St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-02-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Correspondent.

still adhered to, although the opposition
has become solidifed and Is working
tremendously. A number of senators
who have been expected 10 go against
the treaty will cast their votes for 1t,
on account OF the fact having become
known that the president is entirely will
ing that the senate shall pass the resolu-
ton offered by Senator 81 llivan which
is a negative proposition. 1t simply de-
slares that the ratification Of the treaty
does not commit the government of the
United States to a colonial policy The
president would prefer that no express
sion of opinion on the part of the senate
be made for the reason that 1t will be
misunderstood by the Filipinos and
weaken our influence with them, and
may be misconstrued by the European
powers, but IL the passage of Senator
Sullivan's resolution will relieve the
conscience Of half dozen senator's who
want to vote for the treaty he Will In
terpose no objection. There can be no
binding declaration Of colonial policy
on the executive without the action of
the house of representatives. The SEN
not commit the country, nor its declara-
ton be accepted for more than simple
opinion of one branch of the legislative
body. Congress alone can determine
what the future government OF the Phll-
ippine islands shall be, and the president
will not be governed by any declaration
on the part of the senate alone. The
treaty will be ratified. and then the
country will be afforded ample time be-
fore congress comes together again Ill
December to decide what disposition
shall be made of the islands acquired.
In the.meantime they will be under mil
itary government and peace will be re-
stored whether the Filipinos like 1t or
not.
decreasing the Regular Army.
The discussion of the army bill in the
house has brought out the fact OF
very decided opposition on the part of
many Republican members to an in
crease of the regular army to 100000
men. II was developed that the sentl-
ment of the men who can be regarded
as party leaders Is very strongly in IA
yor of comforting upon the president au-
thority to increase the army to 100000
men If the exigency of the times require
It, but not to provide the maximum limit
of the number who shall be in active
eervice by law at this time. The feel
ing is very decided that it Is better to
clothe the president with this power
than to enlist at the present time the
standing regular army up to the number
originally provided for in the bill I'm
der this plan the army can be kept at
80 900 or 60 600 men, and If troubles occur
In the Philippines, making it necessary
to greatly increase our force there, the
president can at once increase the num-
ber
The house struck out the provision in
the bill reviving the grade of lieutenant
general, which is great disappointment
to the friends of Gen. Miles, as they con-
fidently counted on his attaining this
rank to round out his military career.
1t Is unfortunate that Gen. Miles has had
some serious differences With other Off
GERS of the army, growing out of the late
war and these have had something to
do with the house refusing to revive the
grade of ieutenant-general. His
latest quarrel with General Ludlow,
military commander at Havana, regard
ing the lack of preparation of the en-
gineer corps for the Decentralization Of
troops in Cuba before the BATTLE Of San
tiago has aroused much feeling among
the friends of that officer, and only in
tensiflcd the feeling which is showing
itself in certain quarters against Cen
eral Miles. Just at this juncture, when
army circles are all stored up over the
Eagan- Miles quarrel, the precipitation
OF another fight, for such 1t is sure to be,
with General Ludlow, who stands high
as an engineer officer, cannot be regard
ed as otherwise than very injurious to
General Miles and any attempt that he
may make to more firmly entrcnch HIM
self as the continued commanding gen.
eral of the army. 1t Is we'll known that
there is very active element in tho
army who believe that 1t will be for the
best interests of the service for the pres
ident to relieve General Miles from com.
mand and assign another officer as the
commanding general, and therefore
every false move General Miles makes
only aids those who want him displaced
Concerning the Indians.
The commissioner of Indian affairs
gives a denial TO the story floating
around the country in various newspa
pers to the effect that 10000 INDIAN
have begun an overland march from In
dian territory for Mexico, where it Is al
legged they will settle and make their flu
ture home. A few hundred Delaware In
dams in the territory have become dis
satisfied with the course of events-no
liking the idea of taking their lands
severalty, and trying to become civilized
but preferrng to maintain tribal rela
tons, and live on land in conmon--hav
sent a representative to Mexico to loo
after tract of land, with view of r,
moval there. To this step the generi
government will interpose no obstacl
The Indians have a very large tract
land in Indian territory. Those
the tribe who do not go to Mexico W
retain ownership. Under the policy no
pursued by Secretary Bliss the Indiai
in Indian territory bid fair, in fe
years, to have more money per CAPT
than the white people. They own eXte
eive mineral lands, which are bell
worked under royalty, and the amou
received will more than pay all the t
bal expenses, including the expendltuI
OF several hundred thousand dollars a
nually for education. This is the da'
of freedom or civilization for the India
and 1t Is mainly due to the very care
business and conscientious manai
ment of their affairs by Secretary 81
of the interior department.
In AN Ugly Mood.