The age-herald., 1902-05-16
Old Democrats Believe Philippine
 Discussion Has Gone Too Far


 It is an interesting circumstance that no old soldier. Union or Confederate. prominent in either House of Congress has yet joined in the more violent criti- cism of the conduct of the war in the Philippines This is very significant.
 Finally, 1t comes to this Democrats and Republicans alike in Congress need to cool off Words have already been spoken that ought not to have been uttered in any circumstance; speeches have been made that never should have been spoken: passions have been aroused that 1t were best they had slumbered. It is time to stop all this.
 Everybody is agreed that the Philippines were brought under our flag by the bad luck or war, and everybody is agreed that we must make the best of 1t all. We cannot quit the Philippines until there is peace there, even if it be the peace of solitude. So long rife cracks there against the American soldier, just so long shall there be American soldiers there We cannot run away; we are In honor bound to promote the repose of those islands in the far Eastern Seas. As 1t seems now. it must be peace at any conceivable price,
 It is well for us, all of us, North and South, Democrat and Republican and nondescript to consider this Philippine situation as an American question, and not as party issue It has come to be, in view of pending debates in Congress, 41,a af 4Lo there. a national calamity that party was ever brought into the discussion. Ma cauley sung of the days in Rome when all men wer-e for the state and none for party-'None were for party and all were for the state" It is come for that spirit to prevail in America now, in so far as concerns the Philippine Islands. It is time for a cessation of party strife over a national condition that requires the best wisdom of the nation.
 
 There has been no nobler action of the moment in the long history of the Sem ate than the unanimous passage of the resolution providing $1OO, 900 for the relief of the sufferers in the French Island of Martinique. Without one word of de- bate. without an instant's hesitation. the Senate passed the resolution without a dissenting voice. The measure was hur- ried through the long corridor to the House of Representatives at the other end of the capitol and was there in- stantly called up for immediate adoption. Strange as 1t may seem, there was ob- jection made; someone referring to the Senates noble action as a Legislative spasm." Unanimous consent being neces- sary under the rules of the House for the imemdiate consideration of the Sem ate resolution, and one or two members objecting to 1t, 1t went over to the next legislative day.
 If the Senate's action was a spasm, it was a spasm of noblest impulse; the im- pulse born of the Universal Brother hood.
 Someone demanded official verihcation of the terrible disaster in the West In- dies. He might as well have left a man perishing in the street until he had run away and obtained permission of the police to render aid.
 Still, in the next legislative day, both
  of voting abundant aid to the sufferers in Martinique and the adjoining islands. Meantime, President Roosevelt, relying upon the wisdom, charity and mercy of Congress, had put into motion all the mo- chinery of the government to aid the af- f1icted. Yet some eight or ten members of the House voted against this most of ahor rit in our day.
 American ships, laden with the gifts of the American people as represented in Congress are now speeding across the seas to lend succor to the starving.
 This is well for the great American peo- ple. who next week will welcome to this country the official representatives of the government of France, coming to the dedication of the statue of Rochambeau which is erected in front of the White House.
 Martinique is French territory. It's peo- pie owe allegiance to France and speak the French tongue; and had there been no France. there had been no American republic.
 Two vacancies in the Corps of Civil Engineers, U. s. Navy, have been cre- ated by the death of Captain c. c. Vol colt, in Brooklyn, on April 5, and by the resignation of Lieutenant E. P. Goodrich who has been on duty at the New York navy yard" writes the chief of the Naval Bureau of Yards and Docks to Congress- man Bankhead.
 "These vacancies will be filled by com petitive examination to be held in Wash ington, D. C., beginning May 26. A circu- lar stating the necessary qualifications and giving the scope of the examination has been issued, and copies can be ob- tained by addressing the Secretary of the Navy. The successful candidates will be commissioned officers in the United States navy. with the rank of lieutenant, junior grade. The salary for the first five years is S2700 per annum. There is bill pend- ing before Congress for increasing the corps of civil engineers to forty, and its chances of passing during the present session of Congress are considered very favorable It provides for the appoint ment of three additional civil engineers immediately and for three appointments being made next year, or in January. 1903. It Is expected that the candidates who pass the examination to be held on