The times., 1899-01-20
FRIDAY. JANUARY 20, 1899.
Let Them ne known.

That a minority of Senators can preren;
the ratification of the Treaty of Peace with
Spain at this session seems to be probable.
1t is not pretended that most of those who
are now disposed to delay ratification would
vote against it and thus undo the work OF
the Peace Commission and restore TIE
state of war Nor do they hope either TO
amend it or to prevent its ultimate ap-
proyal by two-thirds of the Senate. That
the friends of the measure will refuse 10
submit to any proposed emasculation that
would bind this Government in way to
keep alive a constant opposition in the
Philippines, they positively affirm. 1t is
certain that the Treaty Will be ratified eN-
actly as it is at the next session, when the
Republicans will have a majority of not
less than eighteen Senators What then
have the minority TO gain by obstruction?
Simply delay. What is there in that for
anybody OF course if any Senator is
courting mar;rydom this is an opportunity
10 achieve il, for il is undeniable that an
overwhelming majority of the people are
thorough and uncompromising expansion
lists. Even in Maine the sentiment in fa-
vor of the Treaty as ii came from the
hands of the President is strong enough to
induce nearly one-half the Republican leg
islators to withdraw from the capitol on
the election of Senator Hale as a mark of
their stern disapproval of his course. 1t
Is not easy 10 eXaggerate the significance
of that and il should be sufficient warn
ing 10 Senators from other States. If the
people up in little corner of the land
where American sentiments hardly pene-
,rate show so many that are favorable
enough to the Treaty TO inspire such pro-
fest against Eugene Hale, what must be
the state of mind OF those of unfrozen sec
tions?
DO the most Of the minority Senators
desire what mere delay will effect? Delay
gives 10 the world and to the outlaws who
are miscaIled the people OF the Philip
pines" 10y the capricious Senator Hoar the
idea that the American people are so di-
vided about the work Of President Mckin-
ley at Paris that the Senate is warranted
in holding up The Treaty OF Peace. Ger
tainiy that is not the fact II is not true
that one Republican in ten in Illinois ap-
proves Senator Mason's course. 1t is even
doubtful If a majority of Massachusetts,
Republicans, erratic as they are, are not
supporters of the President against Sen
stor Hoar. Then it postpones the fulfillmant
Of our pledge 10 Spain to do our best to
secure the release OF her prisoners in
Aguiuaidos hands. It Is, in effect. an ad-
mission TO the world that We are either
perfidious or impotent-unable to wrest
from the hands of a body of ragamuffins
the prisoners We undertook to return to
Spain II is Z warrant 10 that revengeful
nation to deal directly with the self-ap-
pointed dictator who represents nobobdy.
Il is an encouragement TO Germany to en-
large the scope of her secret operations
there and add 10 the irritation that her
policy in Samoa has caused and which ma Y
possibly lead to serious trouble. II con-
demns the great body of the Fiipinos.
who do not want to recognize the arbi-
trary government installed by the unau-
thorized Aguinaldo TO increased oppres-
sions and to loss OF life and property.
They are already terrorized by his follow
ers. 1t fosters contempt of American
authority in all the islands Of the archi-
pelago and strengthens the rebel chief
among 4 class Of outlaws whom Spain new
er attempted TO subdue and who now
threaten TO loot and burn IIoilo. 1t does
much TO destroy the prestige which our
war with Spain gained for us in the eyes
OF the world.
II there are Senators who are willing TO
subject the nation 10 all these things for
no purpose except their own-to delay what
they cannot prevent, not for any possible
benefit to the nation and for no conceiva-
ble advantage for their party, but solely
for some personal reason-then it is right
that the country should know who they
are. Let them be known. There should
be poll Of the Senate that will definitely
show who the Senators are that are deter
mined to act as obstructionists by refusing
To vote for the ratification of the Treaty,