The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-20
"a Wabbling Cpportunist."

The New York Herald has taken an
extremely heavy fall upon the de-
voted head of the present occupant of
the White house. The general awaken
ing as to the real characteristics of
President Mckinley, as they have long
been understood and appreciated by
those who, from the vantage point Of
a close acquaintanceship with him,
have watched him critically through
out the period of his political promi-
hence before the country. has been
somewhat tardy. But the revelation is
now taking place.
The shameful situation now existing
In the Philippines affords the direct in
spiration for the Herald's just criticism
of Mr.. McKinley's ''vacillating policy"
as 1t styles his method of dealing with
the subject. and which it declares is
"a peril to the country" The Herald
boldly says:
President McKinley's miserable inhrmhy
of purpose Is responsible for the ridiculous
position we occupy in the Philippines today
held at bay and our authority def1ed by a
motley horde OF the lowest type Of Filipinos.
OF course the Herald wants the
United States to step in, take posses
sion of the. islands and retain them.
1t represents the imperialistic policy
to dot. But it evidently recognizes
the fact that Mr.. Mckinley is the
president of the United States, and that
he is playing with the islands of the
sea whether they be isolated or en-
braced within an archipelago, a thou
sand in a bunch, as if they were chill
i = sala -f,,@
dence or destiny or some other unseen
power had supplied him for his Off
cial delectation. The Herald also I'm
doubtedly recognizes the fact that Mr.
Mckinley is incapable of leadership Or
of originating any policy of initiation.
His entire course has been marked by
disposition to shirk all responsibility
and to throw it upon congress, al
though, as he has already amply dem
onstrated, he Is willing to reap the
credit wherever any is to be found.
only a firm and decisive assertion
of the authority and power Of our gov
eminent" says the Herald, "can save
the islands from anarchy, save our
own dignity and avert the danger of
friction with other powers. But what
d
wabbling opportunist he is Sinking
his responsibilities and again throw
ing down the reins. Instead of CRAP
pling with the situation like a man he
is appointing a commission to make at
this late day the slow and tedious voy-
age to the Philippines, study the post
ure of affairs and advise him-as if
the constant cable communications
of Otis and Dewey had not kept him
thoroughly informed
This is the view that the public gen.
orally is gradually coming to take Of
the president. He is more and more
developing the qualities of ''wab-
bling opportunist." He held the coun-
try in suspense for weeks last spring
when an executive Of firmness would
have acted with a promptness which
would have gone far to avoid all the
complications which have ensued.
Continuing, the Herald says:
Before he became President Mr.. Mckinley
vacillated on the silver question. When the
question of the war with Spain came UP he
wabbled all round that and ended by throw
ing down the reins to congress to do as it
pleased. Although the constitution and his
official cath required him to command the
army in time Of war. he threw down the reins
to the war department, and when the whole
country rose in an outburst of wrath against
the treatment of our soldiers Mr.. Mckinley
instead of summarily removing Alger again
threw down the reins to investigating CON-
mission. When the time came to dictate
terms to Spain, instead of prescribing as was
his right a treaty for submission to the SEN
ate and settling at once the disposition of the
Philippines, he again threw down the reins
and left the work of framing the treaty to a
commission and made himself the mere agent
of that commission TO submit it's work to the
senate.
This intelligent summary of the
dominating characteristics of Mr.. Nc
Kinley is sufficiently complete with
out any additional comments.
No man who ever occupied that
great office has received more generous
support than the president throughout
the crisis into which the country was
drawn subsequent to the explosion of
the Maine eleven months ago. His
hands have been steadily upheld by
the people, even when their patience
was most strained over exhibitions of
the weakness of his nature. But the
limit has been reached. The bawbles
OF victory must cease to be executive
playthings. 1t is time that the dis
putes. with all their uncertainties of
results, had an ending. The hating
policy of the executive has already
cost the country enough. Another
with more directness of purpose should
be adopted without delay.