The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-19

rency Action Probable Under the
mittee Named by Mr.. Grosvenor.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-(Special)-
The subject of expansion, like Ban
quo's ghost, will not down, and the
return Of Mr.. Mckinley today, has CIV
en- 1t new life. Washington Is compar-
ing the presidents utterances at Boston
and the sentiments expressed in his
special message to congress on the
subject of a Pacific cable and the idea
Is gaining ground that the message was
false step, for that official document
certain and aggressive in it's tone, Is
causing the judicious members Of the
presidents party to grieve. why he
adopts the very arguments" they say,
that We're urged in favor of the gov
eminent substituting the transcontinen-
tai railroads; that it Is necessary to
unite integral portions Of this country
And this, when the best Judgment Of
the party Is agitated with the prob
lem, not Of making the best of, but
of getting rid Of a bad bargain
The message by implication at least,
classes, the Philippines with the Ha-
waiian islands and Guam as United
States territory. 1t speaks Of the I'M
perative necessity for speedy cable
communication between the United
States and all these Pacific islands"
1t maintains that 'the time has now
arrived when a cable in the Pacific
must extend at least as far as Manila,
touching at the Hawaiian islands and
Guam by the way" Thus, the presi-
dent boldly takes his stand for annexa-
ton as an accomplished fact.
No wonder, then, that the judicious
grieve; for it now seems probable. that
not only will congress utterly ignore
the recommendations Of the message;
but, almost like a, direct rebuff, the
senate has already passed the Nc
Emery resolutions which in terms de-
manently annex said islands as an in
tegral part Of the territory Of the Unit
ed States"
That the senate passed the resolu-
ton was due to Senator Mason, of ILL
Eois. Rarely has the power of that
true eloquence, which is inspired by
conviction and righteous indignation,
been more strikingly displayed than
when Mr. Mason, standing in the CEN
ter aisle Of the senate chamber, ar
raigned the administration for prose-
cutting war of subjugation with an
arrogant Indifference to the funda-
mental rights Of humanity which
would shame Weyler himself. Conster-
nation and confusion so held the Re-
publican side that when the senator
concluded with request for unani-
nous consent that the resolution should
be disposed of not one of the imperial
lists had presence Of mind enough to
murmur II object"
REPROACH IN THE AIR.
There is reproach in the very air. It
is a popular idea that Washington is
the heart of the nation: the center
from which emanates the best thought
of the American people. Excuse, If not
good reason for this belief, is found in
the thousands of officials here, repre-
Senting every section of the land This
view, however. must be qualified by
the condition that Washington invari-
ably and inevitably is with the admin
istration, whatever the administration
may be or do.
bearing this necessary attribute of
dc tendency in mind, the reception here
of the news from the Philippines be-
comes even more significant Through
out the Spanish war the slightest Anne
lean achievement was greeted with ir-
represSible enthusiasm. Even when
Sampson slew the Matanzas mule and
confronted muzzle-loading bronze junk
and 1nnocuOuS mines, loud hosannas
were heard. Crowds perpetually sur
rounded the newspaper bulletins; again
and again the clerks in the departments
deserted their work to join in cheers
and national songs. But, now, victory
is received either with apology or sill
ence. I'VE had to do it." it Is said.
they attacked us first" But when ref
erence Is made to bows and arrows and
to parley refused, then q very cred
liable absorption in the task of the
moment may be seen. If Washington,
supine, complaisant, reflects the SEN
tlments of the American people, then
the Republican leaders may we'll be
startled; for, indeed, is reproach in the
very air.
POLICY PILOTS.
Mr.. Grosvenor has named the COM
mittee of eleven members who are to
formulate the future financial policy of
the Republicans. From the fact that
he failed to include those Republican
members of the banking and currency
committee, who were reelected. it is
evident that no bill nor plan Is to be
advocated. The committee named is
composed more Of gold men than of
currency reform men. 1t is stronger
politically than technically.
Messrs. Henderson, Payne and Dali
zell were put on more as wheel horses
than because of any particular interest
they feel in the subject. Mr.. Bah
cock is a politician of the ground-nut
variety. Messrs. Hawley, Lowering,
Curtis and Morris have all fought
stanchly for sound money The seIec-
ton Of Mr.. Morris indicates that he
has been forgiven for the indiscreet
remarks with which he scandalized the
graybeards during the debate on the
homestead bill, last session. 1t may
be remembered that his audacity then
in referring to the pledges Of the Re-
publican party was regarded with all
that horror which Oliver Twist aroused
when he dared to ask for more
Judging from the composition Of the
committee made up as it is Of shrewd
politicians and respectable mediocre
ties, 1t may be presumed that due re-
gard will be had for the coming ma
tional campaign. No details will be
recommended, furnishing occasion for
attacks on the banks, and q defense
Of the greenbacks; legislation will be
reported establishing the gold stan
dard, and consonant with the platform
Of 1896. This will be in accord with
the general sentiment of the Republi-
cans in the house. many Of whom are
prone to maintain that their party has
already done its full duty in defeating
the Teller resolutions. In other words,
currency reform will be no nearer legis-
latlve achievement at the beginning Of
the F'ifty-sixth congress, than 1t was
two years ago when the Fifty-fifth con-
gress first assembled.