Middletown transcript., 1900-02-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
Nicaragua Canal Treaty is Rapidly
Gaining Supporters.
BRYAN SEEKS SYMPATHY
This Country is Now Two-Billion Dol
lar Countrywide Porto Rican Dut-
les May be Used for the Ben
eft of Those Islands.
WASHINGTON. Feb. IA. 1900.

WASHINGTON, Feb. IA, 1900.
Senator-elect Bard, of California, is
not widely known in Congress, outside
of the California delegation, but Sena,
tor Perkins. whose Judgment is relied
upon by all who know him, says he has
known Senator Bard for more than a
quarter of century, and that his solid
qualities will make him decided &C.
quisition to the Senate.
Mr.. Bryan came to Washington to
seek some consolation from his follow
ers in Congress for the frigid reception
given him by the Democrats of New
York City and New Jersey last week.
He allowed it to become known that he
Is very distrustfui Of Tammany, fear
Ing that under the guise of friel dship,
the Croker men are preparing to at
tempt to betray him in the National
Convention.
Judge J. T. Mcdonald, of Salt Lake
City, now in Washington, said of the
effect in Utah of the shutting of Rob,
erts out Of The House: 81 think that in
the future, no polygamist will be elected
to any Federal office, and I doubt if
any polygamist will be elected to any
office. The decision of the House was
an earnest showing Of the sentiment of
the country and the conviction of the
Government. I do not think there will
be any more bucking against it.''
Hon. Thomas B. Reed said a few
years ago that this was a billion dollar
country. To-day. it can be truthfully
said that this is two-billion dollar
country. Last year, the foreign com.
merce Of the United States exceeded
two billion dollars in value, and the
official treasury figures for the first
week in February, 1900, show that, for
the first time in our history, the amount
Of money in circulation in the country,
exceeds two billion dollars. It will
not be forgotten when the time comes
for the people to vote again, in a
national election, that it was a Repub-
lican Administration and Republican
Congress that first made it necessary
to use ten figures to show the business
condition Of this, the most prosperous
on earth. This is two-billion
dollar country. Impress that colossal
fact upon your mind.
Chairman Payne, of the House Ways
and Means Committee, gave notice in
presenting the majority report in favor
Of the Porto Rico Tariff Bill that the
measure would be called up in the
House on the 18th inst. The report
claims that the quantity Of Porto
Rjcan sugar and tobacco sent to the
United States-about four million
pounds Of tobacco, and about 45, 900
.ons of sugar-it is not large enough
20 affect prices, and that there is no
good ground for the opposition to al
owing the Porto Rican products to
,ome in for rs per cent. of the duty
lpon similar foreign products. The |
bill provides that all collections in the |
stands, both from duties and other |
Iources, as we'll as the duties collected |
IN Porto Rican products in the United |
States shall ba used fer the benefit of
he island.
President Mckinley and Secretary
Hay are not more egotistical than other
men, but they would be more than Lu,
nan if they did not enjoy the rapidity
With which the Nicaragua Canal treaty
s gaining supporters, as its foresight
md wisdom is being recognized. Last
week, when the treaty was first sent to
he Senate, there was an outcry against
|, because it provided for the neutrality
Il the Canal and pledged this govern
nent not to fortify either end of it.
The lobbyists who, for one reason or
mother are opposed to the construc-
ion of the Nicaragua Canal, saw their
and made the most of it,
md for several days it really looked as
hough they would be able to create a
entiment against the treaty that
night jeopardize its ratification by the
senate. With few honorable excep-
ions, the Democratic Senators, who
re wildly hunting for campaign ma.
erial, have been and are acting as al
les of the lobbyists, although them
elves claiming to favor the construc-
ion Of the canal. 1t now seems reason
ble certain that the treaty will be rati-
led with votes to spare. In agreeing
o making the canal neutral, the treaty
dvertises the fact that the United
tates aims to be the greatest CONNER
ial nation IN the world, rather than
military bully among the nations,
nd that advertisement will add mill
ions to our foreign commerce. Presi-
ent McKin ley ard Secretary Hay, in
that treaty, recognized the
act that the United States has navy
nd will always have one, strong enough
0 meet any enemies, it may have, and
hat much more would be gained by
ssuring the world of the neutrality OF
be canal than could possibly be gained
y fortifying it and reserying the right
0 close 1t against the ships OF
ny nation with which we might be at
iar. In making the canal neutral, It
ill be under the joint protection OF
vely marine power In the wofId-that
will be assured by q formal
reaty, later and It's safety from attack
rom any country with which We maY
Q at war, made certain. IF we reserve
d the right to close the canal TO enam.
q, We should have to assert that right
y force, which would be more costly
han beneficial, from any point Of yieW.