The times., 1898-07-25
THE PRESIDENT AND THE WAR

To the Editor OF The Times:
solomon. the klngly philosopher of Is
rael, uttered a truth no; only grandly
beautiful but thoroughly ethical in its
influence when ne declared that "a word
fifty spoken is like apples of gold in pict
ures of silver
The readers of The Washington Times
were highly gratihed a few days ago to
find in its columns these manly words
The war with Spain followed hard up
on a period Of intense domestic political
and economic strife. The Administration
of President Mckinley was surrounded
by evil and corrupt elements. and appear
ances justified the suspicion that it was
influenced by them 10 the detriment of
the country. Whether IL was or not IS OF
little moment at this time. The declara-
ton of war made a 'tabula rasa OF old
differences and contentious, and, beyond
that, we can say with complete satisfac-
tion and pleasure that, on the firing of
the first gun, William Mckinley, the prac-
teal Ohio politician. PASSED from the
stage, and William Mckinley, the great
war President, appeared to plan victory
for his people and TO achieve for them
the benefits and giories Of a new and
splendid colonial empire"
The Times had taken an active part,
and justly. too, in espouslng the cause
of the down-trodden Cuoans and con-
demning the heartless course OF the Span
ish authorities in their treatment OF their
colonies. 1t was natural under the cir
cumstances. to chastise anyone who. even
| implicitly, gave any countenauce to such
action by the Spanish government. 1t
was certainly highly commendabie for a
paper of extensive circulation at the na-
! TONS capital to say, when discussing the
| relative merits Of the different characters
| engaged in our struggle:
'"rhe truth is rapidly dawning upon the
country that if Dewey and Schley have
won unfading laurels for their country
/ and for themselves, there is crown or
] honor no less the due Of William Mckin-
| ley, President of the United States. The
| glorious conditions Of the nour, whether
| reflected in the war situation or In our
| national and international status. can
not be contemplated without bringing
/ home the conviction that an honest, true
| and wise pilot stands at the helm OF
state"
This language is in harmony with tho
| patriotic sentiment which exists in every
/ norton of this great nation. When war
! was declared against Spain the people OF
| this land became a unit. Political and
| sectional differences ceased The officers
| of the Government from the President
| down TO the lowest and humblest private
| soldier. are the representatives. of the peo-
! ple. the whole people. in this national
| struggle i is the duty now of every cit
! izen, newspaper. and organization to sus-
| tain these officials in the great work un-
| dertaken When the war is over. and the
Stars and Stripes float over territory
! hitherto held in subjection by a despotiC
| monarchy, then the honor will belong 10
the nation as unit. There will be honor
enough to go round and give every Amer
| lean a share of which he may justly fee
! proud.
| While It is proper and stimulating that
| our soldiers and sailors should receive the
| thanks of the nation through the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet. it is equally incum-
| bent that the President land his subordi-
| mates should be equally remembered and
| commended for merftorious actions in
| whose honors all the people participate
| In this connection / desire TO call atten-
| tion to a sentiment written by the prince
| of literary lay preachers, DR.. j. q. Hol-
land He says:
| 'It is not easy for any man to work
| alone. out of the sight of his fellows and
| beyond the recognition of his deeds. How
| ever self-sufficient he may be. he i:
| stronger. and ne feels stronger, in the ap-
| probation of generous and appreciativt
| hearts We are very much in the habi
of thinking that men of great minds an(
noble deeds and self-reliant natures do no
| need tbs approval of other minds and dt
not care for II; but God never lifted any
| man so far above his fellows that theil
voices were not the most delightful
sounds that reached Him. If this be tru;
| of great natures. how much more evi
| IDENTIFY true is it of smaller natures? We
| the people of the world. go leaning OF
| each other: and we totter sometimes. ever
to falling, when a shoulder drops from
underneath our hand. We need encour
agement with every step
In the family, in the school. in society
in the church. in the affairs of state.
word of commendation and encourage
ment will usually do thousand-fold NOR
toward a better life thar ponderous vol
umes of indiscriminate and often unmer
tied censure.
Israel's king was right, he was polite
he was human, when he said: "A sof
answer turneth away wrath; but grievou
words stir up strife" For the novelty o
the matter, let it be conscientiously tried
j. FRAISE RICHARD.
Washington July o. 1893