The times., 1898-08-18
STEADS OPINIONS.
He Has Them Ready-Made for
Every Occasion.

W. 7. Stead who retired from the world
a short time ago to study ghosts. has
emerged from his seclusion long enough
to reply to letter from the American
champion reformer. Gov. Pingree, OF
Michigan. Pingree was uncertain in his
mind as to what we should do about the
Philippines. He could think of nothing
better than to ask ex-Editor Stead, the
Englishman who tried to reform Chicago
and gave it up in despair. Here is the
pith of Stead's answer, which appears IN
the Detroit Free Press:
Now that you have got Cuba on your
hands, you will have to do with Cuba
what we have done with Egypt, namely,
grow up a Cuban government which viii
be in your leading strings until such time
as IL can go on alone. Any idea Of hand
ing over the island to the Cuban tunta Is
out of the question. AS Cuba will prac-
tically be yours, / do not see any reason
why you should insist upon conquer
ing Porto Rico, for if that island is an
appendage of Cuba, it will come along all
right without any campaign for its con-
quest. But that also is split milk, for
your army has already landed on the
island. As to the Philippines, IL seems to
me the most madcap adventure 10 pro-
pose to establish an American empire in
the continent of Asia, but / quite see the
difficulty of getting out of ii now that you
have got white elephant on your hands
If you are in for it. as you seem 10 be IN
for II. 1 am not sure that it might not
be better-to make a clean sweep OF the
whole thing, and face your new RESPONSE
bilities once and for all. If you content
4
tion there, you will find yourself involved
| in endless complications with other pow
| ers, who will also want coaling stations,
| whereas If you have the whole lot in
| your hands ii may be cheaper in the long
| run At present / am utterly in the dark
| as TO how you are going TO manage a
| colonial empire with your system OF party
! government, but if you have to do 1t. 1t
may be as well to begin with it on suffi-
| GENTLY large scale TO render il palpable
and visible TO your people what it means
| instead of merely nibbling at 1t.
| 81 had a long talk with Mr. Brice about
! il the other day He is much alarmed as
| to the possibilities of attempting to man
| age an over-sea empire with your consti-
I tuition and your party system You see.
| in England we have practically excluded
! these questions from the sphere of party
| fight If you can do the same. well and
| good but, judging from talk 1 had
with Mr. Croker the other day, the first
| gIimmering OF such a thing does NOT
! seem 10 have dawned upon t.e mind OF
the party boss. The party boss in Amer
lea, I take It, counts for a great deal.
ITO sum up l may say that / disliked
| the war; l think it unnecessary; that
/ deplore it's extension 10 Porto Rico; that
| l regard the adventure in the Philippines
I as most deplorable As you have made
| the war. and made it on Humanitarian
grounds. which precludes the restoration
/ TO Spain of any colonies which you have
wrested from her. 1 am disposed TO be-
/ Heve that the next best thing TO do Is
| frankly TO face the burden which now
lies upon your shoulders. and attempJ 10
! discharge your duties honestly in the
/ sight of man You will find 1t no picnic
| governing the Philippines. but, after all
the shirking of a duty is usually th-
worst way of dealing with the difficulty.