The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-29
MIR. MKINLEY AT PITTsBURG.

The speech delivered by President NC
Knley at Pittsburg yesterday upon the
occasion of the reception of the Tenth
Pennsylvania volunteers just recently re-
turned from the Philippines, would, II its
origin were not known, be attributed to
some rabld republican imperialist stump
speaker.
The president talks as II he had been
put in the lead by some party council to
set the pace for the ward campaign ora
tory. His speech betrays prejudice,
abounds in Misrepresentation, declares for
rounded off with "buncombe" from begin
ming to end.
That this is not too harsh a characteri-
cation will be seen from brief reference
to some Of his most emphatic and sig
nificnnt utterances. For example, speak
ing of the army in the Philippines he says:
They were not serving the insurgents in
the Philippines or their sympathizers at
home. They had no part or patience with
the men, few In number happily. who
would have rejoiced to see them lay down
their arms in the presence OF an enemy!'
Here is a Islander upon hundreds of thous-
ands Of American citizens. 1t is the small
partisan's characterization of those who
differ from him. 1t Is the insult deliv-
cred by the president Of the United States
to a public opinion which he is obligated by
his great office TO consult or at least re-
frain from sneering at or misrepresenting.
1t is directed. of course, at the anti-ex-
panslonists, practically all of whom have
insisted as strenuously as the president
that the army should not clay down its
arms in the presence OF an enemy" in
arms.
Mr.. Mckinley forgot the dignity OF HIS
station and the propreties of his office
when he travelled out of the way to in
, dulge in such remarks against any larg,
body or small body. for that matter, o
law-abiding. respectable American citizen.
who refused to adopt his viewsl HI
, dropped. in those utterances, to the level
his level, however--of common politician
, But again Mr.. Mckinley says: Every
step taken Tin the acquisition OF Soy
ereignty" over the islands) was In obedl
q ence to the constitution" Is MIR. Nc
Klnley measuring up the American peopl,
as fools? There was no popular demand
Y here for the Philippines. They wer'
n wrenched from Spain on the president
r own motion, and the attempt Is now belnl
made to. retain them in direct .dlsregar,
M Win M M hn lat al "a
y the constitution, and In contempt for tn
r basic principle OF our government--tha
n sovereignty is derived from the consen
n OF the people.
g Mr.. Mckinley knows that when tn
d treaty OF peace was ratified Spain had n
: authority In the islands-outslde OF Manil
: tho natives held everything. And the
+ had won 1t as they had right to do. Blu
in his speech the president assumes tina
re Spain had everything beyond Manila whe
IS the treaty was signed
i The speech is full OF such misstate
t. ments Of fact and unfairness Of argument
y His praise Of our brave soldiers, barrin
~ the ELUSIVE bumcombe. everybody wi
. indorse but he can not deceive the pub
lie as to the facts OF history and the spir
OF conquest under which the fighting ha
been done.
t. He only degrades the presidency in AT
st tempting to do so.
This speech demonstrates ono Trims
Id however--that 1t has been decided by til
In administration to throw off the mask an
oil boldly and aggressively begin the can
paign In behalf OF Imperialism. The pres
liz dent has crossed the Rubicon and is hgh
m ing with the inspiration OF a partlsa
ng rather than a president.