The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-30
MIR. JOHNsoN,s oFFENsE.

Hon. Henry L. Johnson does not seem 10
have worked off all his bile yet, and re-
| turned to his attack on the President on
Saturday. If he wished to make his retire
ment from politics permanent by burning
the bridges behind him he could not have
chosen a more effectual way as far as
his former district and the State of Indiana
are concerned than the one he has pur-
sued. There is not a Republican paper in
the State but condemns his course towards
the administration, and those of the dis
trict which he now misrepresents by virtue
of the hold-over law that gives defeated and
repudiated congressman a post-mortem
status to which they are not entitled-the
Republican papers of the Sixth district
are particularly severe in their censure.
The Rushville Republican characterizes his
speeches as another attack of oratorical
Mysteries" and says: 1.-The general public
is given a chance 10 learn that Mr.. Johnson
is a wiser and more patriotic man than
William Mckinley. and better than his
party. Mr.. Johnson admits it," The Rush
vile Graphic regrets that the district lis
misrepresented in Congress by dsgruntled.
erratic politician and says: He should
be honest enough to resign the power dele
gated to him when he can no longer con-
scientiously represent the will of his con-
stituents.
For the severity of these comments and
for the unanimous condemnation of his
course by the Republicans of Indiana, Mr..
Johnson has only himself to thank. 1t is
not that he is opposed to annexing or hold
ing the Philippines, for many Republicans
hold that view and many more are still in
doubt as to what course should be pursued.
Annexation or acquisition of the Philippines
is not yet a test of Republican party fealty,
and Mr.. Johnson might have declared his
personal views on the question in a tenn
perate way without getting out of touch
with his party or counting Democratic APP
pause. His offense, from a Republican
point of view. consists in belittling the serv-
ices, decrying the character and impugn-
ing the motives of a Republican President
in whom the American people have entire
confidence, and that, too. in a national
crisis when not only every Republican, but
every patriotic American, is in duty bound
to uphold the Presidents hands and seek
to strengthen rather than embarrass him.
Mr.. Johnson has charged the President with
having decided on a policy towards the
Philippines which Mr.. Johnson character
ICES as IAN unspeakable crime" He has
charged the President with Blowing to pop
uar opinion, right or wrong" He has
charged the President with vacillation and
with yielding to varying moods and shift
ing opinions" and has implied that he is
neither a wise nor a safe leader This is
not the opinion held of President Mckinley
by the American people. They believe that
he is an honest, courageous and patriotic
man, a statesman of broad views and a
wise leader in the present emergency. They
know that the present situation is not of his
making any more than the war itself was,
and they believe he is seeking the best way
out of it consistent with national honor.
They realize that he has to deal with a
very difficult situation and that he deserves
patriotic, cordial and ungrudging support
instead of belittling insinuations and inn
putations of unworthy motives. 1t is be-
cause Mr. Johnson has INDUCED in the lat
ter that he has forfeited the respect of In
diana Republicans.