The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-22
WHY THE TREATY Is HELD Up.

There is "A growing Impotence through
out the country az the delay in acting
upon the peace treaty Those who have
charge of it either think that all who
want to take part IN the debate on it
should he given chance TO do so, or else
they are not satisfied that II would re-
ceive the requisite two-tnirds majority If
the vote on it were taken at this time.
Il would seem as il there ought to be no
difficulty in finding out just how the sena-
tors stand on the treaty, but IL seems
there is. It is known what the position
of pretty nearly every senator is. but
there are "a few who have thus far re-
fused 20 say whether they will vote for
or against the treaty.
The statement has been circulated that
the President has about made up his mind
60 withdraw the treaty, being satisfied
that it cannot be ratified at this session
OF Congress, and believing that the wiser
course is to have it passed upon at an ex-
ira session of the Senate. Il Is safe to
say that there is no foundation for this
statement. If what the Presidents friends
say is correct he has no doubt that the
treaty will be ratified as soon as it is call
ed up in executive session. These friends
Of the President, however, may be talking
for effect. If they really believe that two
thirds of the senators are ready to vote
for the treaty they ought to permit no
further delay in its ratification. Techni-
cally we are yet at war with Spain. and
of the volunteers which are not needed for
service in Cuba, Porto Rico or the Philip
pines cannot be mustered out because a
condition of affairs might arise In which
they would be needed. Neither can much
be done to bring about a better condition
of affairs in the Philippines, because we
are not yet in fun authority there. This
uncertainty in the Philippines leaves the
way open for trouble with the Powers
OF Europe because they viii consider that
there is a chance for them to get a share
of the islands as long as the treaty fails
TO receive the approval of our govern
ment The delay in ratifying the treaty
is therefore both dangerous and costly.
There may be some truth in the story
that Senator German is the chief factor
In preventing the ratification of the treaty.
He is against ratification, and 1t is said
treaty in ats present shape he will greatly
increase his chances for being the Demo-
cratic nominee for President next year
Col Bryan favors immediate ratification,
and then declaration Of Congress that 1t
is the purpose of the United States to al
low the Filipinos to have their own gov
eminent just as soon as they are ready
for self-government. Senator German
wants the treaty amended so that the
United States will not be clothed with the
sovereignty Of the Philippines. He takes
the ground that if we should get the
rights which Spain had in the Islands we
would never give them up, but would pro-
coed at once to make colonies of them.
Ii seems to us that the position of Col
Bryan is much the better and safer one.
Having all the authority which Spain
can give us there will be nothing to pre-
vent US from establishing an enlightened
and stable government in the islands I'M
der the control of the Filipinos. In fact
1t is probable that we should have a bet
ter chance for helping the Filipinos to
reach self-government II we exercised
sovereignty over the islands than if we
had no color or right in the islands at
all, except the right obtained by force.
We are not of course prepared to say
that there is a political play going on be-
hind the scenes In which Senator German
is the leading actor, but If there is it is
doubtful if the effect of it will be any
thing more than to delay the ratification
of the treaty. Notwithstanding what the
opponents of ratification say. the indica-
tons are that the treaty WILL receive the
approval of the necessary two-thirds ma
jority.