Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-10
,rKINLEY,s GALEsBURG SPEECH.

There is no danger of President McKin-
ley's name passing into oblivion. If his
career IS not destined TO live for any
other reason. 1t will find a permanent
place in history as a shining illustration
of the difference between precept and
practice. When the President made his
swing around the Southern States, for
the purpose of distributing tany in this
benighted section. he asserted. in refer
ring 10 the Philippines question, that
forcible annexation was criminal aggres-
sion. True Oh President" exclaimed the
people, "a noble sentiment" Then the
President Rugged himself, and Rugged
Hanna. The boss Rugged him, and the
two Rugged each other and Mr.. McKin-
ley straightway proceeded to "criminaily
agrees"
When he went on similar expedition
.'up 10" New England. the President laid
down the doctrine that the Philippines
problem was one that should be solved
by the wisdom Of Congress. Again the
people exclaimed True, OH President"
and the applause was great. Mr. McKin-
lev smiled a smile of complacency and
satisfaction at Hanna. the boss returned
the smile. and the two smiled the same
sort of smile at each other. WhereupOn
and forthwith Air. Mckinley usurped
more fagrantly than ever before authori-
~ to settle our relations 10 the Philip
pines by his own pet metl Cd of "benevo-
lent assimilation" Not only that, but
recently his responsible agent-the su-
preme representative of his policy-in our
new possessions, virtually announced that
.me (Ots) and Mckinley considered
that Congress had nothing to do with
adjusting the Philippines issue, and would
make a fool of itself by interfering In
the matter. OF course, however, 1t is TO
be supposed that this opinion was eX-
pressed with the reservation that 1t will
he obligatory upon Congress TO supply in
the way of men and of money wrung
from the American taxpayers the means
necessary to the contamination of Mr.
McKinley's duty and destiny scheme.
Now the President Is on a taffy-dis-
pensing swing-around In the West, and
on Saturday he filled a date for speech
IN Galesburg, Ill. out in that part Of this
.Iand of the free and home of the brave"
there Is still a whole chance of people
who have great reverence for the MEM
DRY Of Stephen a. Douglas. This Mr.. Nc
kinley did not forget and in the tany be
treated the Galesburgers to illusions TO
Douglas were as thick as peanuts in rea-
nut brittle. For the most part, these
illusions were artistically mixed in. But,
alas, in one or two chunks the President
Berved out he overdid the Little Giant"
favoring, and furnished most striking
suggestion as TO the wide difference be
tween his precepts and his practices.
At one point in his Galesburg speech
fhe President declared that Lincoln and
Douglas were united at last when the
Constitution was assaied" by the South.
And, again: ION the 18th OF that month
(April, lS6I, Lincoln issued his call 1or
10000 troops. The position OF Douglas at
this critical juncture was that Of a pa
triot. Without hating or hesitating be
aligned himself with the National Gov
eminent. and there. with the force OF his
great personality. he stood IN support Of
tho Constitution" The President was
little off on his figures. The call Of Mr..
Lincoln referred to- for troops TO coerce
4 sovereign State was for only 1900. lie
did not know then what big job was
before him. AS 10 the Constitutions hav-
ing been assailed by the South, q good
many men OF much more profound knowl-
edgo OF the Constitution than Mr.. McKin-
ley have contended that the boot was On
the other leg. and that the seeding
States acted within their constitutional
rights in dissolving compact that had
become distasteful to them 1t Is. there
fore, question whether Douglas Gid
stand in support OF the Constitution in
abe course no took.
But that apart. No doubt when Hanna
and Mckinley meet TO talk over the
Gaiesburg speech. the latter will chuck
the former in the ribs. the former will