The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-02-17

Cnreiinbiiity Of the pepubiicsn Ad-
mintAlSatton In Critical sit-
uations.


''shall republicans stand by McKin-
'ey?" asks an expansionist party organ.
They probably ought 10 as a gen.
eral party proposition; but the
best republicans. as we'll as the
best democrats. have preferred TO
consider the Philippine question
from a broader standpoint. Par
ties are essential in government. but
they do not necessarily enter into every
phase Of public affairs. There are or
gans which are blindly insisting on
the most extreme course with reference
10 the new acquisition" in the orient,
merely because they think il is the
policy of the administration. and they
do not feel at liberty 10 have thoughts
Of their own. President Mckinley may
surprise them some day. In several
important instances in his public life
he has not been so welded to senti-
ment or "A principle that he has not
been able to make a radical and sudden
switch.
II is very well understood that the
administration occupies n radically DIFF
fcrcnt position from the one il as
sumed when the peace commissioners
went TO Paris. Senator iloar knows
personally that which he has failed to
gain official knowledge OF. The resolu-
tiCn which he offered some time since,
and which was adopted by the senate
asking for certain information about
the peace negotiations. was couched in
the usual terms. II recognized the
right commonly accorded to the ox-
ecutive department TO decline 10 com
municate anything which il might look
upon as Incompatible with the public
interest. What Hoar evidently de-
sired to bring out was the fact that
the peace commissioners on behalf Of
the United States were originally au-
thorized to demand only coaling sta
tion on the island Of Luzon. This and
nothing more. The executive depart
ment has taken doubtful advantage o.
its prcrogatyc TO refuse this intorma-
tion. Its assumption that publication
of the matter would be Incompatible
with the public interest is farfetched-
IT simply does not want TO be exposed
In IT'S swift changes.
The policy Of requiring only a coaling
station rapidly grew into a treaty
which contemplated the permanent ac-
QUESTION Of the whole Philippine arch
ipelago, and the cold shoulder to the
liberty Filipinos. Some OF the
friends OF the treaty. and even some
of its trainers. have been driven 70 the
claim that the ratification OF the treaty
leaves the future Of the islands broadly
open: that il would not be in the slight
est dctriment TO the idea Of extending
to the people Of the islands the op
portunty 10 organize government Of
their own.
That may be the purpose now. but il
was not at the time the treaty was
framed. The article relating TO ths
control Of the Philippines is difrerer
from that providing for the case o.
Cuba. Why were they not made alike
Why were the advocates Of the treat,
Put in the position OF making com
plicatcd. and more or less pettifoggirg
argument TO show that Independent
government IS possible under the thirt
article? Why was the matter not pu
In plain terms?
The difference was that congress hat
promised that the war should not bs
one for the acquisition Of Cuba. W.
made no such promise as to the Philip
pines. reasoned the administration
Morally. il argued. the cases are tn,
same, but technically we are free L
grab slice of the orient. and let us
do so TO make ourselves popular Will
the people. Expansion is the prevalent
cry ard we Will get into the swim
Nov the administration is not so sure
that expansion is popular, and it il
hedging"
The serious matter now before tn,
people. or before any party, is not Of
standing by Mckinley" but Of pur
suing the right course.-Cincinnati En-
quirer.