The sun., 1898-08-25
Interesting Intellectual Phenomena
Manifested by James Gordon Ben
nett, ESQ.

uctU, ESQ
Since mendacity has attained recognition
as q commodity that commands q regular
market, at least in times OF war or great
public excitement, the study Of the news
papers has been full Of interest and instruc-
tion. We have been greatly entertained by
it and we have been pleased to observe
some phenomena Of great eccentricity.
Not the least Of these has been the ten
dency of the individual who habitually lies
for consideration to acquire the ability to
believe implicitly in his own lies. The ad-
vantage which he thereby enjoys is i'm
measurable. He succeeds in lying with a
grace, accuracy and finish that puts all
merely common or garden lying to shame.
All the intellectual friction that attends the
grosser and baser forms Of mendacity dis
appears, and the flow Of counterfeit fact is
nothing short of melody itself.
Perhaps the best illustration Of this phe-
nomenon has been furnished by that dis
tinguished ornament of society and pride
OF his profession, JAMES CONDOR BENNETT,
Esq. The parturition Of lie by this
gifted gentleman is governed by no perio-
dicity, but is capricious, frequent, and full
Va OuoO' Al phOApB SAOdV pcEGluhClJyJ
coupled with uncommon natural gifts, have
led Mr.. BENNETT to heights hitherto
deemed inaccessible. This proficiency of
his, which is indeed more than a passing
wonder, could never have been attained
were it not for the implicit and almost
childlike faith with which he himself re-
ceives his own intellectual offspring.
On the 18th inst. the public mind hav-
ing become strained In the direction Of Ma
nila, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esq, braced
himself to the occasion and produced q
cable despatch which contained these words:
"ThO Philippine Islands Surrendered.
"The terms are briefly these.
"CApitulation of tho Philippines"
There is. at the first glance. nothing
especially remarkable or indicative OF un-
usual intellectual resource about the de-
spatch quoted, but when we more maturely
weigh the manner Of It's presentation by
JAMES GORDON BENNETT. Esq. his incom-
parable supremacy in his art is at onoo ap-
parent. Enraptured by its simplicity he
repeats 1t, but he cannot refrain, artist that
he is, from giving just one refining touch to
the adverb:
"CapitulatiOn OF the Philippines.
"Tho terms briefly arc these, CapituIa-
tiOn OF the -SpSeia cable dsIpGeA %
hs Herald from Hong Kong nn ssOrnin0.-
This, Of course. is compatible only with abb
solute faith. Having created the situation,
his belief in 1t knows no bounds. To him
1t iB the solid rock of impregnable fact.
Against 1t the envious waves OF doubt or |
refutation break only in hopeless fulfil |
ity. He says that the Philippines are ca |
pitulated. therefore they arc capitulated.
The peruSal Of it he says. "will send tho
blood coursing more quickly through the
readers veins" OF course 1t will | Are not |
his own veins already variooss over the in
telligence9
The forces Of DEWEY and MKRRIgr," he
breathes hotly. "have not only captured
haze taken the PhiIipptnes r.
And then as the idea really selzes him and
stirs his too susceptible senslbilIties he on.
pands and develops 1t. mot only the capI-
tal, he aflrms, but the entire group of
Stands are ours and the overwhelming
Volce OF the American people declares that
,urs they shall remain
It is impossible to question the sincerity,