The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-26
SOME NATIONAL PROBLEMS.
UntruthfuI Statements of a Reckless
Paper Refuted.
Washington Post

Washington Post.
One of the reasons assigned by the New
YORK Evening Post for its opposition to the
retention of the Philippines Is the alleged in
capacity of this Nation to deal successfully
with great problems. In proof of our national
impotency, the Evening Post makes this ut
terly reckless statement:
Since the war of 1860 the American peo-
pie have succeeded to two at least of the
ever fallen to the lot of any nation. One is
the reform of our currency and the other is
We have hardly done thing about either.
The currency problem is very much where
made the ridiculous gift of the suffrage but
not another thing. Not the slightest organ
lied effort has been made by the white COM
munity, as whole, 10 lift this huge negro
population out of degradation. though we
know well that their Ignorance and barbar-
ism threaten our future"
The Evening Post makes a speciality of
finance, and 1t therefore knows what we
have done with the currency and with ma
tional finances in the last thirty years. 1t
knows that it's statement is absolutely and
totally false, so absurdly false that one can
are many ways in which that habitual ma
ligner of the government and people could
have shown its contempt for the Nation
without uttering transparent falsehood.
The Evening Post knows that thirty years
ago to-day the treasury Of the United States
had no actual money in It's possession. It
knows the history of resumption-the great
est achievement of our government since
Appomattox-and the long hard road we
lTdN6leu 10 TtdCn II. II KNOWS l0dl SllC6
1868, thirty years ago, the legal tenders have
been changed from irredeemable paper TO
paper that is instantaneously convertible
into gold. 1t knows that we have aston
ished the world by the magnitude of our
operations in wiping out our bonded debt
and refunding the balance at lower rate CT
interest. 1t knows that, In no other country
since time began has there been so splendid
an exhibition of capacity to reform cur
rency and strengthen credit as this Nation
has given. 1t knows that thirty years ago
and for years thereafter we had to use
paper for small change, and that a genera
ton was growing UP that had never seen
either gold or silver currency. II knows
that to-day we have more gold than we
know what to do with. and that our ma
Britain. And knowing all this, the Evening
Post has the reckless audacity to assert
that 1.-The currency problem is very much
where 1t was thirty years ago.
We have not the space to cite the stalls
tics relating to the Indians or the negroes,
but the Evening Posts assertions as to both
Of these are as untruthful as its wild declar-
ationS on finance. More progress has been
made i'm the elevation of the Indians in the
last three decades than was attained in
hundred years prior to 1868. This is notori-
Gus, undeniable, seen and admitted by all
intelligent citizens.
AS to the negroes. the Evening Posts
declaration is as false and misleading as
language could make II. Leaving the suf-
frage question out of the account. the race
has made grand progress. 1t las not and
it cannot overcome race prejudice for that
is immovable, but Ii has made great adj
vancement in education and in the acquisi-
ton of property. If, by "the white COM
munity as a WHOLE the Evening Post
means the Nation. acting through the gen.
eral government, II is true that no organ
lied effort has been made for the education
of the coored people. But every State has
made, and Is making, that effort The white
people of the South have taxed themselves
many millions Of dollars 10 sustain free
schools for the blacks. And the North has
given, and still gives, millions for the same
purpose
This Nation has not yet been able to settle
and close all its troublesome problems.
There is yet work for statesmen, philanthro-
psts, sociologists and all who care TO help
in the work of progress But II our capacity
for success In governing the people of the
OF success we have had at home since our
great war, where Is the nation that could
present better showing?