The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-02
The PRESIDENTS SPEECHES.
New York World.

The speeches made by the PRESIDENT uuf-
ing his recent visit TO the South deserve
cicsor and mere judicial analysis than APP
pears TO have been pcss BILE while the "tri-
urnphal tour was In progress. Hospitality
and scutimentality while beautiful in their
p.noA. do no, afford the bcst atmosphere
for true estimate OF a presidents public
uttersnces.
Mr.. McKinlcy's frs, notable dcliverance
was the suggestion made al Atlanta thai =
The time he's now come In the eyolu-
tson CT ssntiment and feeling. under the
providence of God. whom. in the spirit of
fietcrns;y, we .Aemd share with you in
the care Of the graves OF the Confederate
soldiers"
Conceding the generous and even the
gushing nature OF this suggestion, the
question remains: Was It in good taste?
Was IL wise? Was II sincere? Does It not
anpiy tath~r that the Southern people have
been remiss in CARING FOR the graves OF
their soldiers or that they are unequal TO
the task? The effect OF the precedent Is
ALREADY seen In a resolution introduced in
the senate TO admit Confederate veterans
though this Is barred by the constitution
and by another proposition to extend the
care Of the Federal government to the
homes for disabled soliiers who wore the
gray.
Is the president ready to put any OF these
Recommendations into his message to con-
gross? Suppose that President Cleveland
had made such proposition as Mr.. Nc
Kinley did, or had consented, as Mr.. Nc
Kinley did later in his tour, to wear d
Confederate badge? Has the country for
gotten the howl that was raised when Mr..
Cleveland proposed SIMPLY the return of
I'M. battlcflaps capturef from cur South
ern brethren?
In his message to congress President Nc
kiIley withheld all expression OF opinion
or formulation of policy as to what this
country should do with the islands ccded
TO Spain. In his speeches at the South
he ASSUMED that Expansion has expand
ed without either the sanction of the sen
ate or the action of the popular branch of
congress. That flag has been placed in
two hetnlspheres,' he exclaimed, and
ttnre 1t remains! Who win haul 1t down.
~
AS the World showed on Sunday, that
flag has been hauled down on at least
seven other occasions in our history when
II was improperly or temporarily raised by
our soll.eus. lust as 1t was lowered the
othtT day In Cuba by General Lees order
because raised prematurely. Senator Frye
one OF the peace commissioners, admits in
an interview that the treaty in no way af-
fects tha future disposition Of the terri
tory acquired by the United States. "The
whole matter he says, "is loft in the
hands OF congress-. which can make any
disposition of the islands it sees At''
But putting these preceients aside. what
was there in the presidents question. ex-
| capt an appeal to the needless hurrahs of
a crowd?
Did he attempt any Justification of a poll
| icy OF Imperialism? Did he explain the
necessity or justify the wisdom OF the
| proposed wide departure from all the prin-
oIples and precedents of the Republic?
~
In another speech he did ask, WAS it
| right to ORDER Dewey TO go to Manila and
capture or destroy the Spanish feet" Is
this Ingenious? That act was obviously as
necessary the result was brilliant, But
II after the Spanish fleet at Manila had
been destroyed Dewey had heen ordered to
Join our Atlantic squndrons for the cap
ture Of Cuba and Porto Rico and 10 men
ace II necessary the coasts of Spain, not
only would the whole country have APP
proved, but the puzzlng ami dangerous
problem which new cenfronts us would
hau, been Gyoiden.
| But perhaps the most astonishing state
ment made by the president Mt the South
Was that ''wath the grave problems before
| us growing out of the war with Spain we
are FREQ from divisions at home" All our
own AFFAIRS are settled for at least four
| years to come" and this leaves the coun-
| Try free TO consider and discuss new aues-
items which are iinnedlately before us 4"
| To say that We have no home problems
| denGnttlng ATTENTION Ia not mere oasy-go
| ng optimism: II is the view OF unready
| shifty, shirlSing demsgogism.
| ~
| What was the last National election all
aboutY Has cur currenov been reformed?
Have we no lisht weight dollars? lis our
TAX system Just? is there nothing TO do
about the propoasll increase OF 5000, 900, 900
a year in the Nations expenditures Have
the trusts surrendered or been suppressadg
! ls there no corruption In elections? Is leg
| islatcn no LONGER BOUGHT? Arc rich fran
chises no honger grabbed? Have our bosses
been put DOWN. Is our civil secure secure
from the spoilsmeng ls The government OF
our great cities admirable! Have we no
race problem At the South where colored
supremacy Is prevented by the dsfran.
! chlsement and intimidation or killing of
| equal citizens?
| What must be thought by honest men,
having the fearlessness OF their knowledge.
OF u president who tells mis- oountrymcn
that they have no home problems that
need concern them. but that thsy are free
10 undertake tho conquest, the civilization
and the government OF 5000. 900 barharians
| 10000 miles away?
| What possible good can come from such