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

az q party towards the Nicaragua
Canal treaty, which the administra
tion 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
Iy right The treaty gives more
than it provides for our receiv
ing 1t allows us to build canal
with our money, provided we agree
to let every nation in the world, even
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 q
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 q war with q
foreign power. Under the present
treaty We should have no advantage.
40 our enemies could make lust 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 wsged The re-.
publicans in their report on this bill,
which imposes 25 per cent duty on
Porto Ricau products. have come
out flat footed il favor of ignoring
the constituticc, and 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
tion 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 q part of the United States.
and every resident of territory belong
ing to thel United States, q 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 It was introduced by
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, and Il
provides for the opening of the mints
OF the United States to the coinage
OF silver. ss provided by the Act OF
Jan 18th, 1887. upon The same terms
and subject to the limitations and
provisions of law regulating tho
coinage and legal tender quality OF
gold {; and that when the silver coins
shall be received into the treasury.
certificates shsll be issued for them
az now prescribed by law. Unfortu.
nately tho republicans have the votes
to pass the gold standard bill
Chandler 10 the only republican who
will vote against it-but the substi
tute will give the democrats an o.
portunity to record their votes in
favor of 1.-The dollar of our dsddies -
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
lng out the several schemes devised
for the humiliation of Gen Miles. as
we'll 10 By lobbying during the las,
congress, for legislation to give him.
self the rank of major general, ia
egsIn playing the role of lobbyist for
the same purpose
de gave an elaborate Sunday din
nor, at Q surburban club house. 10
twenty odd members of the house.
including the military committee. AS
Secretary Root also attended the
dinner, it is assumed that he ia
helping the effort of Corbin for pro.
motion
Notwithstanding the indignant de
malls on the floor of the houe., by
ten Grosvenor and other admins.
tIation men, of the charge made b.
Roberts, that Utah polygamists had
been appointed to federal Offices by
Mr. Mckinley. the house committee
on post offices. which has been in.
vestlgatlng. now has to report TO the
house that Postmaster Graham. OF
Provo. had an indictment for polyg.
amy hanging over him when he was
appointed In order to soften this
proof of the charge of Roberts, the
committee accompanies it with o
statement from the nrosecp,;rr n,