The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-02-23
Washington Letter.
from our regular correspondent

PRESIDENT Mckinley and Secretary
Hay are not more egotistical than
other men, but they would be mere
than human ii they did not enjoy the
rapldity with which the Nicaragua
Canal treaty is gaining supporters, as
It's foresight and wisdom is being re-
cognized. Last week, when the treaty
was first sent to the Senate, there was
an outcry against is, because it provid-
ed for the neutrality of the Canal and
pledged this government not to fortify
either end OF it. The LOBBYISTS who,
Tor one reason or another are opposed
to the construction of the Nicaragua
Canal, saw their opportunity and
made the most of it, and for several
days it really looked as though they
would be able to create a sentiment
against the treaty that might leopard
lze its ratification by the Senate.
With few honorable exceptions, the
democratic Senators, who are wildly
hunting for campaign material, have
been aud are acting as allies of the
lobbyists, although themselves claim
ing to favor the construction of the
canal. 1t now seems reasonably GER
tain that the treaty will be ratified
with votes to spare. In agreeing TO
making the canal neutral, the treaty
advertises the fact that the u. s. aims
to be the greatest commercial nation
IN world, rather than military bully
among the nations, and that advertise
ment will add millions to our foreign
commerce. President Mckinley and
Secretary Hay, in negotiating that
treaty, recognizee the fact that the u.
5. has Navy, and will always have
one, strong enough TO meet enemies it
may have, and that much more would
be gained by assuring the world of the
neutrality Of the canal than could
possibly be gained by fortifying it and
reserving the right to close it against
the ships of any nation with which we
might be at ware. In making the
canal neutral, it will be under the Joint
protection of every maritime power in
the world, that protection Will be as
sured by formal treaty, later, and its
safety from attack from any country
with which we may be at war, made
certain. Ii we reserved the right to
close the canal to enemies, we should
have TO assert that right by force,
be more costly than beneficial, from
any point of view.
Judge j. 7. Mcdonald, OF Salt Lake
City, now in Washington, said of the
effect IN Utah of the shutting of
Roberts out of the House. "I think
that III the future, no polygamist will
be elected TO any Federal Office, and 1
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 tie Government. I do
not think there will be any more buck
| ing against it ("
Hon. Thomas B. Reed said few
years ago that this was billion dol
lar country. Today, it can be truth
fully said that this is a two-billion
dollar country. Last year, the foreign
commerce Of the u. S. 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, tbe 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 ma
tional election, that it was republi-
can administration and republican
Congress that first made it necessary
to use ten figures to show the business
condition of this, the most prosperous
|country-on earth. This is two bill
lion dollar country. Impress that
colossal fact upon your mind.
Chairman Payne, of the House
Ways and Means Committee, gave
notice in presenting the majority re-
port in favor OF the Porto Rico tariff
bill that the measure would bel called
up in the House on the 18th inst.
The report claims that tile quantity
of Porto Rican sugar and tobacco sent
to the .. S. about four million pounds
of tobacco, and about $4,000 tons of
sugar, is not large enough to affect
prices, and that there is no good
ground for opposition to allowing the
Porto Rican products to come in for
70 percent of the duty upon similar
foreign products. The bill provides
that all collections in the Islands, both
I from duties and other sources as well
as the duties collected on Porto Rican
IpIoducts inythe u s. shalI be used for
the benefit 0f Che island.