The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-29
THE CHRISTMAS CHARGES.

Enough is already known concerning the
alleged scandal in the purchase of the
Danish West Indies to Justify a safe pre-
diction as to the result of the investigation
that has been ordered by the House. Rep
resentative Cannon characterized the man
Christmas as. on his own showing, "a
briber and worse" 1t will probably appear
that he is an INSCRIPTIONS adventurer and
SPECTATOR. who was trying to swindle the
Danish government by false representa-
tons as to his influence. and who tried to
work a scheme on this country by similar
representation as to his connections in
Denmark. If he had any negotiation or
understanding with the Danish government
looking to the payment of a fee for bring
ing about the sale of the islands to the
United States, that is a matter that con-
Germs him and the Danish government
alone. If the Danish government was cred
ulous enough to believe that the transac-
tion could be facilitated by such under
handed ard disreputable means it must
stand the discredit growing out of the
affair. The United States is not responsible
for what the Danish government may have
lone in the premises. 1t is enough for
Americans to know that their own govern
ment is in no way implicated. The State
Department has had no dealings with
Christmas. Indeed, although his statement,
if true, puts the Danish government in a
bad light, it does not in any way reflect
upon any branch of this government, un-
less il be upon individual member of Con-
gress. He says he was TO earn the COM
mission promised him by the Danish gov
eminent by influencing the American press
and the Congress in favor of the treaty,
and he tries to give an air of specihcness
to his statement by dragging in the names
Of Senator Hanna and Mr.. Abner McKin-
ley, brother Of the late President. One
of his special assistants, he says, was
G.. w. Knox, an intimate friend of SEN
ator Hanna" implying that he had facili-
ties for reaching the Ohio Senator. If Sen
ator Hanna has a friend named Knox
who has been trying 10 do business on the
strength of his ability TO %corruptly influence
the senator, Mr.. KnOx will probably hear
some remarks from the senator that he
will not enjoy. 1t looks very much as if
of recognition from the Danish government,
and laid a foundation for his claim,
had afterward been repudiated and is now
trying to get revenge by bringing discredit
on the transaction and defeating the sale
of the islands. He may hope to do this by
preventing Congress from making an APP
preparation for the purchase money, or by
giving the opposition party in Denmark a
new weapon with which to fight the trans
fer. 1t is probable, however, the treaty
has progressed too far to be defeated.
Representative Richardson disclosed the
political animus of his attack when he said:
1T seems to me there is one thing unpar-
donable in this whole business, and that
is that the Department of State must have
known of the publication of these infa-
nous charges in Denmark and in Copen-
hagen for two weeks or nearly three weeks
before this treaty was ratified" There is
nothing in the record to show that the
State Department knew of Christmas's
charges before the treaty was ratified, but
If il did it had a right 10 assume that the
negotiation for the sale of the islands had
been as clean on the part of Denmark as
1t was on our part. and that the treaty
ought TO be ratified in spite of what Christ
mas said. In other words, the State De
partment was justified in refusing to be-
lieve statements TO the discredit of the
Danish government. To have withdrawn
the treaty from the Senate or to have adj
vised the Senate not to ratify it on the
strength of Christmas's statements, even if
the department knew he had made a state
ment. would nave been TO insult the Dan
ish government on the unsupported state
ment of an irresponsible %adventurer 1t
may be added that. in his attempt TO cast
odium on a few members of Congress
Christmas found a willing ally in Repre-
sentative Richardson. Many Democratic
senators voted for ratification of the treaty.