The times., 1898-11-14
MONDAY. NOVEMBER IA. 1898.
The Presidents Determir ation.

President Mckinley may be uncom-
monty slow to make up his mind-he
was still undecided as to the Philip
pines, or else opposed to their acquisi-
ton long after the great body of the
American people were convinced that it
was cur duty and our destiny to extend
oar rule across the Pacific; that there
was nothing else left for us to do that
would not be condemned by the con-
sci. nee of mankind and discredit us in
the eyes of the world-but having
reached a decision> we do not think he
can be induced to retreat. The few
newspapers and the few men of foreign
bir.l: or sympathies who have shown
sgns of commissions over the Presi-
dznts demand for the islands. have
been encouraged by Lord Salisbury's
stupid suggestion. and especially by
the reports that Spain will go to almost
any length of folly to retain them. One
of them urges his fellows to renew the
agitation and cry out against the mon
strous crime, in the expectation that an
impression may be made on the Presi-
dent. They know that when he left
w ION LOT Ills w tSltIn journey he
was inclined to doubt the wisdom of in
sisting on the Philippines, although he
was unable to imagine any other way
cf disposing of them. 1t was after his
return that his decision was made
These advocates of a narrow, timid pro-
vincial policy. which would deprive US
of the most splendid gift the gods have
ever offered to a people so well able to
use It. and condemn eight millions of
souls to the vengeance of the barbar-
Gus Spaniards, warn the President that
the majority is never right, and that it
is madness to be guided by the clamor
of the Ignorant, uniformed and in
fiammable' American people.
Fortunately, President Mckinley has
been educated in another school All
he has gained in political life has been
by listening to the voice of the people
He has found that in the long run it is
generally right. He is asked by this
un-American minority-which sneers at
TIE fundamental doctrines of the Re-
public and decries the judgment and
sanity of the people who have made
the nation what it is-who are them
selves the nation-to do a thing which,
if wrong, can never be righted The
chance to extend the blessings of our
free institutions, under which the poor
est and most ignorant peasant immi-
grants from Europe have become in
telligent and prosperous citizens, over
eight millions of oppressed people, can
never come again. If ii is rejected, it is
forever. The American people. by every
means in their power. have expressed
their intense desire for the Philippines,
and if failure comes of it, theirs is the
responsibility and theirs the punish
ment. If they are competent to decide
that Mr.. Mckinley is fit to be their
President, they are qualified to deter
mine this question also.
The argument that because Roose-
welt received only $4,000 majority in
New York, where Mckinley had re-
ceived 26S.0OO and that because Mime
sofa has elected Democratic governor.
the policy of expansion is condemned,
is too absurd for serious consideration.
The newspaper that offers this argu-
ment has itself maintained that the
canal frauds in New York and the rec
ord of Alger must defeat the Republic
ans. Other journals assert that 1t
was the policy of expansion that did
more than any other one thing TO save
Roosevelt from defeat. 1t was the time
ly decision of the President to demand
the Philippines that frightened the Re-
publican prospects at the last moment.
The President has made no mistake in
reading the popular mind. How could
he? He has consulted members of
Congress and the press, and he has
gone out among the people himself.
Everywhere it was the same cry. to
keep the Philippines. After his demand