Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-01-18
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

! the argument advanced by Senators
HOar and Mason against the consti
tutlonal right of the United States to
acquire territory and easily demol
ished them all.
There has been much talk in the
states about the acquisition of the
Philippines making this government a
| despotism, but the best proof that
| this government is not a despotism
is found in the fact that senators
who have offered resolutions such as
that of Allen, of Nebraska, that any
aggressive action of the United States
against the Fi!ipinos would be exceed
Ing the constitutional authority of
the government, and that Of Bacon,
of Georgia, for the recognition of the
independence of the so-calIed Fill
plnO republic-bOth closely border
ing on treason-are still at large,
with the privilege Of continuing such
talk. This sort of talk is adding to
the danger Of trouble, not only with
the F'ilipinos, but with the nation
that is secretly advising and aiding
them.
Representa- Tawney, of Mime
sofa, is credited with having headed
off a scheme, engineered by Sir Will
frId Laurler, the Canadian premier,
his Canadian colleagues on the Anglo
American commission, and the
Americans who favor reducing the
tariff on lumber from So a thousand
feet 20 81, to get the Anglo American
commission, again in session in
Washington, to provide for the re-
duction as a part of the reciprocity
clause Of the treaty the commission
hopes to gotiate. The tip was
given the Canadian lumbermen and
the Americans whose interests are
identical to gather in Washington
Representative Tawney, who is one
OF NJ. Dingley's right hand men, took
charge of the fight in the absence of
his sick leader, the moment be
learned what the other side was try
ing to do. The result was that when
the Canadians and lower duty Ameri-
cans got to Washington, instead Of
having everything their own way, as
they expected, they found themselves
confronted by a delegation of the
ablest lumbermen in the country,
who had been invited to Washington
by Mr.. Tawney to assist him in
tigh ing for the retention of the pre-,
sent duty on lumber.
1t looks as though the anti expan-
sion firm of Bryan & Carnegie was
about to dissolve, on account of dis
agreement between the partners.
Mr.. Bryan, knowing that the qnes-
ton of expansion is not involved in
tho treaty OF peace, and that our
national honor is, has advocated
the prompt ratification Of the treaty
by the senate. Mr. Carnegie, who
has been ranting around Washing
ton all the week. has been trying, by
wire, to get Mr.. Bryan to come to
his assistance by turning a somer-
sault and advising Democratic sena-
tors to vote against the treaty, and
BRYAN has refused. Mr.. Carnegie is
using some queer arguments for an
honest man to bring to bear upon
honest senator's He admits in effect
that the auti-eXpansiOnists cannot
hope to secure q ma orityin congress,
and advocates that all their strength
be concentrated in an effort to secure
votes enough to reject the treaty.
The following language used by him
in a published interview was an
Acknowledgements that he is engaged
in trying to accomplish something in
the dark that he knows could not be
done in the light Of day: thereafter
we will not enjoy the advantage over
out ppOnents that we now do, hav-
ing then to meet them in the open
field"
Justice Harlan, of the United
States supreme court, said of expan-
sion: "There is nothing in that
valua BILE document 1.-THE United States
constitution which forbids this
country acquiring new territory,
either by treaty or conquest, as long
as there is an intention Of eventually
Incorporating it IN our own. Alaska
has been IN our possession for 81
years and is not,a state yet, and until
the conditions improve we shall
hold it in the same position, perhaps
indefinitely. After the Philippines
have come into our possession we
shall govern them on the same foot
ing as a territory, and when they
demonstrate that they are a fit peO-
pie to be incorporated into this
Union, then they will be admitted
If the course Of time shows that they
! never will be far enough advanced to
become part of us, then it will be
time for US to trade them for some
place that WILL
The sword ordered by act of con-
gress for presentation to Admiral
Dewey is on exhibition at the Navy
department, and is q beautiful one;
the sword that the Royal Arcanum
had made, at cost of ST, 800, to be
presented to Rear Admiral Schley, is
also on exhibition in Washington, at
business establishment.
President Mckinley this week
nominated Charlemagne Tower, Of
Pennsylvania, now minister to
Austria, to be ambassador to Russia
to succeed Secretary Hitchcock, who
is on his way to Washington tolsucceed
Secretary Bliss; Addison G. Harris
of Indiana, to be minister to Aus
tria, and Joseph III. Choate, of New
York, to be ambassador to England
La Grippe Successfully Treated.