The times., 1898-12-22
PrncticnI PntrEotism.

Army post TO act on the Presidents
speeches in the South adopts a resolu-
ton heartily approving his sentiments
and indorsing the suggestion of Federal
care for the graves of the Confederate
dead. We have always maintained that
between the men who did the lighting on
both sides in the Civil War there is mu-
tual respect and an ardent wish to for
get all the bitterness of the four years
Of strife and TO remember only that the
courage and devotion to principle of all
who offered their lives in war, We're
American. The chief cause of the con-
fiict has long since vanished and the ami
mosities would have died earlier If no
men had found it profitable to keep them
alive. The country has new problems to
meet which concern US all alike and 1t
is patriotic TO dispute only about the best
means to accomplish the utmost good as
a nation leaving the past with the past
If the action of the Grand Army post at
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a surprise to
anybody, il is because the veterans have
been too often misled by active members
who are intolerant of a great many
things that are really patriotic. Unless
such men, who enjoy the prominence they
obtain by exciting a controversy, or who
have political aspirations which are pro-
NOTED by ii. gain the ear of the great
body of veterans, the Grand Army will
support the President in his war on the
last traces of sectional hatred. We think,
too. that anybody will find II more diff
cult now than ever before to influence
veterans or any other large body of citi-
zens against any policy that promises to
advance the greatness of America. The
splendid spirit of Americanism revived by
the entry of this nation into war for
human freedom comes at a time when 1t
is most needed.
There are politicians who seem unable
to appreciate the great change that has
taken place in the country since Con-
gress adjourned last Spring. Then party
principles of economics and finance, was
the highest ideal of the people. The most
of us were disposed 10 make party stand
in place of country-to regard party sue
cess as the chief end of everything. and
as synonymous with the best possible
government. Yet politics dropped out of
sight the instant war was declared. All
the usual controversies were suspended
We all knew then that there was some
thing more important than party. If we
have gone back to our partisanship, it is
with another feeling. There are some
things, we find. that should be the COM
mon desire of men of all parties, regard
less of the effects on our old grounds of
division The removal of every surviving
feeling of hostility between the two sec
tions of the country is a worthy cause
which President Mckinley adopted. and
| this is one of the things in which the pa
triot is bound to uphold him. There are
some Republican politicians. blind to the
changes of half year and especially TO
the enduring character of the revived
American spirit, who are critical Of this
policy. They do not see that their party
has anything to gain by fair words to a
section where the Democracy is ON top.
They will do what they can to arouse a
sentiment of opposition among their
party fellows and the veterans. Here is
where they will begin to realize that par
tisanship is no longer a perfect synonym
! of patriotism among the people.
In New England the anti-eXpansionists
asserted that the President was guided
not by convictions, but solely by what he
| thought was popular sentiment. They
said he was mistaken and that they
would gather ten million signatures to
protests against the retention of the Phil
! ippines and Porto Rico. They sent out
! their blanks and they have been able tC
! get two thousand signatures, and OF
these fifteen hundred were from Massa-
| chusetts, leaving five hundred from the
country at large. There are severa
| prominent men, including few who are
classed as Democratic leaders, who be-
lieve that If popular sentiment is favor
| able to expansion, it can be changed. II
is with the avowed purpose of changing
it that Mr. Bryan has returned to civil
] life. The first idea that expansion could
be defeated once and for all by a rejec.
ton of the peace treaty has been aban.
| doned. 1t is seen that the treaty will
go through and that our military occupa.
ton and rule of the different new de.
Tendencies will continue perhaps into the
next Presidential term. 1t is possible
! therefore, to imagine that prolonged
fight can be made against the Legislation
necessary to their civil administration.
1t is with the hope of either leading
! the Democratic party into the accept
ance of anti-expansion as the superlativt
issue of the next campaign or of causing
a division of parties on the issue tina
Mr.. Bryan and other Democrats are con
sorting with Mr.. Carnegie and other Re
publicans and nondescripts. Here agaiI
the revival of the spirit of Americanisn
with it's high ambitions for the Republic
will dissipate the hopes and confound th'
plans of politicians.
General Miles's Testimony must be :
great surprise to Adjutant. General Cor