The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-14
WASHINGTON LETTER

as party towards the Nicaragua
Canal treaty, which the adminietra
ton has negotiated with England and
sent to the Senate, and the Porto
Rico tariff bill, which has been re
ported to the house, and will be
taken up this week and jammed
through as party measure, is
thoroughly American,and consequent
~ right The treaty gives more
! than it provides for our ceceiv
ing /: allows Us to baiId a canal
with our money provided we agree
to let every nation in the world, eyen
those we may happen TO have war
with, have exactly the same privileges
we take for ourselves in using it.
That isn't the old democratic idea OF
American control of the Canal, and
it is really surprising that there is a
single democratic senator who is
willing to vote for the ratification of
the treaty Without democratic
votes. it would be bound to fail.
One of the strongest arguments IN
favor of the construction of the
canal, has been the advantage it
would give US in war with a
foreign power. Under the present
treaty we should have 20 advantage,
as our enemies could make just the
some use of the canal
Imperialism is the real question
involved in the Porto Rican tariff
bill. 1t makes one of the issues
upon which this years presidential
campaign will be waged The re.
publicans in their report on this bill.
which imposes 25 per cent duty on
Porto Rican products, have come
out fat footed in favor of ignoring
the constitution, aud of hav-
ing congress assume the au
thority to deal with the
territory recently acquired by
the United States as colonies. and
with their people as subjects The
democrats contend that the constitu
ton is the supreme law of this repub
lie, and that it recognizes neither
colonies nor subjects; that every foot
of ground belonging to the United
States is part of the United States,
and every resident of territory belong
ing to thes United States, citizen.
The imperialists have the votes to
win in Congress. but it remains to be
seen whether they can win before
the people.
The democratic substitute for the
republican gold standard bill is short
and plain 1t was introduced by
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, and it
provides for the opening of the mints
of the United States to the coinage
of silver. as provided by the Act Of
Jan 18th, 1887, upon the same terms
and subject to the limitations and
provisions of law regulating the
coinage and legal tender quality of
gold and that when the silver coins
shall be received into the treasury,
certificates shall be issued for them
as now prescribed by law. Unfortu-
nately the republicans have the votes
to pass the gold standard bill
Chandler is the only republican who
will vote against it-but the substi
tute will give the democrats an op
pcrtunity to record their votes in
favor of 1.-the dollar of our daddies "
The vote will be taken on Thursday
of this week
Adj Gen Corbin, who gained some
potoriely during the war with Spain,
through being Alger's tool in carry
ing out the several schemes devised
for the humiliation of Gen Miles, as
we'll as by lobbying during the last
congress, for Legislation to give him
self the rank of major general, is
again playing the role of lobbyist for
the same purpose
He gave an elaborate Sunday din
ner, at suburban club house. to
twenty. odd members of the house.
including the military committee. AS
Secretary Root also attended the
dinner, it is assumed that be is
helping the effort of Corbin for pro-
motion
Notwithstanding the indignant de
malls on the floor of the house, by
Gen Grosvenor and other admins
tration men, of the charge made by
Roberts, that Utah polygamists had
been appointed to federal Offices by
Mr. Mckinley, the house committee
on post Offices. which has been in
vestigating. now has to report to the
house that Postmaster Graham. of
Provo, had an indictment for polyg-
amy hanging over him when be was
appointed In order to soften this
proof of the charge Of Roberts, the
committee accompanies it with q
stafpmant from tho nroeocnfinn of :