The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-11-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

"ASHlNGTON, u. u, November 9th.
MR.. EDIToR:-lmperialism is now bid
ding for Southern support by holding out
inducements, which, it is hoped, will catch
the cotton growers and manufacturers.
1t is now semi-officially stated that the adj
mInistration, which claims to have secured
verbal promises from European govern
ments which have been grabbing Chinese
territory that American commerce should
enjoy equal privileges with their own in
ali the Chinese territory controlled h
them, has demanded of tn sc governments
formal written agreements to accord with
the verbal promises, and intends, if the
demand is not acquiesced in, to back it up
with force. This is said to have been the
real reason for the recent material
streng thening of the American Naval
forces at Manila. The same statement
adroitly points out the material advantages
to the South the Chinese trade will give,
because of the increased demand, and, of
course, increased prices for all kinds of
cotton goods. The men who are manipu-
lating imperialism are very sly in putting
out this bid for Southern support They
know that the cotton raisers of the South
have had hard lines of late, and hope that
this promise of better times will create an
imperialist sentiment among them.
The administration has Matched up a
scheme to commit the country irrevocably
to imperialism. 1t has already began the
work of securing promises from Senators
and Representatives to vote for joint
resolution, to be offered as soon as Con-
gress meets, declaring t.n intention of this
Government to permanent: retain the
Philippine islands. Nothing could more
strongly show the steady growth of i'm
perialistic ideas in administration circles.
Only short time ago, Mr.. Mckinley said
that he intended, and had always intended,
that Congress should decide whether we
should keep the Philippines. Now he will
say to Congress, in effect, 81 have decided
to keep the Philippines, and l demand
that you shall ratify my decision" The
reason for this change is obvious. Mr..
Mckinley fears that if Congress takes up
this question and thoroughly discusses it,
SO many good reasons will be presented
against our going into the colonization
business to the extent of keeping the
Philippines that Congress might decide
against their retention. Therefore, he
will endeavor to head off ANYTHING like
free discussion by saying to Congress that
it is necessary to end the war in the Phil
ippines, that this joint resolution should
any future discussion of the natter in
Congress will be without effec; in de
terminin the policy of til, goverl nent
He will have no serious trO ible il g,.ttilr
anti imperialists of the Senate VIII ha,
something to say before it can be put
that body.
Senator Chaui C Y De Jew has .nun 10
that Boss Piatt, who nude him Senator.
isn't the whole thing in Wasain ston. and
he doesn't rejoice over the Knowledge.
Piatt compelled Depew 10 i,in him in
making fight upon the acceptance bv the
Treasury Department of plans for the
New 1ork Custom House, chosen in open
by a Committee of Architects.
and endorsed by the New York and Phil
ade'phia branches of the American Insti-
tute of Architects not because he knew of
any defects in the plans, but because the
successful competitor was Mr. Cass Gil
bert, Of Chicago, and not IL New York
politician. Secretary Gage, to
his credit be it recorded, refused to be in
huenced by political pressure and decided
in favor of the report of the Committee of
Architects. This was Mr. Dcrew's first
taste of humble pie, and if he could con
troll his own actions it might be his last,
but having agreed, before being elected
Senator, to do everything IN political
way that Plat asked him to, it probably
will not be.
If prominent men from the eastern Sc
ton of the United States, who come TO
Washington, know the sentiment of their =
people the anti imperalist spirit is rapidly
growing in that section. Said one of !
thcm-Mr. f. S. Beach, of the Boston bar:
Senator Hoar is voicing the better senti-
ment, and | believe that sooner or later
the country will appreciate his efforts to
keep our government in the safe path |
justified by all the years of our national
existence. There are great many good
and influential men in New England who
are saying little, but who have firmly re- |