Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-12-22

suggested that miners should take
along some mice in cage and keep
their eyes on them.
OUR BENEVOLENT AUTocRAT.
N. Y. World.
In The World Saturday member OF
the Presidents Cabinet disclosed Mr..
McKinley's benevolent intentions to-
ward the inhabitants of our new pos
sessions-including those that we do
not yet possess: the uncaught hare of
the Philippines.
The President, it appears from this
statement, has been puzzled as to the
appointment OF Civil Governors in the
islands n question without the au-
thority Of Congress. Attorney-Gen-
eral Griegs-the same who decided
that it would be superofficious" in
him to in:erfere with trusts-relieved
the Presidents mind by an opinion
that as Commander-in. Chief of the
army MI Mckinley can appoint Gov
ernors OF do whatever else he pleases
in territory under military occupation,
without applying to Congress.
That old-fashioned instrument, the
Constitution, does indeed say that
Congress alone shall have power to
"dispose OF and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the terri
tory or other property belonging to
the United States," but "what is
the Constitution between friends" or
in comparison with Duty and Destiny?
Congress having abdicated all its
powers and relinquished to the Exeeu-
tive its authority in Hawaii, Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines-even
permitting the President to make war
in the latter islands without warrant,
inquiry or protest on its parts evil
IDENTIFY and with reason depended upon
by the President to continue his policy
for Benevolent Dictatorship in the
territory held by our armies.
How delightfully."- benevolent this
rule will be the Cabinet officer naively
indicates. at is the Presidents in
tention," he says, "to educate the
children in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines" He will erect school
houses-not out OF his own pocket, of
cOurse-and teach the adult popula-
ton the use of improved agricultural
Implements" and to "build better
homes than the bamboo huts in
which many of them now live" As q
climax Of generous peternalism Mr..
Mckinley will "impose the real bur-
den of taxation upon the wealthy
classes, thus relieving the struggling
poor from what has heretofore been
their chief obstacle to progress"
II this is benevolent assimilation"
even the Anti-Imperialistic League
might well pray to have it applied at
home! Are the American people so
well schooled - particularly at the
South-are our farmers everywhere so
we'll supplied with improved imple-
ments and comfortable homes, that
we can 60 into the business OF supply.
ing these things to Malay aggrega-
ton S,0OO,OOO strong and 10000 miles
away? Apparently Mr.. Mckinley
thinks so.
As for taxation, when he shall have
carried out his foreign policy of "inh-
posing the real burden OF taxes upon
the wealthy classes" we can look for
large emigration to the Philippines
from this trust-ridden paradise of tax
dodgers, where nine-tenths of the ma.
tional taxes are collected from the
common necessaries Of the people and
the struggling poor" bear the weight
OF the burden.
The scriptures say that "if any
provide not for his own, and especially
for those of his own house, he hath
denied the faith and is worse than an
infidel." Our truly good President is
the most benevolent of Dictators, the
most altruistic of rulers. He purposes
to treat his brethren wards much bet
ter than the members OF his own
hOuse