The times., 1898-10-17
MONDAY, OCTOBER Ii, 1898.
sasas.a and the secret Deal.


On the surface of things there is an
air of mystery about the situation at
Paris. but it almost entirely disappears
when our position in the peace negotia-
tions is considered in connection with
collateral circumstances, all more or
less familiar to the public
The fact is apparent that the Admin
istra ton is in a very ticklish situation
in relation to the Philippines question.
and thoroughly knows it. There is. in
deed. more truth than we could wish
in SagasJa's insistence that the idea
OF claiming the entire Philippine archi-
pelago was not contemplated by Presi-
- Dent Mckinley at the time he signed
the protocol, but was an afterthought
imposed upon him by later and sur
prising realization that the American
people would consent to nothing else.
and would crush him and his party po-
litically. should he dare to defy the ma
tional determination and demand. There
is not the faintest reason for doubling
that this explains the two-faced atti-
tude of the ADMINISTRATION on this is
sue. ever since before the American
very clearly accounts for the insistent
pleading in Mr.. McKinley's railway
platform speeches that the people shall
not force the Government to enforce
national interests. maintain national
honor or fulfill plain duties to civiliza-
tion and humanity beyond the point
which existing commitments and en-
gagements render it feasible for the Ad-
ministration to go. without repudiating
the trade or trades represented in the
Edmunds-I ireland protocol. the consid-
Grafton for which in whole or in part.
viii be due and payable at the polls in
November.
Without any mental reservation
whatever. we are sincerely sorry for
the President in this matter. He is
placed in position of embarra assment
and danger from which escape will be
difficult. He is between the Scylla of
performance of his promises to the
Hanna Edmunds Ireland McCools-
Atkins combination on the one hand.
and which would ruin his public repu-
tation and wreck the Republican organ
ization, and the Charybdis of bowling to
the will of the country, and thus rob
bing the interest to which he stands
committed, of its prospective advan-
tages and returns,
In this dilemma he has our sympathy.
because it is obvious enough that it is
the direct result of trap into which
he was led by deliberate misinformation
and false counsel. We are satisfied that
when the truth of popular sentiment on
the Philippines question came to the
knowledge of Mr.. Mckinley. il aston
ished him. In preparing the way for
his committal TO the scheme of terri
torial surrender to Spain, his evil cOun-
selors unquestionably used every pos
sible device and art to make him be-
lieve that the American people We're
not actively determined upon retaining
the splendid island empire won for our
flag by the sword of Dewey, and would
not enter any vigorous protest against
whatever disposition OF it might seem
advantageous TO party interests. and to
the bond or other financial schemes of
the syndicated influences represented
by Hanna and his associates.
Being thus led astray as TO the con-
dition of popular feeling, and doubtless
tempted by the promise of a colossal
campaign fund for 1900, to grow out of
the profits of peace settlement such
as the conspirators proposed and were
able to put in a fair way toward ac-
complishment. through the protocol. the
President was gained over to a policy
and course the imprudence of which he
now sees and constructively apologies
for every time he opens his mouth in
public.
We have conceded the general cor
rectness of Senor Sagasta's theory. as
far as the Administration and its secret
council arc concerned, that, when the
Peace Commissioners were instructed.