The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-14
WEDNESDAY. :. December IA, 1898
THE CULT OF MYSTERIOUS ST
LENCE.

As a passing phase of contemporary
affairs the attitude of the Administers
ton press. actual and assistant, official
and self-constituted, is worthy of mo-
ments attention. Whether this is the
first blossom and perfume of the Great
err Americanism," we can not say. Ger
tainly it is novel.
Just at the present these organs are
diurnally crying silence, silence to
every man and every newspaper that
ventures to disapprove of anything, I'M
minent or prospective, connected with
the peace arrangements or with the Ad-
minstration's foreign policy--and the
crying is usually done with the manner
of a schoolmaster and in the language
of a walking delegate. Caution is folly,
conservatism is militant stupidity,
criticism is a crime. THE King can do
no wrong" his ministers are the ON
niscient guides and guardians of destiny.
independent thought or action on the
u
proof positive that he is a traitor to his
party and country. hireling Of Spain.
A .'solid 'front.' must be presented TO
the world.
Naturally one is inclined to ask, in an
awed whisper, wherefore all this! We
have whipped Spain with case, as all
the world knew we should Mr.. McKin-
ley was President when the job was
done and, barring a useless sacrifice of
life in camp and field through favorit-
ism. nepotism and incompetence in ap-
pulled off, American soldiers and sail
ors acquitted themselves as they have
always done, with sublime courage. The
war was fought for the sake of human
ity and ended with large accessions of
territory And there is the rub. All
these things had occurred while Congress
was not sitting, and without consulting
the wishes of the people or their repre-
sentatives program had been mapped
out for the disposition of these terrific
ries, involving a radical departure from
all precedent experience and, as many
of the ablest men of the country believe,
a violation of the Constitution, includ-
ing an enormous increase of the military
budget and an entirely new foreign pol
icy fraught with grave problems and
graver dangers. Now when Congress
has met, any who is disposed to look be
fore and after becomes target for
abuse, is charged with being an tally OF
SPAIN" and a lamentable instance OF
stupidity in public affairs.
We take the liberty to doubt that al
this new Observation-Disclosures this swag
ger and abuse and mysterious chant o.
destiny" and broader mission" vii
go down with the common-sense Ameri
can public. We are the rather inclined
to think it is intended to conceal
good deal of vulnerabiity and to bolster
with an air of extreme self-assurance {
policy that perhaps needs prop of thai
sort
The only safety Of the Republic lie:
in a full and free discussion of impor
tapt public matters before the public
There is no reason why the future polio!
of the country should be made an excep
ton. We hope that Senators and Repre-
sentatives will not allow themselves t
be hurried into action that may resul
in irremediable hurt to the country be
cause of a false supposition that haste il
demanded by public sentiment.
1t is Joseph Medill. Herman kohlsaat
and Victor Lawson who, in their noxiou
prints. have proclaimed the propa gand;
of riot mob rule, and ropes.-Mr. Yerkes
lnter-Ocean.
From which we infer that Mr.. Yerke