The evening times., 1899-03-04
SATURDAY. MARCH 4, 1899.
The Iatc Congress.

The Late Congress.
The Fifty-ffth Congress is no more. 1t
is doubtful if there has been Congress
since the Civil War that did not seem, at
its close. Just a little worse than its pre-
decesscrs in some particular-iust as
every severe winter seems TO US 10
be almost unparalleled. Inevitably Con
gress must fall short of the expectations
OF the people. There is constant schemlng
for partisan advantage save in those rare
momeats when the most bloodless Ameri-
can becomes inspired by a patriotic arcor;
there is either submission to the improper
legislative demands of an Administra Ion
which has the power of patronage, or e'se
opposition to the reasonable requirements
OF a President who is seeking the coun-
Iry's welfare; there is the triumph of
trusts in their conflicts with popular SEN
Iiment and a cowardly voting of pub ic
money 10 organized rapacity. In many
casrs the actual merits of an enterprise
which calls for Federal aid have little 10
do with the result. but oaly the influence
OF the men employed TO promote its in
uerests. These and many other departures
from simple. straightforward legisia i've
action are perennial, and when We come 10
compare the records of different Con-
crosses we find enough to condemn in all.
For the Congress that died at noon to-
dag there is something favorable 10 BE-
said When it came into existence the
policy of the Government was TO prohibit
all AID 10 the struggling Cuban patriots in
defiance OF all American sentiment. The
President was reluctant to abandon his
hopeless efforts 10 effect something for Gu
ha by diplomacy, and the majority of the
representatives of his party in Congress
were with him. Yet when the emergency
came, even the impossible Boutelle was re-
duced 10 silence while an emergency fund
that was really war fund was voted 10
ihe President, the Democrats being even
more enthusiastic than the Republicans.
When it came to the declaration Of war.
there ceased TO be any partisans in Con-
gress. All were patriots. Mere politicians
disappeared from the public sight and it
Was not until the stress of war was over
that it was learned there was still one
mere politician. a partisan. who alone took
~ '"''S5c VI AlS opportunity TO ueDaSe the
military service for party and personal
ends. This was, of all men, the head of
the War Department
When Spain was beaten Congress sunk
back into the old ruts and ceased TO place
The country's welfare before everything.
1T failed to investigate the scandals that
followed the administration of the War De-
partment. A minority in the Senate held
up the Treaty of Peace and encouraged an
Ignorant people in the Philippines 10 le-
sist the most benefcent government that
has ever been offered TO the victims of
tyranny. The majority allowed the self
interested officials of the discredfted Mar
Department to dictate an Army reorganiza-
lion bill that would have been fatal 10 eff
cheney. and il has been temporarily sus-
pended only by the threats of minority
TO filibuster. The Nicaragua Canal, now
more necessary than ever, has been treated
with shameful malignity.
When we come to particularize the good
and i'll of this Congress. both will be found
10 be Of uncommon seriousness because of
the tremendous events of the time. The
acquisition of the Philippines, approved
by so narrow margin in the Senate, is the
thing of superlative moment, with conse-
quences the most far-reaching