The evening times., 1899-02-28
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY IS. 1899.
Democratic Folly.

As q matter OF party eApeulehC!'. IL 10
no longer necessary that the Republican
party should free itself from the odor and
burden of Algerism. Its managers may
thank the Democratic Representatives for
haying insured Republican supremacy for
a general ion. in spite of all administrative
scandals. II a shrewd Republican leader
had schemed TO dispose of Democratic ri
valry. ne could not hit upon anything bet
ter calculated TO achieve his purpose than
the policy projected by the Democratic
members of the House Committee on For
eign Affairs. It was fully carried out by
caucus OF nearly one hundred Democrat
ic Representatives last night
With a paralysis or peryersion of judg-
ment that is unaccountable, but which will
be recognized as q symptom of paresis by
more than nine -tenths of the Democrats
OF the country. these Representatives de-
iermined that the Republican party should
have the exclusive benefit of a popular and
glorious war and should take entire adyan-
tsge of every patriotic emotion in the
breast OF the masses OF the Democracy.
This is not the expression of an indiyid-
uai opinion, but is as exact and demon
strable as the simplest proposition of
Euclid. At a time when the Government is
engaged in a war that was absolutely tn
ayoidable except by an earlier display of
force, to which the Democrats in Congress
were oppOsed-a war from which no man
would suggest its withdrawal until its au-
rhority is recognized-a hundred Represen-
tauyes who claim 10 speak for the Democ-
racy send encouragement to the enemy
that must cost the lives of many American
soldiers and postpone the peace that is of
vital Importance to the savages whose
cause these Representatives champion.
OF all the influences involved in this
conflict it would be rash TO speak at this
moment; but the day is near when il will
be realized that an industrial rival that is
frenzied by the extension of American COM
merce is more TO blame for the Filipino
outbreak and for the uncivilized methods
of warfare than the deluded and ignorant
peoples who are the chief sufferers
The action Of the Democratic Representa-
tives appears the more stupid and de-
strUctve since they alone have ignored the
change in the situation caused by the ur-
provoked attack on the American lines
by the Tagals, and by the resort to massa-
ere aud incendiarism. The Hoars and
Haies, the Republican minority, that were
the first TO take up the cause of the Fill
pinos, have been reduced to silence by the
logic Of events. If they have not the pa
triotism 10 stand by their country when
the blood of its sons is flowing for the
upholding of its authority, at least they
have the discretion to refrain from words
that would increase its difficulties by an
encouragement of its enemies.
II the Democratic Representatives lacked
The patriotism and wisdom to offer to the
Administration their earnest support at
this critical time, at least they might have
had the sanity to be silent until the success
sion of events should clear up the respon-
sibility for Filipino animosity and aggres-
sion. This was due to the party which has
contributed its full share to the army that
has performed its work so gloriously. In
their resolutions they have turned their
backs on the best traditions of the Democ-
racy and affirmed an absurdity for which
some among them expressed their con-
tempt. While they speak without author
ity for the great body of Democrats. their
number, their official position, and their
unanimity fasteu on the party the odium
of their action. There was nothing to
force proclamation at this time, if it was
impracticable to declare for the policy of
the Government There was no reason why
the war should be an issue in the next gen.
eral elections, although shrewd Republic
an leaders like Senator Hanna had hoped
10 make it the supreme issue These
Democrats have done Senator Hanna's
work for him, and have relieved the Re-
publicans of the need of forcing Secretary
Alger out of the Cabinet, since no mere
Administrative scandal can imperil the
success of the party that stands for the
patriotism of the country against the op-
position OF the Democratic Representatives
in Congress.
We speak of the political consequences
because il can only be from a mistaken
notion that the party will gain by their
policy that these Democrats array them
selves against the Government. 1t is in
conceivable that any Of them can sympa-
thize with the barbarians who have shown
their sense Of Indebtedness to the Ameri-
cans by attempts TO massacre American
officers and women and children. That
these rebels are not fighting for freedom
is obvious; their independence would mean
something else than the establishment of