The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-12-13
FROM THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
From Our Orn Correspondent.

Congress have been the reading Of the
annual message of the President, ano
the action of the House upon the Gre
dentials of Roberts, the polygamlst
from Utah.
The general comments heard upon
the executive communication are any
thing but fattering to its author. Ii
is enormously long, containing more
words than any previous annual mes
sage to Congress. But its Language Is
dubious, lacking in force; and. upon
the important issues of the day, it falls
far short of expectations. 1t leaves
the Philippine question in the air; and
it is apparent now that the President
will not venture to put himself square
ly on record, officially, lin regard tc
this matter, prior to the national elec.
tions. His utterances to Congress are
remarkably short Of his speeches ID the
west, on his famous around the circle
trip before the Ohio election. He now
ventures nothingupon the imperialistlc
issue, beyOnd statement, which nc
one disputes or has denied, that the
insurrection must be ended, and that
obligations incurred in the war with
Spain for establishing order in terri
tory acquired by this country, must be
fulfilled. But upon the important
question as to how this government
shall govern the Asiatic possessions,
what measure of liberty shall be given
the Filipinos, the President is silent.
His evasion Of the issue is taken gen.
erally to mean that he is doubtful now
himself about the American peoples
endorsement Of the policy to hold per
manently all the Philippines and to
govern them by a colonial system SINH
lar to that of Great Britain.
The financial suggestions OF Mr.. Nc
Kin!ey have chilled the western Re
publicans, who cherished the hope that
he would, nominally at least, adhere to
the Republican platform OF 1896 upon
which he was elected, favoring larger
use of silver, to be brought about by
international agreement, Intelligent
men have understood fully that this
declaration was put in merely to pro
pitiate certain sections like Indiana
and illinois where silver coinage is
strong, even with Republicans. Now,
however, the President comes out
souarely for the establishing more
firmly of the single gold standard, the
increase of national bankers privileges,
and authority for the Secretary of the
Treasury to sell United States bonds
on long or short time. AS the present
Secretary exercises his discretion to
buy bonds and tnrn cash into Wall
street whenever the spectators are
short of money, this new proposition
imnlies @ a more flexible arrangement
by which the Treasury will lend itself
to the adjustment Of rates to stock
spectators at their behest, or as the
whim may strike him, and both sell
and buy bonds for the purpose.
The trust question is treated with
little short of misstatement OF law and
facts. The day prior to the reading OF
this message the United States Supreme
Court, in the important case of the
Addyston Pipe Co., decided that this
trust was in violation Of Federal sta
tutes. There is no longer doubt that
existing law is sufficient to reach the
trusts. tits for the Attorney Genera!
of the United States, an official OF
Mckinley administration, to prosecute
the offenders. But Attorney General
Griggs comes from New Jersey. the
great incorporating State Of all the
trusts operating, in the country, and
his thoughts and convictions art. i'm
bued naturally with preiudices in favor
of the great capltalistic concerns
Griggs can not see means for pr0secu-
ting these combinations under the So
called Sherman act, although the SUI
preme Court can convict when cases
are brought before it. The easiest es-
cape from such situation is to ask fol
more legislation, and this is the course
of the President. With laws enough
to cover the principal offenders, the
trust-fed administration asks Congress
to furnish more; and then it implies
these matters will receive considera-
ton. When The next Republican con
vention meets, it will no doubt de-
nounce vigorously, in general terms,
trusts and combinations for the purpose
of sitting competition. The Republi-
cans have lost none of their character
istic etfrontery, rs is shown very well
in the latest message OF their chief re-
preventative.
No suggestion is made for lessenins
the burdens of the standing army, but
on the contrary, between the lines car
be read the purpose to establish II
permanently. II the President actual
1y believes the insurrcctlOn in the
Philippines is practically ended, why is
no hope extended that soon the army
can be reduced, and a portion at least
of the present burden OF S120,000,o0O
for this army can be taken Oft the
shoulders OF the taxpayers
In the House the message was listen
ed to impatiently. The thousands
who filled the galleries were there to
witness the proceedings in the Roberts
case. They were bored by the long,
tedious message.
Without party division, the House
voted not to admit Roberts on his un-
uuestionably perfect certificate of elcc-
ton as q Representative. The com
ments heard from the leaders on both
sides Indicate very clearly that they
were not at all satisfied with their
votes upon the question. They re-
cognizc, unanimously, thata most dan
gerons precedent has been established
In refusing to admit any man present
ing regular credentials, a precedent
that may be invoked hereafterto great
injury of State, by INSCRIPTIONS ma
iorities in the House. 1t can be stated,
moreover, that there were not six men
of the nearly 400 in the House who did
not recognize the fact that the proper
procedure in the case would have been
to adopt the resolution offered by the
Democratic leader, Mr.. Richardson,
proposing to admit Roberts temporari-
" upon his credentials, and then refer
to the committee on the judiciary for
immediate report the charges OF per