The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1900-02-22

(From our own Correspondents

CFrom our own Correspondent
General Otis has been notified OF
the appointment of Judge TAFT as
President of the new Philippine
Commission, which is to establish
civil rule in those islands, and has
been ordered to disseminate the in
telligence broadcast 80 as to assure
the natives of the Presidents inten-
tiOns to give them civil instead of
military rule at the earliest possible
moment. This announcement is also
designed to pave the way for the
general proclamation of amnesty soon
to be issued by the President, de-
claring the rebellion at All end and
calling on the people to return to
their work under the protection of
the United States, with the penalty
of being declared outlaws it they do
not do so within certain time. Judge
Taft has given out brief interview
stating that he thinks the work will
be accomplished within two or three
years. He realizes that it will be
difficult task to discharge, but hopes
it will result in giving the natives
code which will secure to them the
greatest possible freedom. The
other members IF the commission
will be selected within few days.
In spite of tho captious opposition
Of the Democrats and the genuine
doubts of some few people who
really believe that Secretary Hay has
been outwitted by Great Britain, the
new canal treaty Is practically sure of
ratification. Fifty-nine Senators
have expressed themselves as favor
able to its acceptance in the present
form, whereas only So votes are re-
quirod for ratification. Further. as
the case is more closely examined it
becomes evident that the canal will
be better protected by the general
consent Of nations than by any forti-
fcations that the United States could
possibly erect. This fact is put very
forcibly by Representative Burton of
Ohio, Chairman of the Rivers and
Harbors committee of the House,
who says: Suppose we did erect
Notifications to protect the two ends
Of the canal! How could we protect
the middle? TO do so, we should
have to have line of soldiers from
one end of the canal to the other. A
nation interested in destroying the
canal could easily stir up guerilla
band which could blow up enough
waterway to stop its use. This canal
will differ from the Suez canal in that,
while the latter is on the level, the !
Nicaraguan will require great engi- |
neering works Of costly nature,
such as gigantic dams and LOCKS,
which are easily destroyed or seri-
ouslv injured. 1t is far easier and |
moro satisfactory, to my mind, to Sc
cure the cooperation of all nations |
in protecting the canal by making i:
a matter OF mutual interest than to !
attempt to protect it by force" Some |
of the objections to the treaty are
based ou the ground that it is not
needed. 1t is commended that the
CIayton-Bulwer { treaty should be ab- /
rogated altogether instead of being |
amended. 1t is of course possible
for the United States to break this
treaty just as it broke that with
China some ten years ago. but TO do
so would be TO break our pledged
word. The ClaytOn-B Bulwer treaty
differs from most other treaties in
that it is TO be perpetual; no means
exist for abrogating it except by
common consent of the two parties.
or by the tort of one of them. AS
matter of course. Congress is supreme
30 far as our own courts are COLI
cerued. A treaty is no more than