Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-12

1t is persistentIy reported from Wash
ington that prior to his departure for VIZ
ginia the President discussed earnestly
with his Cabinet the question of calling
an extra session of Congress, and gave
, ''cogent reasons" why there should be
an extra session. One OF these reasons.
| IL Is said. was the necessity Of the adop-
ton of a definite policy to be pursued In
the Philippines after peace. Another was
the necessity OF settling the currency
question.
AS to the settlement OF the currency
question we wonder II the President be-
lieves that thoughtful people entertain
for a moment the idea that a Republican
Congress will honestly attempt to do any
thing in that direction. III MT Mckin-
lev Is the victim of such a belief he Is
much more unsophistcated than we have
taken him to be. The element from which
Mark Hanna draws the sinews OF war Is
welded to the present banking and cur
rency system, and so long as this Is the
case II Is absurd TO expect that RepuD-
lcan Congress will do more than juggle
the purpose of preventing the people from
concentrating on reform measure, me
success of which would carry with i, ae-
feat OF the Republican party. SO much
as has transpired touching the proceed
ings of the caucus of the Currency Com
mittee held at Atlantic City, but accen-
tuates the fact that the currency question:
will never be settled. and the banking
facilities needed by the people ana leSiu-
mate business will never be supplied. until
the masses rise up and sweep out the Re-
publcans in all departments of the gov
eminent. Let the Democratic leauers
stick a pin here and lose no time IN arous-
ing the people to an appreciation Oh 'hs
deceptivencss Of all Republican currency
reform promises
In discussing the other reason urged as
iustjfying an extra session. an admins
tration organ says the Democrats nave
raised the question Of what shall be done
when we come into indsputed possession
of the islands, but have deliberately as
regarded the fact that the President IN
his message to Congress, carefully eX-
plained that this question can only be an
swered by that body. 1t strikes us tla'
our contemporary has deliberately disre-
garded the fact that the President, after
the message referred TO. outlined uls-
tinctlv his policy in the Philippines. That
policy is Imperialism. Since then he has
more than once emphasized, by both WORD
and act. his lmperialistic views touching
the future of our 'far East possessions
His whole course regarding the Philip
mines would seem to involve a knowledge
ON his part that he has Congress In MS
nocket I'm respect of this matter. IL would
appear. therefore, that his only OBJECT IN
calling upon Congress TO lesislate on the
PHILIPPINES question would be TO secure
perfunctorv endorsement Of his pro-
gramme. and render 1t more difficult Tor
the people to reverse him. Let the DEM
ocratic leaders stick a pin here, also. to
tho end that organized agitation against
imperialism begin now and continue TO
gather force and earnestness until the
campaign of 1900 Let them see to 1t that
If Congress is called in extra session ana
endorses Mr.. McKiney's philippines
policy the endorsement will be made under
protest. An extra session may hold great
possibilities for the Democracy, ana Tor
the country, If the Democratic leaders
are wise in their day and generation