of the
present week-which was effectually
replied to by Representative Lands
OF the same state, who declared thai
Mr.. Johnson had been repudiated by
! his constituents whose sentiments he
did not represent in any sense, anG
supported the declaration by reading
extracts from republican papers in hi:
district. "Those editors" said Mr.
Lands, "are the men who thirty-five
years ago, upheld the hands of Oliver
P. Morton, against the assaults of the
copperheads. If the gentleman re-
turns to this district, he will be cruel
fed by public opinion and spat upon
with indignation.
How strong the Nicaragua Canal is in
the Senate, was shown by the fact that
only three votes were cast against the
River and Harbor bill, containing an
amendment providing for the con.
struction of the Canal. The only
thing that can prev Mt the amended
bill going through the House is lack
of time, and that can probably be ar
ranged.
When Sena or Sewell expressed the
| fea, that we could not satisfy the Gu
| bans, o matter how much was done
| for them, and that we should sooner
or later have them fighting US, he said
what many have been thinking with
out saying, although hoping that the
Cubans would in the end justify the
high opinion which Senator Foraker
and others hold of them. 1t is diff
cult, however, to make peaceable clti-
zens of men who have been profession
al reyolutionists all their lives, as most
of the Cuban leaders have been.
In view of the situation at Manila
where Aguinaldo's horde are firing Oh
the Red Cross, using the white flag te
lure our soldiers in range of their
rifles, acting as midnight incendiaries
and otherwise showing themselves to
be outside the pale OF civilization, the
speeches in praise of the Filipinos
that have been made III Congress, art
closely allied to treason, and as sue |
i their makers deserve the condemns
/ tion of the country. Representative
! Cannon was prec isely right when ht
said, in the House: eff the speeches
made he re yesterday by Mr.. Simpson
Derry nd others have been made II
Manila, they would have been arrest.
ed, tried by drumhead court-martlal
and shot. The U. S. has and will con
4 tinue to exercise sovereignty III tht
Philippines. If they are obstructed
the power of the whole people, as rep
resented by the Army and Navy, vii
see to it that our authority is main
Z 4a1,