The Opelousas courier., 1900-04-14

Washington, ID. G., News.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

b9WCy ttAuouuCCll1ChO SA hiS
candidacy for the Presidential
nomination have the remetest
idea that he can get the Demo
cratic nomination away from Col.
Bryan, they have another guess
coming to them. There is not Il
Democrat in either branch Of
Congress, in sympathy with the
Chicago platform who dees not
regard Col. Bryan's nomination
as already made, and the Kansas
City Convention as a national
nesting that will be held to rati-
fly that nomination. Admiral
Dewey says that he is a Democrat
and has always been one, but
that he has never cast a vote. If
he had made that statement when
he first returned from Manila
when his friend, Senator Proctor,
of Vermont, was repeatedly de-
claring that he was a Republican,
it would have carried more
weight. But, anyway, Demo-
Gratis whe do not vote are not the
sort of Democrats who help the
party to win elections or who de-
serve Office from that party. If
Dewey becomes an indie
pendent candidate for President,
he will render material aid to-
wards the election of Col. Bryan,
as he would probably get vetssthat
would otherwise go to Mckinley.
If every Democratic member of
the House will occupy his seat
and vote against the Porto Rico
bill, that iniquiteus measure can
be defeated when it is taken up
this week. The Republican eau
Gus has declared in favor Of pass
ing the bill just as it came from
the Senate, but there are quite a
of Republicans who say
they will not vete for the bill, and
a few will actually vote against
it, and it is practically certain
that ewing to absentees, a vote
against the bill equal to the full
Democratic membership of the
House, will defeat it. Both
sides are working hard to get
their absentees in Washington IN
time to vote. Bad as the tariff
clause is in principle, the section
of the bill providing a civil gov
ernment for Porto Rico is even
worse. Under it, the real gov
of the Island can be put
into the hands of carpet baggers,
and that such a government would
be productive Of scandals was
fully shown by the experience
during the reconstruction period
in the Southern States.
The distinguished audience
which heard Hon. Webster Davis
first lecture on The War in South
Africa, indicates that these who
claim that majority of our peo-
pie sympathize with. the Beers
are right. The lecture which
aBounds with arguments showing
why we sheuld sympathize with
the TIVE republics which are strug-
Cling for their lives against one
of the worlds greatest empires,
was applauded from start to
finish. Mr.. Davis is receiving in
vitations to speak in behalf of the
Beers from every section of the
country.
The administration does not in
tend that decision from the SUI
preme Court shall be had on the
question of the Constitution fol-
lewing the flag, before the Presi-
dental election, if it can possibly
prevent it. This has been shown
by the action of Secretary Gage
in ordering that contract la
berer, brought from Porto Rico
to New York, for the express
purpose of making a test case, be
alFured to land. Representative
Met Crefan- Of New York, has Of
fered a resolution in the House,
calling upon Secretary dage for
the correspondence in this case,
and Senator Jones, of Arkansas,
offered similar resolution in the
Senate, which was at. once adopt
ed. How this action on the part
of Secretary Gage strikes the
Democrats and Populists in Con-
gress may be judged from the fol-
lowing expressions of opinion !:
Senator Tillman Il don't blame
the Republicans for trying to
dodge the issue, fer they must
realize that the decision of the
courts will be against them. Il
had my way I would force the
administration to take cognizanee
Of the question, by going to Porto
Rico and securing a ship-lead of
contract laberers and bringing
them to the U. S. A tremendous
howl would go up from organized
labor, compelling the admins
tration to submit to a test of law.
Senator TaIiafere: s.The admins
tratien seems anxious that the
Porto Rican question should re-
main suspended in midair until af-
teri the Presidential election. Sen.
ator Butler, Chairman of the Pop.
Mist NationaI Con1Yaitfae. seThere