New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-28
A SHOCKING MISTAKE.

In corrospondngly swift response TO 'eie.
.,.,o massage from Governor Pingree OF
Michigan. the Anti-Imperialist League OF nos'on
dispatched an envoy to address mee'ihe iii
Detroit last evening, the Governor defraylhg 'ne
oxnenses of the trip. This was an exceedingly!
generous and whole-hearted thing Tor the "o''
ornor 70 do. and we are glad to know that he Is
In spch casv circumstances But there ought TO
he n reasonable degree Of reciprocity III the coii.
duct of human affairs. and in the forum VI
ethics it is scarcely open to dispute that the
League, which has countless millions VI iiiel''-
bers and must be potentially rich beyond the
dreams OF ayarice, ought TO have sent us lore
most representative out to Michigan, having
once consented to let the Governor pay the Dill
instead of drawing on its own treasury Now
tho man designated for this sacred mission Is
the Rev. Samuel f. Fuller, who when consid-
ered in the positive degree Is presumably open
70 no advancement whatsoever. but Tor whoIn'
whom COMPARISONS are instituted. 1t would De
nreposterous to claim Just title to such ois-
tinction There Is only one citizen OF Boston
who is worthy Of the arduous honor conferred
,pop the Rev. Mr. Fuller. TO wit, the Hon. Ga
maliel Bradford. the original anti-impcrialist OF
this epoch: and in our opinion Governor Plngree
has been treated with lack Of courtesy which
he will not be slow to recognize.
II will not do to say that not enough time has
elapsed since our liberties were put in jeopardy
10 settle questions of priority. The period has
in truth been brief but events have moved with
extreme rapidity and Mr. Bradford's alarming
discovery that the Republican party was thrust
inc lightning rods out into the Pacihc as far MS
Manila, or Honolulu at the very least, Is to all
4, nd
Bradford is first, and the rest Of the anti-impe
riallsts are nowhere. And not only does his
name appear. like Abou Ben Adhem's. at the
top of the list. for other than alphabetical rca
sons If there are degrees OF omnlsclence ana
omuipresence in the membership OF the League
Mr. Bradford Is pre-eminent IN both those ca
pacities 1t Is estimated, moreover, with respect
to his assiduity. that his output of lamentations
during the last six months would drape the en-
tire State Of Massachusetts In mourning ana
nrovide every man. woman and child In the
Philippine Archipelago with black rosette
There isn't doubt that Bradford not Fuller,
WAS the man for Pngrces money, and 1t Is
amazing that a mistake SO obvious and so morl-
s,rous should have been made. The folly or
confounding Goblin and Short wouldn't have
been worth mentioning In comparison with such
a bundcr Governor Pingree Is plain, blunt
man who loves his friends. but by the same
token he knows when he is imposed on. We
confidently expect TO hear from Pingree on
this subject, and it Is not at all for the sake OF
calling his attention 20 II that we have alluded
to the treatment Of Gnmaliel Bradford by the
Anti-Imperialist League Of Boston. 1t Is simply
an impulse of common humanity which leads us
to offer this testimonial Of respect and syinpa'
thy TO a man who has been betrayed In the
house Of his friends