The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-27
The Real Question.

The Real Question.
The Philadelphia platform, and the prom
Uses and pledges made in nominating
speeches or in letters of acceptance which
will come perfunctorily in short time. all
combined will make but a negligible i'm
preston upon public opinion or the puT-
poses of voters. All that any citizen had
to do in order to construct for himself
what the campaign arguments of the trust
Administration and machine would be, was
10 watch the course of the Republican
leaders during the recent session of Con-
gress. That told the story in the way of
a prognosis which has been amply verified.
The country has watched the party man
ayers as they forced trust legislation or
took executive action always in the inter-
ests of the trusts. 1t has seen the Pan
Panncefote Treaty pressed, the ship SUBJ
sidy steal fought for. the startling settle
mated. the Treasury deal with the Stand
ard Oh hank acknowledged and defanuy
lated that trusts might be enriched through
the Illegal oppression of Porto Rico. All
these things the Philadelphia platform
either endorses or lodges. But neither the
platform nor the pious. asseverations of
those who stand behind it, holding the
mandate OF the trusts and monopolies TO
fool all the people all the time are
what Americans without distinction of
party have chiefly to consider. The over
shadow;ns, the dominant question is: Shall
We have four years more of the trust re-
gime as We have found it and suffered
and been Inundated under it, during the
Administration of William Mckinley?
Friends of Hanna and the President may
urge that those political agents Of the
real power in the nation under Republican
rule have seen their mistakes and will not
and opportunity. He would be both inno-
cent and silly who should accept any such
argument The time hardly has come
when an executive personnel could be kept
in place for more than two consecutive
terms. although it must be said that the
combination now in control of the nation
has hopes in that direction. But, at pres
ent. It is admitted that should the Hanna
Mckinley syndicate be given a second in
ming it will regard that as its last, and act
accordingly First term virtue and re-
gard for the sentiments and will of the
people are VIGOROUSLY in contradistinction
to the executive attitude in the same re-
spects during second term. And it may
be remarked that. while the Hanna Nc
Kinley Administration has been marked
by many defances of public opinion in
cases like those Of Alger, Eagan. Sampson.
and Otis, there have been occasional symp-
toms of desire TO bend to the popular
view, but certainly only for political effect.
Thus the Administration declared for
months that under no conditions would
more than thirty thousand troops be sent
to the Philippines. although sixty-fve
thousand were taken there at last Re-
Gently it has insisted that only cur naval
forces would be used in China. AS a mat
ter Of fact. a brigade has been ordered
be forwarded as they may be needed.
With the history of four years of Hanna
does he suppose that another four years
OF power IN the same hands would be a
record OF economy, reform, and honesty?
Does he fancy tina: the men who protected
the rotten beef contractors in the Spanish
war would see that our soldiers in a pos
sible Chinese war were protected from
like outrages? Does he imagine that the
influences which caused Eagan to be re-
warded for one of the foulest offences III
our military annals, are not potent III the
War Department today. and would not De
during second term of Mr. Mckinley? II
the Administration dared to attempt the
glcrifcation Of Sampson for victory with
which he had no connection in the teeth
OF the peoples universal Indignation does
II stand to reason that the conspiracy will
not be carried on, when it has ceased to
pc a menace?
With the chances of public reprobatiou
Etaring it in the face. the Administration
has insisted that Congress should depart
from ''our plain duty 10 Porto Rico" and
unconstitutionally tax the domestic trade
OF that American Territory. II has ex-
kausted influence. patronage. and coercion
to force the -Pauncefote Treaty upon
the Senate, and thus endeavored to pre-
vent forever the construction Of an ex-
ciusivciy American inter-oceanic canal 1t
has worked night and day to promote the
scheme OF ten or dozen shipping mag
mates to permit them to loot the Treasury
to the extent Of ninety million dollars 1t
has doaa all thasa thinKs and many more