The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-07-11

Looking at it from party stand
point, there is force in the suggestion
made by Senator Vest, that it is not
wise for the Democrats to control the
next House. So far as the people are
concerned, they could do nothing
towards enacting needed legislation
and at the best could only serve as
a check on the Republican Senate and
Executive. On the contrary, should
the inevitable business reaction come
next year, as is not unlikely, the
Democrats would be blamed for it.
Twice before in the history of the
party it has been their luck to take
hold of the affairs of State just as the
wave of prosperity had reached its
height and the succeeding hard times
alarmed the people of the country
who promptly elected both a Repub-
lican President and Congress; and
Senator Vest wants the Republicans
to have taste ofadversity this time,
so that the Democrats may come in
on the rebound. There can be no
doubt but that the present inflated
values will have to make a serious
tumble just as occurred in 1893. The
people are apt to blame hard times
upon the party that is unfortunate
enough to be in power, and so far,
within memory, the Democrats have
always been in this unlucky position.
This is merely thrown out as hint
because much can be said on the other
side. A Congress that has just spent
over one billion of dollars of the peo-
pies money, without giving a just
recompense, seeking reimbursement
by reelection. Itlays for the people to
say whether or not they shall re-
ceive it.
AT meeting of the New York
Anti-Imperialist League, in Fanuel
Hall, held one night last week, Mr..
w. Bourke Cochran, of New York,
made a speech. He first took Cuba
as text for his remarks, and upon
the effects and distinguishing charac-
teristics of imperialism he charged
bad faith in the treatment of this
island. American oppression OF the
Cubans, he contended, had been more
scientific, more drastic and more ter
rible than that of Spain, because it
was being undertaken for the purpose
of enriching a syndicate. The treat
ment of the Filippinos by the United
States, Mr.. Cochran declared, was
the "blackest page in history" He
was confident that imperialism had
run its course and that the whole
question would be settled at the next
election. In outlining what he be-
lieved this country should do he said:
eve ask that the chiefs of the Flip
pino people come before US and in
form us what they want, that we
may judge whether they are fit for
the high responsibility of citizenship
or whether they be held in vassalage."
When Congress met last fall the
files of both Houses were for some
days piled up with an accumulation
of bills looking to the determination
of anarchists. The foul murder of
President Mckinley was fresh upon
the minds of the legislators and men,
bers Wed with each other in introduce
ing measures, which were calculated
to exterminate every would-be as
sassin. 1t seems strange, however,
that as time passed along, how
quickly the whole matter was for
gotten and public opinion turned its
mind to other things. 1t is true that
a number of bills were passed by each
House, but when the time for ad-
journment came, no agreement had
been reached. Fortunately, the States
have legislation, which in a measure
will cover the case, should a similar
occasion arise, but Congress should
be seriously criticised for not de-
termining this vital matter.