Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-28

THE WASHINGTON CHURcH AT ALEXANDRIA.
who have made pilgrimages hithel
from distant states with the hope OF
being able to serve their country for q
consideration will be obliged to return
to their homes with ambitions unat.
tanned.
These are the days when the Wash.
ington boarding house keeper is in her
glory. 1t is quite possible to spot the
presiding genius of a fashionable estab-
lishment of this kind by the serene
smile that spreads itself all over her
face during the last weeks of Novem-
Der, particularly during the weeks just
preceding the ''long session" Wash
ington is just now an interesting study
in many respects. The new members
are arriving few days prior to the
opening Of congress to get acquainted
with the capital and meet the men who
will be their colleagues. There are
many surprises in store for them. The
first shock comes to the new member
when he discovers that, while he may
be the biggest man alive among his
constituents at home, his greatness
does not appeal even to the negro
bootblacks Of the capital. There are
other shocks and surprises awaiting
him. He must run the gantlet Of place
hunters and lobbyists, male and fe-
male, and he will be extremely fortu-
nate if he gets through the first session
in such way as not to need any notes
Of explanation to those who sent him
here.
AS the Fifty-ffth congress had upon
its hands the momentous task Of in
augurating q war add providing for its
successful prosecution, the Fifty-sixth
congress will have on its hands the
scarcely less important task Of dealing
with the great questions resultant from
that war. Not since the reconstruction
period has there been congress which
has had to do with weightier and more
complex questions, and the chances are
that this session will be one Of the
most interesting and spirited in the
history Of our national legislation.
What to do with Cuba, how to ham
die the Philippines, what course to
pursue in governing Porto Rico-these
are questions growing out Of the war
with Spain which are pressing for solu-
ton. The consideration of these ques-
tions will be Of especial interest, aside
from their merits, by reason of the fact
that the battle over them will not be
fought on strictly party lines. In the
upper house there are number of Re
publicans who are likely to kick over
the party traces when it comes to in
dorsing the policy Of the administra-
tion in the matter Of expansion.
Senator Mason of Illinois, Senator
Foraker Of Ohio, Senator Hoar of Mas
sachusetts and probably Senator Per
kins of California will be found vigor-
ously opposing the administration.
Senator Mason is out for blood. In
interviews, letters and speeches he
has already expressed himself as un-
alterably and emphatically opposed
to Philippine annexation, and has an
nounced that he will have something to
say worth listening to.
1t may not be well. however, for
Democrats to bank too heavily upon
the opposition of these senators, for two
reasons-in the first place the senate
is Republican, and besides there are
enough Democrats who are in accord
with the presidents policy to offset
these defections. Among these are
Senators Morgan of Alabama, Nc.
Laurin Of South Carolina and Lindsay
of Kentucky.
There will be even liyelier time In
the house than in the senate over the
questions growing out pf the war. and
altogether we may look for session IN
both branches abounding in vigorous
oratory and stirring incident.
Possibly as result of the war and
the sentiment Of gratitude to those who
fought in it, now fresh in the public
mind, the project for the erection of
the Memorial bridge across the Poro-
mac from Washington to Arlington
has again been revived, and it is not
improbable that 1t will receive some
consideration In congress. 1t is pro-
posed that it shall be memorial to all
the nations heroes, from "the Father Of
His Country" down to its soldiers now
fighting in the far orient.
In the midst of our glorifying Of the