The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-13
POLITICAL GOSSIP
FROM WASHINGTON.
Some of the Things That Are
Talked About by Politicians and
Others in the Rational Capitol.

Washington, Jan. 9.-Time was
when greybeards and bald heads ruled
the United States Senate. They are
still there, but the sceptre of influence
has largely passed to the very young
est members. The wisdom which Of
ten comes of years and experience is
always potent, and for thirty years
the men whose word was law IN the
Senate were mostly graduates Of the
Federal and Confederate armies dur
ing the Civil War. They wore scars
and crutches. But the men who draw
great audiences to the galleries when
it is announced that they will speak
are now men who we're very young
babies in arms during that period
fellows in "the roaring forties'': on
the republican side Dolliver, (45) and
Beveridge, (41l; on the Democratic
side, Carmack. (45) and Bailey (40).
Nothing finer or more spirited can be
heard than discussion in which these
are pitted against each other. An ap-
parent exception of young and vigor-
Gus minds in aged tenements are Hoar
and Morgan, who. though old enough
to be the graEdfahers of those just
mentioned, are ready to meet all
comers at any moment
They are knocking at the door again
Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma
and the tattoo is likely to become
very loud during the present session.
The last named has shown such amaz-
ingly quick developments that she is
liable to creep in if the Congressional
latchstring is left out at all. BY the
way, what shockingly clumsy and
meaningless name New Mexico is! Is
it not high time that American states
and cities should be christened with
out being named after other countries,
as if they were only weak limitations?
To call the new State Franklin, or
even Albuquerque-awkward as this
name is-would be vastly better. New
Mexico, forsooth!
Senator Morgan began his much
heralded speech On the Panama canal
Thursday and did not seem at all dis
concerted by tie fact that there was a
very thin attendance of the Senate. 1t
was the first studied arraignment of
the conduct of the administration that
has been made, and the review of the
situation was comprehensive and
somewhat caustic. He made one reve-
lation which attracted thoughtful at
tention of the Republicans: The fact
that the republic of Colombia did her
utmost to meet the wishes of the Unit
ed States concerning the Panama
canal. It is true that her Congress ad-
journed without ratifying the treaty
that was being negotiated; but the
abundant reason was given that under
the existing constitution she was pre-
vented from alternating any part of her
territory. Her officials offered to secure
An amendment to the fundamental law
that would allow her to surrender tc
us the permanent sovereignty over tie
canal zone. This was characterized by
Secretary Hay as dilatory and insult.
ing, and, refusing to wait, the Presi-
dent gave orders to send ships and sol.
diers to prevent Colombia from assert
ing her sovereignty. The Senator as
serted that if the United States woulc
withhold it's hand, in obedience to in
ternational law, Colombia would i'm
mediately suppress and drive out the
eight flibusterers and adventures ano
their train of Indians and negroes
who now constitute "the republic Of
Panama. -