The times., 1899-12-11

ter and armed factional strife. The agita-
tors do not approve of such radical
1 change in the hereditary temperament Of
the masses. It is inimical to their ends
and ambitions. People who learn to think
are not greatly impressed by empty words
and idle professions. especially from those
who seem to have nothing to do but de-
claim about imaginary wrongs
The bitter impatience of the treacherous J
element in Cuban affairs is easily under
stood. But no amount Of barking and
growing viii hasten the departure of the
Americans from an island that was never
in greater need of a sturdy opposition to
/ influences that are a menace to the public
veal. America has a mission to perform
/ in Cuba and she VIII perform it with the
J inGexible determination that characterized
/ her operations in the war with Spain.
Winding the Presidents Business.
1t appears that some Metnodists in Har-
/ risbuTg, Ia, for whom MIR. s. c. Swallow
is spokesman, are considerably wrought up
over the fact that President Mckinley is
not strict teetotaller and rampant pro
hibitionist Their minds have been freed
in a document intended for general distri-
button, which is, to say the least, abusive
and undignifed in tone, and eYinces an
utter lack OF decent respect for the Presi~
dent of the United States.
With an air Of intense surprise and dis
gust. Mr. Swallow announces that Mr.. Nc
KinIey admits that he supplies liquors 10
his guests" and that certain estimabIe
gentlemen "allage" that they saw him drink
things which might intoxicate, on the oc-
casion of1a certain banquet. 1t is also re-
marked that Mrs. Mckinley told the ladies
OF the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union that she would manage her Own
table in her own way. All this is inter
esting, and suggests that, despite his office,
the President is very much like any other
American gentleman in conforming. in a
general way, to the harmless and time
honored conventions of ordinary society.
Sensible people will certainly see no rea-
son why Mrs. Mckinley should not manage
her own table in her own way as other
ladies do; and they will regard it as i'm
pertinent, to put the matter mildly that
anyone should attempt to dictate to her on
that subject If the wife of the President
chose to regale her guests on peacock
served in the skin, or on an Old-fashioned
boiled dish. it would be the business OF no.
} body in the land save her own family and
guests When people who viii never, by
{ any chance. be invited to q dinner al the
} White House, or come within miles OF
, knowing the conditions under which the So
= ciaI life OF official society is carried on,
undertake 10 dictate to the President what
shall be his bill of fare at his own table.
the spectacle is absurd to the last degree.
: Whatever the feelings Of any President may
be on the subject of teetotallism or any
other matter which is likely to come up in
social intercourse. it is he. and not the in
habitants of Harrisburg. or Topeka. or Yuba
Dam, who must be held responsible for
what goes on his own house; and nat
uraIIy he may be supposed to understand
what his guests need for their entertain
J nent rather better than the people in the
backwoods Of Arkansas are likely 10 under
stand it. In short, he has been placed in
the White House TO entertain guests of the
nation, as well as TO execute its laws, and
D dinner without advice from Mr. Swallow OF
any other worthy citizen Of the United
; States.
The remarks of Mr.. Swallow, as has
been hinted, are more lively than cour-
teous. He finds fault with the President
j for touching his lips" to the wine glass
when at a formal dinner, and declares that
: this is more reprehensible than becoming
intoxicated himself, since he thus in
! duces young men to drink-young men
-aught to reverence their pledge made al
Gods altars." We have here the SPEC
} tacIe Of Mr. Mckinley as a willy Judas
dragging into the primrose paths Of temp
{ tation the youths of the Diplomatic Corps
despite the blue ribbons which they wear
= in their buttonholes and the pledges which
they took in their innocent childhood. II
: is rather funny. when one considers I'll its
bearings.
It may be stated in a general way that
Mr. Swallow and others of his ilk suffer
! from having no sense of proportion Else
, where in his article this Daniel come tc
judgment remarks that Methodist Bishop
{ committed the heinous offence of going
10 SLllCA lu the street cars Nueu Ne HllSu
have walked. Evidently he thinks that
S that is next door to chicken stealing Mr.
] Mckinley undoubtedly shares in this error
6 driving TO church on Sunday now and then
d But the country at large is not quite ready
s 10 condemn him TO everlasting disgrace Oh
e that account The fact is that provincial
p people really have no right TO expect thai
Z 1 their ideas shall be imposed on the whole
D nation. Perhaps, at Yuba Dam, it is Gus
tomary to prove ones valor and eooC
S feeling by shooting suspicious stranger.
T on sight; but if Mr. Mckinley conformeC
10 that standard in Washington he would
d be arrested.
D The South African Situation.
z The English howitzers with a supply O
( lyddite ammunition for them are in Soutl
A E~f- loo