New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-02
WORSE AND WORSE.

AT the risk Of decorating the feelings or man
who is evidently down on his luck we recur u
Erving Winslow In a moment OF extreme ue-
nrpssiOn. such as commonly follows period Oh
emotional fervor Mr.. Winslow announces mat
his Thanksgiving Day prayers for the "piooo
guilty usurper' in the White House did not I'M
plcate the Anti-Imperialist League in the slight
est degree. but were strictly personal. 1t Is I'M
possible to regard this statement otherwise than
as a sign Of weakness, in which there Is an uh-
mistakable element of pathos. Heretofore it has
never seemed to occur to Mr.. Winslow when en-
gagged in the act Of denouncing the tyrant that
he did not represent and virtually constitute the
League for all the purposes OF obJurgauoh anu
warning. He has. TO he sure, occasionally
coupled the name Of Gamaliel Bradford Win MS
own as for example. when he reminded 'he
American people that they were both hneai ue-
scendants of those who sought freedom on Plyin-
outh Rock and consequently superior judges OF
the quality Of the article. But such illusions
have appeared to be designed merely 10 make
Gamaliel look cheerful and happy, and nave
never been regarded as IN any sense waiver OIL
his own prescriptve claim to original and IN
divided responsibility for the outGivings or the
League. 1t has always been understood that
when Mr.. Winsow spoke the League was vocal
and that on the rare occasions OF his silence 1t
was mute.
II must be admitted, therefore, that In appro-
priating TO himself as an individual the prayers
for which he had taken the precaution to secure
n first class advance notice through the hospital
jty of The Associated Press Mr.. Ninslow mas
made a wide and significant departure from the
course which he has hitherto pursued. Of course,
II is conceivable that some member OF the
League-we shrink from ntimatng that 1t may
ne Mr. Bradford-has called his attention to the
possibility that II he had gone into his closet
and shut the door and prayed in secret his peti-
+ions might have been more acceptable and eff
cacious. and that the League ought not to be
held accountable in case the usurper neglected.
70 experience shame and repentance. But even
so. it is astonishing that Mr. Winslow shouid
have received the suggestion meekly and acted
upon It without delay,
There IS other authentic testimony TO Mr.
Winslow's unexpected surrender OF his most
cherished prerogative In the same dispatch
which announces that his prayers were not OH
clal. Being asked In what manner, II AT ALL the
military and political extinction of Aguinaido
would affect the operations Of the League, he an
swered that 1t would probably wait ana follow
the guidance of Senator Hoar and other such
leaders. Beyond doubt this INSTRUMENTATION
of Mr. Winslow is the most melancholy incident
In the history Of the League If Agunaldo
hears Of 1t he will stop running at once and
throw up his Job. For more than year he has
been encouraged TO believe that one blast upon
Mr. Winslow's bugle horn was worth thou
sand men, and 1t is impossible that he should
suddenly transfer his confidence to foot from
some other performer He Will be JUSTIFIED IN
thinking that Mr.. Winsow has broken faith
with him and in sending word 10 General OTIS
that II he is allowed TO come back all Will be
forgiven.
Altogether. 1t must appear that Mr. Ervng
Winslow made an unhappy use of Thanksgiving
Day At last accounts from "the hunted patriot
the hunt was going on, and the blood guilty
usurper' Is still doing business at the old stand