The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-21
AN APpROPR1ATD DEFENSE,

There are a few worthy persons in
this world of whom it is true that they
are unfortunate in their friends But as
a general proposition it is undeniable that
a mans friends are usually a measure
of himself. This rule applies in politics
as in social life.
When the senior senator from New
York sets himself up as the champion
of the administration there is no room
for doubt that Messrs. Hanna and Nc
Ktnley find defender by natural
prompting. No one better qualified in
natural or acquired ability for the task
could be found. It would be against hui
man nature if, the controlling forces be-
hind our national administration being
in need of an advocate, Tom Platt re-
manned silent
Plat shows his usual shrewdness in
his defense. He makes it so long that
the most inveterate enemy of the con-
troll of Hannaism views with consuming
dread the need Of reading it. In weather
like the present even three columns Of
the most thrilling scene from a society
novel would have a deterrent effect upon
any man. TO contemplate the necessity
of consuming that quantity of Platt's
platitudinous and not always grammat-
ical special pleading would disqualify
even the most judicial-minded of mortals
from remaining COOL
To argue with "a traitor" would, &C
cording to Mr.. Platt, be equivalent to
"coddling a copperhead." So Plat, very
properly, does not argue. If he had stat
ed this as a reason for not imposing
three columns or any other extent of
close nonpareil of Typography on the
garded with a higher degree of personal
consideration among traitors than ever
before fell to his lot. But when he goes
on, to this unconscionable length, to
demonstrate that he scorns to argue.
after he had avowed himself to be en-
tirely above such an irrelevant proceed
ing, he places himself beyond the con-
sideration Of even the stupidest "trai-
tor" that ever was.
In Senator Platt's statement in defense
of the Philippine policy are asked a num-
Der of questions which have already been
answered a thousand times or more.
Not one Of them involves even an ap-
proach to a conundrum. And even if
they did, the season is so poorly adapted
to intellectual operations of the kind that
we have barely the heart to PROFOUND to
our imperialist neighbors and friends
the conundrum suggested by Platt's de-
Tense, which is: Why has the army of 9S,-
OOO men which, according to Plat. con-
gress gave the president permission to
raise not been found sufficient for all
practical purposes in the Philippines and
elsewhere?
GASOLINE AS A DISINFECTANT.
There may have been a more effectual
object lesson given at some other time or
place of the customary results of treat
ing the gasoline fluid as beyond all pos
sibility of explosion under any conceiv-
furnished on Wednesday in the Schlich-
ting household, on East Seventh street.
If so, the occasion is not generally
known.
We have had other instances in which
the user of gasoline has gone on the as
sumption that the fluid was something
in the nature of well water which might
be promiscuously dispensed with general
advantage to sanitary conditions. The
nearest approach to the latest case is
that of the restaurant keeper on st. Pc
ter street, who, having set his gasoline
stove in operation a few days ago, pro-
ceeded placidly to market, and found his
premises in ruins on his return. In the
later case, to be sure, the distance to
which the thoughtful lady went who con-
templated using the stove on her return
| exceeded by a mile or more the space
| covered by the restaurant keeper, but
the circumstances were so nearly alike
the same general understanding prevailed
as to the use and abuse. of gasoline.
The general public, no doubt cordially
entertaips the hope that the lady who
made such truly heroic sacrifice to save
her home and children on Wednes-
day, and the devoted husband who went
to her aid, may both be saved to society
They can, too, understand the fearful
condition of her whose generous use OF
the gasoline produced such disastrous re-
suits. But they will find it none the less
| hard to comprehend why public author
| ity should not interfere, so far as it can
| effectually do so, to render such exhibit
lions less rare at least than once a week
| in a given community.
PERJURERS AND POACHERS.