The gold leaf., 1899-08-03
THE TURNING POINT REACHED.

1t is unfortunate for the admins
tration of President Mckinley that its
troubles should come in nocks in
stead of singly, and that so many
should have come ust at this time.
The sensation following the ''round
robin' Of the newspaper correspond
cntS at Manila had not subsidized, nor
even diminished, when the resigna-
ton of Alger came. simultaneous
with this announcement came the
confession that great difficulty was
being experienced in enlisting men
for the new volunteer regiments
being raised for the reinforcement of
our Philippine army. Indeed, 50
great is the difficulty of securing men
for this service that premiums are
being offered men to enlist in the
shape of hopes of promotion to a
commission. Commissions are also
being offered men who are otherwise
fitted for them who will raise a force
| of forty men for foreign service.
All these difficulties and EN- barrass-
ments have tendency to weaken
and diScredit the administration and
come in crisis in the Presidents $
foreign policy. However popular
| the expansion crazev may have been
once, there is little doubt that a great
revolution in public sentiment is in
progress. There has been tremend-
! Gus reaction since the failure of the
recent campaign and the publicity
| given to the view Of the newspaper
correspondents as to the real and
truthful condition of affairs. Not
outstanding the strenuous efforts Of
| the Mckinley press to acquit the
President of all responsibility and to
saddle upon the shoulders of Otis all
the blame, there are few who are
willing to believe that tic President
is wholly innocent of responsibility.
Now that the real facts are beginning
to be known there is a notable de-
cline of enthusiasm in the prosecu-
tion cf the Philippine war. This is
attcsted by the difficulty Of securing
volunteers. 1t is not danger nor
disease that deters men from en-
| listing have shown that
they are daunted by neither-but it
is rather the lack Of sympathy and
enthusiasm IN ti.e motives that
prompt the war. The people are re-
covering from the craze of conquest
and the love Of carnage created by a
test of war. and on sober. second
thought are beginning to view the
situation in the cold light of reason.
! Thus viewing it. there are many who,
| while willing to serve their country
in time Of peril or Invasion or in !,
| righteous war, are unwilling to take
| par, il war being waged upon Z
people who are merely lighting fol
their liberties.
These are manifestations OF popular
disapproval OF the Presidents policy
that cannot fail to alarm Mr.. Me
kinley. There is little doubt that
this war OF conquest was inaugurated
with a view to winning popular
| favor fer the men and the party in
power and with lhe hope of prolong-
ing their tenure OF power. Ihe peace
treaty was negotiated witia y4ew to
securing this result, and it was oHiv
achieved by Misrepresentation and
falsehood, With the Philippines as Il
prize to tempt the people the inn
! rerial policy was fastened upon the
nation. With a short, sharp and
successful campaign. the permanent
| possession of the islands would have
been a fixed fact. before the people
! fully realized what such course
meant. Now, however. that the
! campaign has been acknowledged to
! be q failure. bol>tered up by mis-
| teFse sentation and suppression of
facts. nov ,uat tLere il need of more
men and more mohey and PROSPECTS
| OF an increase OF war taAatici!, he
turning point in popular sentiment
! has been reached. The reaction has
set in. What was designed to be d
! brilliant achievement of the Republic
san party promises TO prove 4 boom
eranr th;1 will inevitably embarrass 5
the ad"s.p. strI Itiqr. The resignation
OF Aiger, TOO, occurring just at this
time is damaging confession ii in
| competency and ismanagemeat CT
somebody's part for which the Presi-
dent cannot altogether escape, re-
>ponsibility. The President and hi.
party are being weakened every dav
ly III" rapid revolution Of sentiment
3. i.oiae. tte wa may be pushed to
close. ons the perm possession
OF the Philippines as s. colony o1 this
country seems doomed -tanyif,e
Register.
It.h courts are to be asked to
decide wheiaet admiral Sampson
was IN prize money distance OF the
i,atiig 9ff >antiago.-Ners ana %