The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-12
A Perturbed Oracle.

Harper's Weekly, Is more lugubrlous
than ever these days. The declaration
OF war nearly shocked 1t to death. The
idea that the United states would show
the courage of its principles by putting
an end to an intolerable tyranny at it's
doors was something that 1t had long
before dismissed as impossible, and its
surprise, when this very thing hap
pened over its most vociferous pro-
its power of criticism and simply looked
on In daze. We will do Harper's
Weekly the justice to say that after
war was actually begun it gradually
drew itself together in support of the
government. This support was pune
tuated with spirited illusions to the
Ignorance" of congress and to the
''recklessness" of the lingo" element
in public life, and was in this sense
somewhat left-handed but it was at
least nominal. Harpers Weekly did
not go the whole length of the Mug
wump route traversed by the New York
Evening Post, which, both before and
been an outsroken ally of Spain.
But NOW that the war is progress
ing favorably to American arms and
there is little opportunity to work UP
reactionary sentiment, Harpers
Weekly is easing its Mugwumpery in
Mr. Cleveland. ex-senator Edmunds,
the venerable Senator Morrill, and other
men of abnormal conservatism, it has
rigGed up q fgure Of straw which it
calls imperialism" and is pummelng
1t with far greater pugnacity than
seems wholly in keeping with it's pro-
fessed admiration of peace. Harpers
Weekly puts no trust in any assurance
that the American people are capable
of evolving colonial policy advan-
tageous alike to governors, to the gov
erned, and 20 civilization. Such a
proposition would necessitate the ad-
mission that the American people are
fit to govern themselves, and of course
it knows they are nothing of the kind.
When we say we are going to protect
the Philippines until their people de-
velop the ability to protect themselves,
Harpers Weekly is certain that we
| mean to rob, pillage and Oppress, very
much as Spain did, for the benefit of
| our politicians in power When we al
! lege that we are actuated by motives
of humanity Harpers Weekly tells us
bluntly we are impelled solely by avar-
ice. foolish ambition and greed. 1--WE
| are contemplating the taking up of this
old and discredited colonial policy" it
asserts. mot, as is pretended, for the
purpose of increasing and enlarging
| and ennoblins our national life, but for
| purely commercial ends-for trade, and
all the corruption which is implied in
the intimate association Of trade and
government"
| Furthermore, we are running no end
| of risks. THE increase of the German
fleet in Manila bay until it outclasses
our own is," it implores us to realize.
IAN indication of the troubles which
this party (the 'imperialists') is invit-
ing with European powers by taking
a hand in the European game of grab"
! We had better recall Dewey at once
lest he get nurt. Also. tine spectacle
of France cowed by its huge army into
acquiescing in a perversion of justice
which constitutes national disgrace
| Is an indication of the troubles we are
preparing for ourselves at home, and
| the danger we are inviting for our
own institutions if we prepare the huge
ornaments that are needed to defend
distant possessions" The "cowing''
| OF 100000 American citizens by a
standing army equal to that of Belgium,
Norway, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland
or Persia and less than that of
Spain, Italy or Japan would. indeed,
be a disheartening spectacle, more
especially il these few thousand
citizen soldiers and sailors should
forget their citizenship, their oaths
of enlistment and the glorious tradi-
tions of both the American army and
navy, and should suddenly conspire to
overthrow the government.
But why pursue this mugwump nom-
sense further? Does not that which
we have quoted of it make you sick?