The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-19

would have accepted American supren-
acy without murmur. The ambitious
Ftlipinos read McKinley's Christian
messages and painted visions of future
fame as the rulers of a newborn ma
ton. Mckinley did nothing to remove
the false impression. until after the
mischief had been done. Congress shlv-
cred and shrank with innumerable fears
and added to the chaos. 1t bombarded
the voters with stentorian emptiness
and through inaction gave rein to the
wild ambitions of Aguinaldo.
The present political Interrogation
which looms up like a mountain of
oVershadoWing mockery is the legiti-
mate offspring of congressional ambig-
uity and presidential fear.
On the question of a large standing
army Mckinley is proving true to his
record of shifting and ever-changing
expediency. He is willing to surrender
any opinion. adopt any policy or de-
story any cause, so long as he can re-
main upon the tide which flows toward
political success. He does not COM
mand-he bows. Not many moons ago
he was for a standing army of 100000.
He strongly recommended such an
army-not as an emergency force, but
as permanent armed body. Now We
hear that he will not take advantage
of his option to increase the army to
1000, but will peg along with the pres
ent force of $4,000. He has shifted.
Algerism has threatened his supre-
macy. He has had his ear to the
ground and heard the rumble of public
indignation. He sees the probability
of a revulsion which would close his
career in 1900. His opinions have not
changed. Nothing has happened to
weaken the specious argument for a
large standing army. In fact, since the
recommendation the troubles in the
Philippines have sprung up to make
increased demands upon our army.
Yet, we are informed that he will not
exercise his authority to the extent of
increasing the force to 100000
This is but one of an hundred in
stances that might be mentioned. From
the beginning of his political career up
to the present, Mckinley has been pill
able, slippery and supinely adaptable.
If eXpediency is synonym for States
manship. then Mckinley is a states
man of the highest type If the make
shifts of expectancy fail to constitute
just claim to craftsmanship, the
plausible gentleman in the white house
must reconcile his ambition with the
questionable fame of a trucking poll
tician.
The illness of Rudyard Kipling and
the death of his child have brought
out the most admirable traits of hui
/ man nature. On both sides of the At
lantic sentiments of friendship, broth
~ love and sincere appreciation have
found eloquent expression. Kipling is
on pedestal Human sympathy has
| raised him to an eminence which his
| good health could never have reached
| He is one of the few favored of the
I gods. who may enjoy in life the reward
| which too often is reserved until death
raises its impossible barrier between
genius and applause.
How great indeed must be the salts
| faction of Rudyard Kipling as he reads
/ the encomiums which have been heapsd
| upon him by those who, up to the time
| of his illness, had been cold. indiffer-
| ent or silent. A young man, but a few
| years ago mere struggler in the battle
for bread in the poorly paid field of in
| conspcuousness literary effort, now re-
| ceiving messages of affection and admit
ration from all parts of the civilized
| world, is spectacle to cheer and in
| spire. No living ruler could have re-
| ceiVed the sincere homage which has
been paid to the mild mannered writer,
l nothing could be surer than the finan-