The times., 1898-11-21
The HystericaI Minority.

That a mere statistioian like Edward
Atkinson should pretend 10 know any
thing about matters of government is
only another illustration of the fact
that fooling with figures is misleading.
Whatever of mother wit he may have
had has been killed by fuddling his
brains with figures. He is radically op-
posed to everything the great body OF
the American people favors, from the
acquisition of the Philippines to the
eating of pie. That he is the CHIEF
promoter of an "anti-imperialist plan
to canvass the country for signatures to
a protest against the Presidents policy,
is proof enough that the American peo-
pie are all for the other side Never
by any chance, have Atkinson, Schurz
& Co. and the American people ad-
vocated the same policy. 1t is siShin-
cant that the committees appointed to
carry on a campaign Ito turn the
President from his present policy IN
clude mainly conspicuous Mugwumps
wko have never supported President
Mckinley. Among them are such men
as Charles Francis Adams, Gamahei
Bradford, William Endicott, jr., and
others.
The doubt they express whether ma
jority of the American people favor the
ACQUISITION of the Philippines is surely
set at rest by their own action III they
really thought the people were opposed
to the Presidents decision, they would
distrust the opinions they now express.
They believe that minorities are
always right. They can never be IN
duced to admit that the people have
had anything to do with the develop
ment of this nation, except when they
are in mood to declare the Repuphc
failure, as they sometimes are. 1t is
only fair to confess that the masses OF
the people are confirmed in their judg-
ment on any matter by the opposition
of this minority. If anything could
strengthen the popular demand for the
islands, it would be the campaign of
this clique against it.
Impertinence is nothing new to these
men. The President delayed his deci-
sion on the Philippines question until
he should discover what the general
sentiment of the country was. For
weeks he made use of every means at
his command, consulting men who
were without prejudice and who sus-
pected that he was not inclined to as
sumo the burden of colonial admins
tration He took advantage of his
Western journey. when he came into
contact with all kinds and conditions of
men, to learn the popular view After
thorough investigation-far more eX-
| haustiYe than Atkinson. SchurZ & Co.
could make-the President made up his
mind that an overwhelming majority
of the people demanded the annexation
| of the precious islands. Yet these i'm
/ pertinent Mugwumps calmly assert
that the President is mistaken. They
do not pretend that they have made
any effort to sound public opinion-they
have only talked with one another-but
that does not prevent them from assert
ing that they know very much better
than anybody else.
1t is most fortunate for the future of
America that when President Mckinley
once makes up his mind on subject
| though it is tedious process as rule
he never backs down. 1t is also for
| tunate that the men who propose to
| turn the President from his policy" are
not persons who can have any influence
with him. He has seen too many of
their unpatriotic movements and has
| been assailed by them, himself, too
/ often, to place the least confidence in
their political wisdom or their judg-
| ment about practical affairs. They
will make not the least impression on
| the Peace Commissioners at Paris al
| though it is their announced design
| to affect the pending peace negotia-
tons" 1t happens to be their good luck
to be used to failures. Nothing they
have ever advocated has succeeded and
one other disappointment will hardly
break their hearts. On this question of
| the Philippines, ex-senator Edmunds
has come to grief, being repudiated by
the leading Republicans of Vermont.
who have hitherto responded to every
indication of his wishes. Although he
was able to carry through the State
conventionian '.anti-imperialist" resolu-
ton last Spring, he is now set aside by
the Republican majority, which is rep
resented by the Montpelier Journal.
The people want the Philippines, and
President Mckinley will see that they
| get them in sDite of Sagasta and of