Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1898 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From our regular correspondent.) Mr. McKinley’s handling of the war and matters relating thereto, in his message, contained no surprises. The message follows just about the lines it was expected to follow, lines plainly indicated for xvteksaye, months, past, by official and semi-official emanations from the administration. The message also indicates very plainly that Mr. McKinley isn’t as anxious to push along financial legislation as some of the members of his party would like him to be. * * * There have been numerous conferences between democrats since Congress opened, on the policy that the party should pursue at this session. There are differences of opinion, some contending that aside from the Chicago platform, there is no occasion for a party policy at this time. A democratic House caucus held near the close of the last session of Congress adjourned to meet Dec. 10th. That meeting will be a be a general party conference at which some understanding may be reached. • * * Boss Hanna has been giving the West Virginia republicans some lessons in Senator-grabbing, and a scheme has been concocted that is expected to result in wiping out a small democratic majority in the legislature of that state and the election of a republican to succeed Senator Faulkner. The Secretary lof State of West Virginia is to be the tool of the grab, hi: part being to put the republican contestants for seats in the House of Delegid »>n the reguln m]], so as to < ire the DubHcno a najorityof , ’ ' ’ • >d V. . ’ V * * Sei” ‘>r Cafiery, of La., is an anti-expansionist from away back. He says of the treaty of Peace: “I shall vote squarely against the proposition to annex the Philippines. The Peace Commission had no business to provide for their annexation. These islands would be the most expensive gift that one nation ever received from another. They can never be a source of strength, while they will always be an element of domestic weakness and subject to foreign attack in case of hostilities with another nation?' Mr. Caffery

thinks that we are paying too much attention to things away from home and not doing enough to improve things at home.

There is little or nothing ip Mr. McKinley’s annual annual message to Congress, long as that document is, that indicates with any degree of certainty, what policy he intends to follow towards the Philippines. This indicates that he has not decided upon a policy, or .if he has, that he is afraid to make it public yet, and confirms the belief of those who think that he intends playing foxey on the Philippine question until after he gets that Treaty of Peace ratified by the Senate, and the $20,000,000 which we are to pay Spain, appropriated by Congress. An announcement of a positive' policy before then might result in making too many votes against both treaty and appropriation. * * * Secretary Alger’s annual report is somewhat remarkable for it’s omissions. It does not contain the “round robin” sent from Santiago, nor does it contain “Teddy” Roosevelt’s report, which “Teddy” told the “Investigating Commission” he hoped they would get and read. There are others who would be glad to read that report, provided it could lie had as it was received at the War Department. To read Alger’s report, one would suppose that there had been no scandal connected with the conduct of the war, and that everything had moved along as smooth as silk, whereas, every intelligent man in the U. S. knows to the contrary. Some day the truth may be written about the war, but there are no signs that it will be soon. Had a democratic house been elected, the outlook would have been verx* different.

* * * Senator Hale is the most rabid republican anti-expansiontst who has yet unliinhered a rapid fire tongue battery and opent<l fire on the Peace treaty, which he says he will fight to the last. He predicts that if the treaty is carried into effect, it will add many millions, on account of increased Army and Navy, to the yearly expenses of this government, without bringing the slightest benefit to our people at large; that our country will in time become overrun by inferior races, and numerous other minor evils will follow. In addition tjo his predictions, he charges' Mr. McKinley’s foreign policy to have been inspired by the British Foreign Office, and asks the IrishAmericans to join him in opposing the ratification of the treaty-. Please remember t hat Senator Hale is not a democrat, talking for political effect. He is a republican of standing in the councils of his party, and no longer ago than at the last session of Congress, just after the Maine xvas destroyed, he acted as the mouth-piece of Mr. McKinley on the floor of the Senate, although hispro-Spanish views were at that time well known. There is no prc/bability.thata sufficient number of Senators will act with Mr. Hale to reject the treaty, but it may not bo ratified before the end of this Congress, making an extra session of the Senate necessary.