The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-06
CHANGED THEIR VIEWS.
Former Treaty Opponents Now
for Ratification.
RESULTOF FIGHT AT MANILA
They Want to Teach the Insurgents
a Good Lesson
NEW DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS.
Bacon Remains Firm, While Frye
Accuses Opposition.

Washington, Feb. 5-(speciaD.- ~ am
with Dewey and Otis, as against Aguinal-
do and Agoncilo," exclaimed Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge tonight. while dis
cussing the war news from Manila, and
the effect the insurgent uprising will
have upon the vote on the peace treaty in
the Senate tomorrow.
The junior senator from Massachusetts
has been with the President and other
friends of the treaty during the day, and
he is confident that American patriotism
backed by public sentiment, viii influence
more than two-thirds of the senators to
cast their votes tomorrow in favor of the
ratification of the treaty
At the White House, the war and navy
departments, and throughout the city gen.
orally, a similar opinion prevails. 1t is
openly asserted by friends of the treaty
that several Democratic senator's. who
were expected 10 vote against the treaty,
have changed their minds since the war
news from Manila received confirmation
at the hands of the brilliant Dewey
Day OF Great EXc1tement
This has been day of intense excite
ment, and frequent war conferences have
been held at the White House.
Early this morning the President was
Informed by press dispatches that the Fill
pinos had attacked the American forces
at Manila. While he has feared such a re-
suit for several days past, he hoped It
might be avoided. He was, therefore, in
clined to dlscredlt the first report of the
outbreak
Later in the morning Secretary Long
brought to the executive mansion a copy
of Admiral Dewey's dispatch, which con-
hrmed the press reports Extra editions
of the local papers, added to the excite
ment of the hour, and all of the old war
scenes of last summer were revived in
this city.
Out-of-town newspapers telegraphed fer
official news from Washington, with which
10 issue extras, and the executive man
sion and the war and navy departments
were overrun with eager correspondents
and excited citizens.
They Demand Ratification.
When the fact was ascertaned that the
insurgents at Manila had attacked The
American forces, public sentiment, with
but few notable exceptions, Joined in
demand for the immediate ratification Of
the treaty followed by swift and terrible
punishment of Aguinaldo and his follow
ers..
AT the White House, the opinion was
freely expressed by cabinet officers. senl-
tors and representatives. who were there
to consult the President that the overt
act of the Filipinos would help rather
than retard the ratification of the treaty.
Senator Aldrich, the political leader Of
the Republicans in the Senate, asserted
with apparent confidence that he could
count at least five Democrats who VIII
vote for the treaty in consequence of the
DEVELOPMENTS of the past twenty-four
hours II is understood that Senators Nc
Iaurin Of South Carolina, McEnery of
Louisiana, Heitfeldt OF Idaho, Jones of
Nevada, Harris of Kansas, and Kenny of
Delaware, will now vote for ratification.
The Opposition Troubled.
The opposition 20 the treaty was visbly
troubled by the news from Manila. Sena-
tor German pretended to be undisturbed
by the perceptible change in public senti-
ment against any further delay in ratify-
ing the treaty. He said the news from
Manila does not aher the situation in the
Senate: on the contrary, he holds that It
should strengthen the opponents of the
treaty, because 1t is just what has been
predicted by those who are fighting against
ratification. He says he does not know
of any defections from the ranks of the
opposition, and he Is confident tonight
that the treaty viii not be ratified to-mor-
row.
BacOn's stand Unchanged.
Senator Bacon of Georgia, who figures
as one OF the leaders of the opposition 10
the treaty, says the outbreak at Manila
might have been averted had the Senate
and the administration seen the wisdom
OF accepting his joint resolution, which
has been pending in the Senate for several
weeks.
Il have predicted from day 10 day Just
what has happened" he said thence
am not surprised, and see no reason why
/ should change my opinion and vote for
the ratification OF the treaty. / will cheer
fully vote all the money that may be
necessary to carry on the war In the Phil
ippines. but / still maintain that we cou,d
have avoided a conflict with those people
had the Senate adopted my resolution. or
a similar measure announcing our honest
intentions as regard the Philippines.
"Under the circumstances. / do not see
why any Of the senator's who were orig
inally opposed to the treaty should vote
for Il now. / am not influenced in this
matter by party considerations, but pro-
pose 10 vote my honest convictions, which