The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-19
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1898.
why Ignore the Truth

Administration organs today suggest
the course which Mr.. Mckinley prob
ably viii adopt when he receives the
full and official report of the Maine
Board Of Inquiry. They tell US that,
preferably" he will take such action
as the bond deal may require, and then
inform Congress that he has taken it.
II is TO be hoped that, for once, the
Administration organs are wrong. The
representatives Of the people have
shown such a degree of confidence in
the Executive that he ought to return
the compliment Without distinction of
party, and unanimously. they have
placed a war fund Of fifty million dol
lars in his hands. They did not do so
fer purposes Of perky but harmless
peace; especially not for peace with
dishonor. They are entitled TO the full
est exposure Of what the President
knows, and We are very much mistaken
if the nation will not hold them respon-
sible for getting and acting upon it.
There IS one thing about Mr.. McKin-
ley's course in connection with the
present emergency that is not accept
able TO the public. He depends upon
the legislative branch Of the Govern
ment TO give him the means to carry
out whatever may be his policy; but
having acquired the money power OF
action, he appears inclined TO ignore
Congress, and to indicate a desire
henceforth TO treat the situation
from the point OF view Of a dictator
We must seriously protest against
any such idea on his part The nation
is willing TO stand by him TO the last
man, the last dollar, and the last
ditch" for anything necessary to main
tain national honor or vital interest. II
demands, however. that great ques-
tons. such as are involved in this crisis,
shall not be left alone to him and TO
his financial friends. but shall be set
tied by the constitutional powers Of the
President and Congress acting together.
We have seen altogether too much Of
a contention that the interests. honor
and glory Of the American people are
under the exclusive control Of the Ad-
ADMINISTRATION Of the day. II is true
that, if Andrew Jackson We're President,
they might be safe against foreign ag-
erosion. A Chief Magistrate like JEFF
ferson or Jackson probably would be
intrUsted with full power and without
any public fear that it would be used
for anything but patriotic purposes.
But Mr. Mckinley must take judicial
notice that he does not stand in the
shoes Of Jefferson or Of Jackson, nor in
those Of Lincoln or Of Grant. He must
IL e
bona hdes rests upon a different basis
in public estimation. He must recog-
nize the fact that the country regards
him as vastly under the influence Of the
persons and corporations who made his
election possible; who relieved him of
that slight embarrassment in Ohio; who
contributed sixteen million dollars to-
ward their control Of the Government
under his nominal craftsmanship; who
were able 10 pass the McDingley bill
in the interests Of the trusts and mo-
n0p0lies. and for no other purpose; and
who now think themselves able TO con-
summate the Spanish-Cuban bond deal
through his perfectly perky and pious
indispositon 10 commit his Administra-
ton 10 an 'unholy war"
We warn Mr. Mckinley that, much as
America is at his back for honor. 1t
viii be SO only under careful super
vision There Is too much ground for
fearing that he stands in the attitude
Of a telephone for Mark Hanna. Nc
Cook. Belmont and the Rothschilds in
the matter Of settling our differences
with Spain. That being the fact and
one which his own course for over a
year has made notorious. it is but right
that the direct representatives Of the
people should stand 10 their guns. and
see that the captain stands to them
also.
In saying this, we do not mean TO
insinuate that Mr.. Mckinley personally
Is not inclined TO be true and patriotic,
but. unfortunately. he has shown, on
more than one occasion, that the Hanna
and Anglo Wall Street infience has af-
fected his action, and the counterfeit
tant Of the legislature should be present
10 keep him in the line Of conscience
and duty until all the entangiements OF
the nation shall have been Strengthened
out
Nobody doubts that the Maine report
will be kept back as long as the Ad-
ADMINISTRATION thinks ii safe to withhold
st The whole policy Of the inspired
press Is directed TO minimizing the in
cident," and to preparing the nation for