The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-21
Editorial Rooms Countlna Room 81
The INTELLlGENCER.
wnEEL1Ne, s1AI.cH 81, lsost.
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The President on tho Duty of tho Hour.
An Interview with President Mckinley
appears in some OF the leading Sunday
papers. So many bogus interviews arc
appearing in the yellow papers now that
I the public Is careful about credidng
anything purportlng to give the views of
{ public men concerning the crisis between
3 Spain and the United States. or having
IA bearing upon 1t The interview with
4 President Mckinley, however, in which
he Is madeto give his ideas Of the duties
OF American citizenship. Is so full of
wise thought and patriotic sentiment
that It appears to be authentic, but
4 whether II is authentic or not It Is a de-
! liveranee worthy OF the best and highest
Z type Of American citizenship. and
Z should receive a careful reading.
S The views attributed 10 the President
show the result OF "a careful attention
to the subject of what constitutes good
citizenship, and is at this time filled with,
2 suggestions which are wholesome for
every American citizen to consider The
President, had he been addressing a,
snessageto the American people on the
present international crisis, could not
have addressed himself more to the
point than when he is quoted as saying:
The highest attribute of American
citizenship, as conceive IT. is the exer-
else Of sober, dispassiona.e Judgment.
~. - We have no time to con-
template the absolutely theoretical. for
the hand Of duty is ever pointing US to
: the proper path. 1t is q dlstinctively
American quality to act unflinchlngly in
accord with the dictates Of what we be-,
iieve to be duty. II we so back TO, the
revolution we will find that characteris-
t.c Just as strongly in evidence as 1T Is
today
The President is Quoted at length on
$ this line, but the most significant OF the
tutterances attributed to him, and one
which fits so well the present situation,
!. in view Of the admirable selt-poise ex-
Inhibited by. the people Of the Nation dur
ing the past few weeks, and which IS in
J, line with his remark that man can not
be good citizen without good judg-
ment. Is the following. which We COM
mend to our readers as defining the duty
iiof all citizens at this juncture. and as
rejecting the attitude which the Presi-
dent himself has occupied:
I've are not warllke. people and this
has led some who do not understand us 10
y believe that the spirit OF submission Is
e stronger in' US than that Of maintaining
4 our dignity and defending our rights. II
is the inherent duty OF every people to
maintain peace with others as long as rca-
x son. as judgment, as honor will permit.
6But II there come time when oil these
Y demand action, when II Is realized that
e everything has been done which can be to
= cement those relations OF amty with other
Z nations that We have SO long striven to
I MAINTAIN, We must then answer to the call
4 Of duty. The test, of Judgment comes Mt
such times In the decision as 70 exactly
!. .counselors-false In that their Judgment Is
4 hastys and passionate rather than dspas-
4 slonate, It Is not hasty action that brings
wisdom Is the principle which should aetu-
nte the course of all great nations. This
is the Judgment that risesS superior and
5 triumphant above the storms OF woe and
peril.
These wise and patriotic principles will
strike a responsive chord in every Amer,
lean heart, and should find an echo In
\ the heart OF every citizen OF every coun-
try. The President IS quoted MS further
pursuing the thought laid down In the
words: 1.-THE need Of this Nation, OF
i every nation, Is that those upon whom It
+ rests to influence national action shall
, never permit themselves to be carried
away by, a tempest OF feeling or q tor
L rent OF menace. The action Of the indi-
4avldual in whose hand the keeping Of the
Nation has been placed affects millions.
The, need of the Nation. therefore. Is
4 that these men to whom the people look,
Z though II may be only for the time be-
ing. FOR guidance, shall be calm, firm.
{ thoughtful, so that when the dine for
ac,ion:comes they may be ready and not
found wanting"
II. Here President Mckinley clearly
7; states his own responsibility in the pres
tent trying state OF affairs. and the whole
y country knows that ne has been faithful
to the principle he announces. He has
maintained the npbllc faith, and in
reference to the fact that there may be
at times a difference between the opln-
ions OF people and the officials as TO how
the maintenance of the public faitii may
4 be best done, he suggests that 'the best
thing under the circumstances Is to cul-
tlvatc patience" Mutual consideration,
he thinks, should be shown.
~ These utterances are, the words Of a
statesman having the welfare and the
honor OF the country and the people at
4 heart. The really good citizen secs at
Z once their wisdom. 1t does not ncccs-
,,;.;sarlly3 follow that the good citizens who
DO mot exhibit this discretion and
5Sparlence lack In patriotism: they sim
ply lack the good 1udsmen. necessary
q IN a national crisis. The wise advice
4 quoted MS coming from the Presidcntis
so timely and nts the present clrcum-
y stances 90 well TINT 1t cannot help hav-5
ing q marked effect throughout tho
country. To-day more than ever the