The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-02-10
THE TREATY
WITH SPAIN
By a Close Vote 1t Gets Through
The Senate.

Inv OOAOSNe
VIII Now Be Considered by the
Spanish Cortes-Had the Rati-
ficatiOn Occurred Sooner, the
BIoodsheId of Last Sunday Might
Have Been Averted-FiIlpino Jun
to Goes to Canada.
Special Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-Victory for
America victory for Americanism--that
is the meaning of the vote in the Sen
ate last Monday afternoon on the rati-
fcation of the treaty of peace between
the United States and Spain. Patriot
ism succeeded, pessimism was van
quished. The contest was long drawn out
and shrewdly fought by the opponents
of ratification. But, as is invariably the
case when men dispute the dictates of
destiny, they waged losing battle.
When the Senate went into secret
session at 2 Is on Monday afternoon
the results of the roll call was admittedly
in doubt. 1t had become known that
Senator McLaurin had changed front and
would vote for ratification. That brought
the vote up TO within one of sufficient
er-two-thirds-t ratlfy. Then
Senator McEnery voted aye and that
settled it-victory had once more perched
upon the American banner. Then Sena-
tor Jones of Nevada, who had been
absent during the first calling of the roll,
ff1 h a M
when again called. Thus was the treaty
ratified with one vote to spare. The
total vote was 81. there being 81 ayes
and 81 noes. Six Senators were paired,
two in the negative being paired against
four in the affirmative, one negative vote
being equivalent to two affirmative votes
when it requires two-thirds Of those vot-
ing to carry the proposition.
*x*
The affirmative votes were made up of
80 Repu blicans, 10 Democrats, Popu-
lists, Silver Republicans, Silverites
were made up of % Democrats, Re-
publicans, Q Populists, and Silver Re
publican. The two Senators paired
against the treaty were both Democrats,
while three of the four paired for it were
Republicans, and the other Silver Re
publican. 1t is a matter of qualification
that the vote was not strictly along party
lines. Ou the contrary, not only we're
the two great parties divided, but also
the Populists and Silver Republicans.
Since the vote was not to be unanimous
for ratification it is well that the two
great parties, as well as the most for
midable third party represented in the
Sanata ware divided
*x*
The delay and contention that have
attended the consideration of this treaty
and the final action upon it are the cause
of the Filipino attack upon our forces at
Manila. Had the treaty been promptly
ratified when transmitted to the Senate
by the President there would have been
no trouble in Luzon or any other of the
Philippine Islands. The struggle that
ensued over it in the Senate raised false
hopes in the breasts of Aguinaldo and his
deluded followers. They were led to be-
lieve that the Senatorial opposition to
the ratification of the treaty means that
our troops would be withdrawn and they
be left to set up their own power under
our sheltering wing. Aguinaldo and the
other Filipino leaders have the idea that
an American protectorate over the ISL
ands means that they shall be permitted
to run the government and control the
revenues at their own sweet pleasure
while the United States pays the bills.
The conciliatory policy pursued towards
them was misconstrued. They imagined
that the opposition to the treaty consti-
tuted the objecting Senators their allies,
and it came so near to so doing that the
Filipinos were not much to be blamed for
so thinking. The opposition to the treaty
is responsible for the recent bloodshed at
Manila. There is no reasonable doubt
but that Agoncillo, Aguinaldo's principal
agent in this country, was in communica-
tion with his chief and informed him that
the treaty would be voted on, Monday
and advised him to attack our forces be
fore that day. Agoncillo left Washington
hurriedly last Saturday night and did not
stop until he reached Montreal, Canada.
~
Aguinaldo and Agoncillo were in ef-
feet the allies of the Senators who
opposed the ratification of the treaty.
The night attack on our forces was un-
questionably made because it was sup.
posed by Aguinaldo and his representative
here, Agoncillo, that it would affect the
vote on the treaty. Perhaps it did, but the
effect was directly contrary to what they
supposed it would be. Instead OF MAX
ing votes against the treaty, it made
votes for it. / do not believe that any
severer criticism can be passed upon the
Senators who opposed the treaty than to
say that, Willingly or unwittingly, and I
believe unwitlingly, they are giving aid
and comfort to the Filipino insurgents
against their own countrymen. But to
claim that these Senators did this un-
Willingly is to admit their patriotism at
the expense of their judgment. 1t proves
that they are not safe guides for the
country.
The treaty has yet to be ratified by the
Spanish Cortes. e. w. B.
Jewel Presentation.
n L u