The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-11-17
Washington Letter.
IFrom our regular correspondent.l

Washington ID. c., Nov. IL 1899.
tits the unanimous opinion OF Presi-
dent Mckinley, every member OF the
| Cabinet and every member of the
| Philippine Commission, that the first
and most imperative duty of Congress,
at the coming session, will be to adopt
a joint resolution declaring the inten-
tion of the U. $. to permanently re-
tain the ownership OF the Philippines,
and there is little doubt that such
resolution will be adopted by both
house and Senate. III it could be put
through at the first days session, it
would do much good, both in the
Philippines and at home, but that, of
course, is too much to hope for. The
House will be the first to adopt the
resolution and the Senate will eventu-
ally follow, but the ants in the latter
body will take advantage of the Senate
rules, just as they did when the treaty
OF Peace, the delay in the ratification
OF which is responsible for every drop
of blood shed in the Philippine insur-
rection, was before the Senate, to de-
lay action by talk about any old thing
to prevent a vote. No stronger argu-
ment in favor of the adoption OF such
a resolution could be found than
Aguinaldo's recent statement that
"The American Congress is soon to
meet to decide whether to keep the
Philippines. Americans know that
! that decision has already been made
by the people-but residents of the
Philippines do not.
Edward G. Andre, who Is Belgium's
Consul at Manila, is visiting Washing
ton. He predicts speedy end to the
insurrection and says that ten thou
sand Filipinos cannot stand before
regiment Of American soldiers, and
that the end would have been reached
long before this if the present rainy
season had not been unusually long
and severe. When asked what he
thought of what the American soldiers
had accomplished over there, Mr..
Andre, who is disinterested witness
and who speaks from personal knowl-
edge acquired on the ground, replied:
"They have done well--very we'll. If
you only know the condition OF that
country, you would be surprised that
they have done what they have. The
weather has been simply awful-worse
this year than usual-and fighting
under such conditions is very difficult
Indeed
Secretary Long said of the prel1min-
ary report of the Philippine Commits
sion, which is commended by every
body except the "littler Americans" :
There have been SO many misrepre-
sentations and exaggerations that it is
! delightful to have so valuable and ex-
lplicit statement from a Board, the
Icomposition of which could not be inn
proved in this country or any other.
Two of the men who are members
have been long known in their associa-
tion with our leading Universities;
the third gentleman has had more
than twelve years diplomatic exper-
fence III China, and the fourth is to
day the most conspicuous man in the
nations eye. Three of the men have
never been associated in any way with
politics, and the fourth, who has not
taken any active part in politics, by
reason of his diplomatic service, is one
of the most respected members of the
democratic party, and certainly cam
not be charged with any leaning to-
wards the administration. It is es-
pecially gratifying that the report
backs up and endorses the position
and the statements OF the President
upon this whole matter"
Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, said:
|"No matter what differences Of opin-
ion may exist among individuals upon
the question of expansion, our flag in
Porto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines,
will stay there: The U. S. Senate will
never consent to the surrender or to
the hauling down Of the flag. Where
that glorious emblem has been raised,
there it viii stay No matter what
may be the sentiment of the majority
the great body of American people
will always be for the flag, under any
and all circumstances. There may be
agitation, but the flag will stay there
and those who wish to humiliate or
dishonor it, viii only discredit them
selves in the-esteem if not more seri-
ously, of their fellow citizens. =
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