The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-18
THE coTERIE OF MALIGsANrs.

The temper displayed during the debate
in the Senate betrays a purpose of the Pop
ulIsts and so-called Silver Republicans in
that body to make war upon the admins
tration in whatever policy it may pursue.
The Aliens, the Utah senator's, Pettgrew,
Stewart and probably Mr.. Teller can be
counted on to put the President and the aa
ministration in the worst possible light. At
the outset these men, whose single idea in
politics is to enhance the value of silver
mining interests in their respective States,
and TO intensity hostility to the Republican
policy, will oppose the House bill, whatever
may be its provisions, to create war rev.
enue. The representatives of more million
aire interests in proportion to the popula-
ton they represent than any other men in
Congress, they will assail the taxes which
will be proposed placing burdens OH the
poor while the rich escape. Not only will
Mr.. Allen raise that cry, but we may ex-
pect to read that the silver mine million
aire Stewart will appear as the champion of
the masses Should war continue, these
malignants will be proud of attempting to
embarrass the administration. Charges of
inefficiency and dishonesty will be made,
and investigations will be instigated. Any
accident in the carrying ION of war, any
thing like defeat, will be used to berate the
administration and to make it unpopular
for the sole purpose of enhancing the value
of the silver mining properties of four or
five thousand men who are already rich.
The larger part of the Democratic sena-
tors are not included in this list, since there
is every reason to believe that they will
give the American administration fair sup
port in prosecuting a war in which the well
fare and reputation of the country are i'm
volved. They would not have ii appear that
they are not holding up the hands of
President in carrying on foreign war. But
the others, the most malignant OF whom
are masquerading under a false name-sil-
yer Republicans-may be expected to be the
real allies of Spain in the United States by
efforts to deprive the administration of the
cordial support of the country by under
mining popular confidence.
The Journal may be wrong in this judg-
ment, but the speeches of these men the
past week indicate their future hostility to
the administration whatever it may do.
Should it prove otherwise, the Journal will
acknowledge its error as conspicuously as
this opinion is expressed. When Mr. Allen,
Of Nebraska, took occasion to assail the
President for according an audience to the
representatives of Great Britain, Germany
and other nations who desired to extend
the kind offices of their governments as
mediators, it was an attempt of con-
scienceless demagogue to make the unin-
formed believe their mission was an inso-
lent interference with the affairs of this Ma
ton. Unless hopelessly ignorant, Mr.. Allen
must know that it is the custom of govern
ments to offer their friendly offices at me-
diation between two nations about to go
to war or already engaged in war, with
view of securing peace. 1t is fair to warn
people that the man who is guilty of such
a causeless attack upon the President will
assail him at every point with falsehood
and detraction.