The Washington weekly post., 1899-11-08
Taxing II Too Seriously.

| The Philadelphia Inquirer Of the sth
instant. In an editorial discussion OF The
| Commen; on the Philippine Report" says:
III was imperative that Dewey should
/ stay at Manila for the excellent reason
/ that there was no other place for him 70
| 20. he could not return 20 Eongkonz.
/ ne had not coal enough TO take hin home;
| he just had TO stay vhzre he was. and out
| OF that necessity ali the other necessities
| by which We have since been confronted
were logically and inevitably developed.
| Meeting these necessities as they
( arose, the government OF the United
I States has sought amid many hindraaces,
1 the most serious Of which have been en-
/ cOuntered at home. TO do its full duty.
/ The nature OF tha; duty the report OF me
Philippine Commission clearly and con-
vIncingly sets forth. Upon the manner in
/ which that duty has been ana is being
/ discharged the American people will to-
morrow render judgment"
The only part Of that de.iyeranee 20
which we propose to take exception is
| the last sentence Writing while the vot-
/ ing IS going on we can. of course. have
no more information as to results than
the Inquirer had on the day before the
voting. But that is Of no consequence
| whatever. No imaginable outcome Of the
balloting can be construed into verdict
Of the American people on the Philippine
| policy. or on any other question Of ma
| tional politics. Elections for local officers,
even if all the States held them and ali
elected governors. other State officers.
and legislatures. could not be regarded as
/ squarely testing any single issue between
| the two great national organizations.
Local issues always exert some influence
| in elections that decide who is TO control
local affairs. Personal popularity is also
an important and often a controlling fac
tor in State election. 1t was that which
made joan Lind, Democrat governor Of
| the Republican State of Minnesota. while
/ his associates on the ticket were de-
| feated.
But the elections TO which the Inquirer
refers as verdict Of the American people
en- the Philippine question were confined
| TO twelve States, and in only few of
them were they of much Importance. For
1 instance, the people of Pennsylvania
elected a State treasurer and two judges.
The Democrats made their fight on State
Issues, although their platform indorsed
the Chicago platform and hailed Bryan as
"6ur matchless leader" The Republicans
/ showed a strong inclination to dodge local
Issues, on which they were divided, and
to make their fight mainly on national
questions, which had no legitimate con-
nection with the offices to be filed. Fol-
lowing the example Of Roosevelt in his
| campaign In New York last year, Col.
| Barnett, the Republican candidate for
| treasurer. toured over the State with
detachment of men in uniform. who were
said to be mustered-out soldiers of the
regiment of which Barnett was lieutenant
colonel Whatever may be the report
from Pennsylvania that our news columns
will give in this issue who will pretend
that it Will be the verdict of that State
or any question of national policy? Nc
Kinley and his administration are as
strong as both factions of his party in
that State, therefore stronger than the
major faction for which the Inquirer
! speaks.
| In a number of States-notably in Ohio
the trusts and combines lave been ex-
plotted much more vigorol sly than the
Philippine question, but the jones move
ment and certain personal antagonisms
have prevented anything like fair test
of sentiment on any question. Who win
contend that expansion or anti-expansion
was a factor in Kentucky? And, taking
the twelve States together, how is It pos
| sible to point 10 their returns as the yer
dict of the American people" on any one
question?