The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-24
WHERE THE BLAME RESTS

In all Southern California there may
not be found single defender or apollo
gist for the attitude of the administra-
ton toward the San Pedro harbor i'm
provement. No Republican leader or
Republican newspaper has ventured an
explanation of the remarkable compla-
cency with which the president of the
United States has witnessed the practi-
;, cal notification of a solemn act of con-
gress by member of his own political
household, without objection or protest
upon his part. Nor can it be urged in
extenuation or mitigation that he has
not been perfectly familiar with the facts
or that the cares and responsibilities i'm
posed by the war have prevented prop
er consideration of them. Secretary AL
gers alliance with the Huntington inter-
est, antagonistic to that of this whole
section, was notorious long before hos
tilities began, and promised to constitute
q national scandal. Senators and men,
bers of congress from California, repre-
senting all shades of political belief, had
laid the shameful facts before the execu-
tive. The technicalities of the law,
adroitly invoked by the secretary of war
In furtherance of his aims, had been sue
cessively swept aside as inconsequential
and irrelevant by two attorney generals
of the United States, but halt was not
called until the strongest representa-
tions were made to the executive that the
further exploitation of the illegal and
unwarranted opposition of a Republican
cabinet minister to harbor Improvement
on this coast would be at the peril of the
party's supremacy in the forthcoming
congressional elections. 1t was not until
the leaders and organs of the party
throughout the state united in an appea.
In the interest of the political organiza-
ton imperiled that Mr.. Mckinley took
the alarm and commanded his secretary
to cease his opposition and permit the
law to be enforced.
1t is remarkable circumstance that
Republican newspapers should be con-
strained to look upon the withdrawal of
opposition by cabinet officer to the exc
cution of an act of congress as a greater
triumph than was comprehended in the
recognition by that body of the needs Of
this section Of a deep-sea harbor, and
yet that is the light in which it is re-
garded Not nearly so formidable was
the objection of the legislative branch of
the government to the appropriation of
three million dollars for this work as was
the subsequent opposition of the execu-
tive branch Of the same government to
the expenditure of the money. And we
hazard little in the opinion that had Alger
or any other executive officer of the gov
eminent placed similar obstacles in the
way of the executive Of law affecting
New England or eastern interests, the
storm of Indignation aroused would have
driven the offender from the cabinet. if
not wholly from public life.
In a government like ours there should
be no powers behind the throne" The
president is chosen to execute the laws.
He is required to take a solemn oath that
he will perform this duty without fear or
favor. He is provided with constitution
al advisers, but he is not compelled to ac-
cept their advice. He is morally and e-
galy responsible for their acts When
they are so obviously wise and states
manlike as to command the approval of
the people, he takes the credit. When
they are so extra officious, unconstitu-
tional, illogical and obviously against
public DOlicy he is i,IstIv he III racpopci
BILE. Hence the structures of the Los An
geles Times, the mouthpiece of the party
In this section, and the especial champion
of the president go further than the wa.
department--they reach to the very
doors of the White House. 1t says:
The extraordinary spectacle of sin
gle private citizen acting IS power be-
hind the throne, and preventing the
accomplishment of the Just desires of
large and important Section of the
United States, is one that is not at an
pleasing for the patriotic American to
contemplate. Still less so Is the spec
tacle which we have lately seen, Of
high government official aiding this
wealthy citizen by every possible trick
and device to succeed in his nefarious
plans.
The struggle is over, because party
success was menaced. Opposition ceases,
because partisan interests demand it,
A truce is declared. because party lead
ers have become alarmed The presi-
dent is aroused only when the party fog
horn is sounded. He yields only when
the lookout cries. Breakers ahead"
In view of the facts. undisputed and
tncontrovertible. 1t is not strange that