The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-10
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT.
Epistles, Few of Which
ach Mr.. Mckinley's Eye.

We VII ODtCld1.
2 RS and professional educators
WI raining. surroundings and phiIos-
OPT snould teach them moderation can at
times be most Incorporate in the use OF
language and in partisan violence. This
fact is shown by the considerable number
of letters which are being received at the
White House from people belonging TO these
two classes. The misdirected energies OF
not a few ministers of the gospel and MEM
eers OF the teaching profession. are being
appeals TO the President urging him TO
stop the unholy war in the Philippines"
Many Of these letters are couched in Ian
guage which their writers in cooler moments
will doubtless remember with shame and
humiliation. They are hysterical, and indi-
cate that the authors have worked them
selves into a condition bordering on frenzy.
Naturally the statements which they con-
tain are erroneous. and the arguments and
conclusions drawn are grossly wrong. The
writer's are apparently blind to the fact that
the President and the army and navy have
been trying to put a stop TO the war for
weeks and months with every agency at
their m
1t is recognized at the White House quite
Edward Atkinsons and others who repre-
sent the higher classes that the fnsurrec-
ton in the Philippines Is a bad piece OK
business. 1t is also realized at the White
House and by IS per cent. of the people OF
the United States that as a condition pre-
those islands the insurrection must be put
down and the authority of the governmens
firmly established. The President does not
lAttu IL NlI c0SStollol1 vi
of the frenzied writers who are bombard-
ing him with communications. every line OK
which is an insult to the chief magistrate
and an assumption that he is less patriotic.
less intelligent and less qualified to guide
the ship of state than the writers them
selves.
Fortunately President Mckinley only sees
a small number OF these letters. His efficient
CORPS of secretaries weed out his mail and
only such letters as they know he wants TO
see reach him. 1t Is part of the business
of his secretaries to keep from him letters
of cranks and communications OF a sort
which might distract his mind from public
duties without being OF the slightest posi-
BILE service to him. Letters from those who
are known TO be on his list of personal
friends are laid before him in full, or are
briefed. but the great mass OF White Houss
correspondence never reaches him.. Hence
he is saved infinite annoyance. Enough
harsh criticism has filtered through the
mails TO him, however. TO give the President
great pain He Is extremely sensitive TO at
lacks from the very quarter where this cruz
SADIE originated. a fact which Is known wide
ly, and which at the present time adds to
Is doing his fun duty as he understands IL
and with broader comprehension than the
men who are personally questioning his mo-
tives and the wisdom OF HIS course. He has
sublime faith that history VIII vindicafe him
in every particular. This consciousness min-
gates the pain. but does not entirely take
away the sting OF the vicious and uncalled
raid which Is being made upon him by men
he thinks ought 10 be holding up his hands
during an ordeal which Is exceedingly try
ing at best