The times., 1899-07-12
Pingree md Mckinley.

The New York Tribune" devoted con-
siderable space yesterday to an article
which gives copious extracts from vari-
Gus. messages and utterances of the Hon.
Potato Pingree, all Of which go TO show
in the opinion of the Tribune" that Mr..
Alger's Michigan political partner is so
diametricaliy opposed to the policy of the
Administration that the Secretary of War
cannot remain in the Cabinet without JUS
tifying the assumption that he. also, is
to be classed as in opposition to his chief.
This, We suppose, is according to the rule
which judges man by the company he
keeps. Mr.. Alger. no doubt, would insist
that it should not be applied to his case
unfavorably. since. while he keeps com
pany with Mr.. Mckinley on the one hand.
and with the potato statesman on the
other, he must be considered as an en-
tirely neutral quantity. and hence to be
regarded without malice or suspicion by
either the trust and monopoly control of
the Administration. or by the Filipino
friends CT his Northwestern ally
Perhaps there is even some ground for
questioning the "Tribune's" belief that
Pingree is TO be altogether viewed as an
and-Administration man. especially in
connection with the Philippine question,
In a message 10 the State Legislature he
very frankly announces his personal po-
sition on expansion, as follows:
The people OF Michigan are very generally
aware that ! did not favor the declaration Of
war against Spain. Now that a treaty
Of peace has been signed, am again free to
lqrs fftgt T. p,1Fs
altered cqRpiction that the matter in controversy
might have been settled by the resources Of
Intelligent diplomacy without shedding drop
Of american blood, without saddling the country
with hundreds Of millions of new debt, and with
out Involving this country in an adventurous
and dangerous policy Of expansion By conouests
over territories and peoples with which and with
whom We have properly nothing to do The war
was precipitated by the rlam0r Of an unSi-1iuu
locs press which had no higher motive than to
secuFe material for sensations and mean, Of in
creased circulation. In this it had the cooperation
Of equally Inscriptions politicians, who hcppd
that the excitement and lys;eria Of war would
distract the popular mind from the abuses OF their
mlsscvcrument and from the grievances which
our people suffered. and still suffer greater Than
those which any Of spains subjects had to com
plain Of.
The retention of the Philippines as yassal
colony, never destined to become an integral
part o; the American system, is now proposed
and defended as a necessary consequence Of an
unnecessary war and as foo;hold for further
adventures on the Continent Of Asia. The con-
quest and retention Of an archipelago six thousand
miles from our shores Is, in my judg-
ment little les than madness. ] can never be-
lieve that the spirit Of the Constitution the spirit
Of our institutions. the gcnus q; our people ever
contemplated would deliberately tolerate the
prospect OF acquiring control Of territory dense
ly inhabita;ed by people whom We must hold in
perpetual suhjection by force Of arms The
scheme IS simply weak imitation Of the policy
ci European monarchies, conceived in apparent
indifference respecting the vastly different con-
ditioHs which have forced these powers into dis
taHt colonization. Our Government seems to
have hccn encouraged in the scheme by that Of
Great Btitain for a purpose which is obvious
enough. WhCa We SHALL have become involved
in foreign interests and complications like hur
own. she hopes 10 gain our assistance in her 0wn
schemes Of conquest.
II PIngree was opposed to the war with
Spain. he was not more so than Mr. Nc
Kinley The only difference between Them
was that one was not and the other was
in a position TO be driven into it. or
course. until recently. the country has had
confidence in the complete conversion of
the President to the patriotic policy die
| tated by the results of the war, the honor
OF cur flag. and the future of American
commerce and material progress generally
But since the revised, amended. and ex-
purgated conclusions OF his personally