The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-02-01
The most carefully prepared

the Military Committee, who said
that the bill provided for too small
all army to carry oat an imperial pol
icy aud too large {. one if we are not
to nave an imperial policy.
The absurdity Of the charge that
the anti-imperialists ale holding up
the treaty Of peace became fully ap-
parent in the debate on the treaty,
this week. Senator German told the
supporters OF the treaty that its op-
pouenjs were ready to join them IN
disposlng OF the treaty at any ume'
and twitted them by doubling their
earnestness about taking a vote Oh
the treaty. Senator Vest spoke even
plaiuer. He said: I'VE want 1t un-
derstood distinctly that we are not
boldiae the treaty up at all. Name
the day. We will agree to any date
that will suit you. If you have the
votes you can ratify the treaty; If
not, it will be defeated; the question
will be disposed of, and the Senate
can proceed with other business. !"
Under these taunts Senator Davis
asked that the treaty be voted on
February 6, and it was agreed to.
Senator Clay, of Georgia, who ia
vors ratification OF the treaty but op-
poses expansion, did some common
sense talking this week, in the Sen
ate. For instance, he said OF the
failure of the administration 70 an
nounce policy toward the Philip
pines: Gift be wise and statesman
like to outline our policy as to Cuba
before the adoption of the peace
treaty, what reason or logic can the
friends of expansion give for silence
as to the policy OF our government
in dealing with our other territorial
acquisitions, and of retention OF the
Philippines: "In my judgment, the
acquisition and retention OF the Pull
ippines means an army OF 150,ooO.
It means that the annual expenses OF
the army will increase from s2o,ooo,-
ooo to s2Oo,OOO,ooo. And large
standing army meaus that the pen
sion list will increase from s5,ooO,-
900 to s1o,OOO,oo0 annually"
That there is something rotten
about the War Department is every
day becoming more apparent, in spite
of the efforts made to keep down tue
truth. The War Investigating Com
mission seems especially determined
to save the contractors who furnished
the bad beef, both refrigerated and
canned, to our soldiers, insisting that
the beef was good, in the face OF
positive evidence to the contrary.
Another proof OF the rottennesS OF
the War Department methods is fur
nished by the assertions made by
Gen. Eagan's friends, that be is will
ing to accept nominal punishment
as result Of his court-martail for
Safeguarding Gen. Miles, and Keep
his mouth shut, but that if Mr.. Nc
Kinlev fails to set aside enough Of
the finding of the court-martial to
make his punishment nominal, be
will raise such scandal as Washing
ton las not hed for many years, oy
telling everything he knows about
war contracts and these who prohted
thereby. Eagan's plea before the
court martial, of not guilty, although
acknowledging the use OF the dirty
and disgusting language towards
Gen. Miles, and bis claim for pro-
lection under Mr.. Mchiuley's prom
ise, is believed to be the result OF an
understanding, and the belief is
strengthened by his confident and
nonchaleut bearing during the trial.
A sportingly inclined army officer
offered to bet ten to one that a ver-
dict of guilty would not result IN
E.gan's dismissal from the army.
Senator Lodge, in a speech IN ia
Yor of the ratification of the treaty,
did not go quite as lar as Tim Camp
bell, who is said to have once re-
marked to Mr.. Cleveland, "Whats
the Constitution between friends,
but he must have felt about the same
as Tim did when the Constitution
stood in his way, when he said: Coop
stutions do not make people; peo-
pie make constitutions" Like many
other epigrams, that of Mr.. Lodge is
not strictly true. He does not read
history Alright who does not recognize
the powerful party played by the
Constitution in making the people of
the United States what they are to-
day.
500 REWARD Sl00.