Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-27
THE SILENCE OF M'KINLEY.


lTeSluenI huulhUOrS COtuptTb uiIu,
simply by way of showing what COM
posite picture of greatness he is, we
often see the name of Lincoln. That
patient and humor-supported man. hav-
ing gone where envy is extinguished,
will not feel outraged by the COMPARE
son; and his admirers can afford to
smile at it as he might have done.
But they may, however, even granting
the asserted likeness, diflidently point
out some differences. Perhaps the chief
one, which instantly turns the compare
son into contrast, is to be found in Lin
coins habit OF freely informing the
country Of his plans and policies;
of frankly and in person answering
criticism; of pursuing, in short, the
method of reasonable publicity.
1t IS said that the President re-
sembles Lincoln in carefully watching
the development of public opinion, and
never getting too far in advance of it.
Mckinley's friends proudly accept the
description Of him as man with "his
ear to the ground" 1t shows how like
Lincoln he is. Well, IL it is true that
Lincoln listened, it is also true that he
gave people something to listen to.
His public utterances were rs frequent
as they were frank. One has only to
run over the index to Hay and Nicolay
to sec how numerous are the letters
which Lincoln wrote and published to
explain and defend his policy. His let
tor to Greeley of 1862; his letter con-
corning Vallandigham's arrest and I'M
prisonment; his great letter to the Illi-
nois Republicans in l863-''The Father
of Waters again goes invoked to the
sea"--all these are but specimens. 1t
was Lincoln's habit at strategic
moments and under adverse criticism.
to throw out these letters of his which
were truly half-battles. He not only
followed but formed public sentiment.
Now no one could reasonably ask Mr..
Mckinley to write letters worthy of
being named the same day with those
of Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest
masters of style that ever lived. Any
man living might we'll shrink from that
comparison. But il the President can
not DO expected to put pen to paper
aud rout his opponents as Lincoln did,
he can at least be expected to say some
thing. 1t will not do for him to fall
justification of his silence. Lincoln
fled by his way of speaking out in ger
son. In critical times like these, when
so many questions of domestic and for
eign policy are hotly debated, it is the
duty of the President to take the people
into his confidence; it is their right to
know what he thinks and means to do.
But where Lincoln was ready and will
ing to tell what he thought and in
tended, Mckinley wraps himself in
silence as in a garment.
Take the Civil Service order. Expert
reformers agree with expert spoilsmen
that it is step not only backward,
but downward not only off the plat
form but into the mud. Various half
hearted and inconsistent explanations
have been attempted by McKinley's
subordinates, but he himself remains
dumb. Why does he not come for
ward in person to defend tho order, If
it can be defendedY A special duty to
do so is laid upon him. He has not
always been so voiceless about Civil
Service reform. He spoke and voted
for it in Congress. He committed
himself to it explicitly in his letter of
acceptance. Yet thousands Of his
friends and supporters are sorrowfully
saying that his acts have eaten his
words. Can any one imagine Lincoln
remaining silent under such circum-
stancesy Is it dignity" on McKinley's
part, or is it confusion of face and un-
certainty and dismay? He may be sure
that as long as he says nothing, people
will think the worst.
As to his Philippine policy, the case
is even more fragrant. All the light the
President has given us on that subject
is but darkness intensified. His brief
references to it in his message to Con-
gress, his studiously on-committal
speech in Boston, and his car platform
platitudes in the South are all we have
to go upon, and they do not get us for
ward one inch. What Mr.. Mckinley is
now doing in the Philippines, what he
means to do, the country does not know.
His angriest defenders do not agree
in their statements of his policy. Is he
going to kill the Filipinos with kind
ness or with bulletsY Is he going to
buy up Aguinaldo as he has under
taken to buy up the Sultan of Sulu?
Is his policy peace or sword? The
country is left in blank ignorance
about all this. The oracles are dumb.
Mckinley lies with his ear glued to
the ground, but not one stroke does he
himself give to, convey vibration to
tho ears OF others.
This persistent and astonishing
silence of the chosen leader of the
people, when so great crisis is upon
us, is susceptible of various explana-
tions. We think the most plausible one
is that the President does not sneak,
because he has nothing 10 say. This
was Sydney Smiths explanation of the
taelturnity of Englishmen; they kept
still because there was nothing in their
heads. II Mr.. Mckinley cannot de.
fend his Civil Service order, no doubt
his true plan is silence and mighty
little of that, as the Irish magistrate
said. If he has no Philippine policy,
except one Of drift, he is wise to keep
close-mouthed, and, like Hotspur's
wife, refuse 10 utter what no does not
know. His silence is good deal OF
puzzle if he is second Lincoln; but
there is theory of portentous and
solemn silence which an increasing
number of people are saying exactly
hts Mckinley's case. 1t is laid down
in Shakespeare:
20 my Antonio, do know of these
That therefore only are reputed wise
For saying nothing when / am yeiy sure
II they should speak would almost damn
those ears,
Which, hearing them. would call tbo;r
brothers FOOLS
GERMaNS III CBLEBRATE,