The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-30
A Momentous Year.

When the Treaty of Paris is ratified by
the Senate and peace assured, the last re-
naming obstacle to progress and prosper
ity will nave been removed. The war with
Spain will then soon pass into history, and
the people will be free to give their undi-
vided thought to peaceful concerns.
Not long after the 9th of February, when
the vote on the ratification of the treaty Of
peace is to be taken, the present Congress
will come to an end, and ratification will re-
lieve business from the uncertainties caused
by a session of the National Legislature.
The new Congress will not assemble until
next December, and therefore all fear OF
disturbance from the Capitol at Washing
ton will be removed for nine months.
1t will be a line of rest greatly needed
by the business of the country. During
the whole of the twelve months past the
public has been agitated by the most
distracting of national questions. A year
ago, or on the 25th of January, 1898,
the Maine arrived at Havana as a peace
full visitor. Early in February began
the momentous discussion in the Senate
over Intervention in Cuba. In the middle
of that month, or on the 18th. the
Maine was blown up in Havana harbor,
n war with Spain was made inevitable.
In the beginning of the second week of
March Congress appropriated $50. 900, 900
to be used by the President for purposes of
national defence-for war purposes. In
April the country was fairly launched into
war, and active hostilitics continued until,
on Aug. -, the peace protocol was
signed and an armistice proclaimed. On
the list of October began the peace confer
ences at Paris, and they lasted until Dee.
10, when a treaty Of peace was signed by
the Commissioners.
Then came the present session OF Con-
Rress and the long period of delay in the
ratification of the treaty. The people had
been rejoicing over Il peace won by the I'M
exampled victories of the war on both land
n sea. They thoughtthat hcend had come.
that war was over, and nothing remained
to be done except the mere formality of the
ratification Of the treaty OF peace by the
Senate. All trade bounded forward n long
period OF prosperity without a parallel for
its extent and magnitude seemed to be
assured. Everywhere there WAS only hope
all clouds seemed to have cleared AWAY.
When the present year began, however,
the people We're astoundcd by the informa-
ton that II combination had been formed
In the Senate with a view To harassing the
advocates of peace by impeding the ratitica-
ton of the treaty, if not defeating it, and
on a prctext never before brought forward
In history, the pretcXt that the treaty gave
us too much, and that the peace would
bring us too much glory.
The Senators in this league to prevent
peace boosted that they controlled enough
votes to max" the ratification impos-
sible by this Senate and to compel the
President TO distract further the country
by calling an extra session Of the new SEN
ate after the 4th of March. This delay
would prolong the war, invit" bIoodsh"d.
and increase the likelihood of foreign cOm-
plications which, they hoped, would hc
fatal to this treaty of peace. So eager were
they to accomplish their shameless scheme
that they forgot To consider that they were
imperillinG every interest of the people by
the uncertainty they were intriguing TO in
trodlce and prolong.
That was the astounding situation in the
Senate when at last agreement was reached
to come To q vote on the treaty II week
from to-day. We shall then know precisely
how many and who are TN" senators vino
dare to persist 10 the hast in their scheme
TO defraud the people of the peace FIR which
they fought and for which they are all
longing. We believe the number of such
plotters against their country will be- few
next Monday, but whoever they are and
however manythey are they will bc doomed
70 the fate they deserve as men who sought