Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-04-22
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON LETTER
(From our Regular correspondent
Washington, D. G., April 16.-Both
houses of Congress have fixed their
eyes on April 30lh as the approximate
day of adjournment. Yet business, es-
pecially in the Senate. moves with lag
gard step. Senator Morgan, Ala, has
now spent nearly three DAYS in posses
sion of the floor denouncing the bill for
the government of the canal zone as
an unspeakabie outrage He declares
that the ten mile wide zone can never
be peacefully governed in the way pro-
vided and that, having taken posses
sion Of it by force, the only consis-
tent method OF governing it is by mar
tial law. 1t is not an American colony,
he says, and there is no purpose to
make it such; it is a military reserva.
ton, like Guantanamo, or like any of
our naval stations or forts. 1t is held
only for the purpose of building a
canal, and the establishments of courts,
juries, and civil judges is gross pre-.
tense for the purpose of hoodwinking
the American people. Having COM
mitted highway robbery in stealing
the Isthmus, the administration ought
not to be afraid of the ghost of tyranny
which it has conjured up. Senator
Morgan warned the people of the Uni
ted States that the Panama Isthmus
is not yet ours, that the transfer Is
accompanied by significant postpone
ments, and that the French Court has
given to the Republic of Columbia two
months more in which to appeal its
case.-an opportunity which Colombia
is pretty certain fully to avail herself
of.
After several days debate the House
has passed the Philippine bill. 1t is
ostensibly in the interest of the Fill
pinos but really sacrifices their interest
to that of spectators and adventur
ers wherever there are spoils. 1t pro
vides for a system of railroads In the
archipelago and benevolently donate
them to the Filipinos providing they
will furnish the money to build then
and guarantee five per cent dividen'
on the investment. Two months ag'
| in an interview published in these let
| tiers Secretary Taft plumed himself o.
being pre-eminently the friend an
champion OF the Filipinos. But b
has listened to the siren song of Ameri
can Enterprise whereof administratio
Congressmen chant the chorus and b
has concluded to let his Luzan constl
tuents look out for themselves. Th
Fllipinos must paw for their railroads
telegraphs, lighthouses, wharves an
custom-houses as they pay out of thei
own pockets for their schools, wit
double salaries for all teachers and Of
fcIals, and we claim the credit of eI
Tightening and civilizing them at GU
own expense! What blessed oil
humbug is the present edition of Uncl
Sam
| When the bill passed there were bal
a dozen Republicans who said AYE !!
and great chorus of Democrat
I"Noes' causing the glass ceiling
ring. Speaker Cannon immediatel
exclaimed 1.-The Ayes have it-but tt
Noes make the most noise !"
The friends of General Miles in an
out of the war department are somt
what solicitious for his official safety
Contrary to their expectation he mad
a speech at the IroQuois banquet a
Chicago on Wednesday night in celt
bration of Jefferson's birthday. 0
account of the Presidents command G
silence 1t was expected to be rattle
colorless and commonplace, but
was demand for the freedom Of tn
Filipinos and ringing protest agains
the current imperialism of which th
President is the head. 1t is hinte,
that he has been lying in wait to catcl
the Lieutenant. General in some utter
ance so patriotic and humane that i
could be called an indiscretion, fur
nishing an excuse for arraigning hin
before a court martial. The excus
would seem to have arrived, for th
speech was one of soldier, orator ant
patriot according to bis light.
1t is rumored that the Republican
in Congress may concede to the Demo
Gratis some sort of investigation of tn,
post-office scandals. If so. it will b,
of kind of Investigation that doe
not reveal-a sham inquiry conducted
by the Republicans themselves, ant
signifying nothing. To have the racke
of presidential campaign on stimuli
taneously with the racket of a genuine
Investigation into corruption in the
Republican administration would be {
little too much for Mr. Roosevelt tt
bear.
Raphine Items.
Raphine, April 18.-Rev. g. n
Echols is absent being called to biz