The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-05
THE PRESIDENTS "OBSERVA-
TIONS,o

THE PRESIDENTS "OBSERVA-
TIONS."
What flood of light does the entire
transaction of his speech before the Ohio
society In New York once more throw
on the real character Of the unco' guild
mortal who at present holds the highest
office in the gift of the people of these
United States He calls attention to the
fact that he is not expected or required
to speak on the occasion, and therefore
declares he will not speak; that he will
not break his own resolution in that be-
half. Having thus decided on two very
excellent grounds not to make a speech,
he proceeds, as he puts it. to indulge in
some observations while expressing III
the briefest manner the pleasure which I
have in greeting my old friends Of the
Ohio colony
Tho presidents observations" must
not, OF course, be taken as involving a
speech. Perish the thought. He would
be guilty of rejecting on the good faith
of the Ohioans in New York and vielat-
ing his own resolution If he did 50. And
hence it is that he confines himself to
making some observations" And what
are the observations aboutA He tells us
beforehand, they are to relate to the ex-
IRENE pleasure it gives him to meet his
fellow Ohioans in New York 1t is such
notorious rarity, OF course, for man
-, I,i-
Washington. that mis- pleasure fairly bub-
bles out in observations"
1t may we'll seem to mind of ordinary
candor that it would have better com
ported with the dignity OF the office he
holds and been at the same time more
manly had the president, since he was Oh
the eve of making d fairly good stump
speech. saved his hearers and the read
ing public the twaddle of the Introductory
part of his observations" But he has
very evidently not added anything to his
stock of good public manners since last
summer when he made the occasion OF
the dlsbanding of the volunteer regi-
ments and the welcoming home Of their
members pretext for flooding the press
of the country with the same kind of
staump literature which he coined into
observations" on Saturday evening in
New York
Not only in the manner, but In the mat
ter Of the observations" aforesaid is the
same spirit of dishonest protestatIon and
misleading purpose made manifest. There
is not an argument embodied in the en-
tire performance. 1t is string or mere
| assertion, which, coming from his mouth
and unsustalned by reason or proof, is
worthless to any one who thinks OF
what avail is it that this leading partisan
of his own administration says that there
is no such timing as Imperialism? Does
1t add anything to the force of his uu>
supported assertion In this behalf to slob-
Der over his countrymen as being little
more than human and a little less than
| angels? That is the mere trick of tina
rhetorician with whom f1atulency of ideas
is covered out of sight by the mere
varnish of empty compliment of hts
| audience.
We are prosperous people. So this
political Turveydrop tells. And so we
must be happy. What dc constitutions
count? What if we offer the stone of a
tariff to the starving and outlawed peo-
pie of Puerto Rico? What IL we spend
thousands of nilliors of dollars In sub.
DUNG the native Tagals? Are we not
| prosperous? Are We not doing with fire
and sword the work that God has given
us to do? Are we not after all more
likely ultimately to err on the side Of too
much freedom for those scmi-savages
who do not want us to have their coun-
try? Ad our purposed error we have in
dictated by decreeing them all to be mere
guerrilias, every mothers son OF whom
may be shot or hanged when he Is
caught!
1t is fairly exasperating TO think that
intelligent men may be imposed on by a
mere succession Of smooth fallacies un-
sustained by even an attempt at argu-
ment, such as is thus given to the Anleri-
can public by their chief magistrate AL
ready the cue is taken by the partisans
of his administration, and the succession
of half truths and glittering absurd les
are to be treated as so much revelation
1t is the president of the United States
who speaks, and when Sir Oracle opes
his mouth let no dog bark
But the Intelligence of the country is
not thus to be imposed on. Imperialism
and trustis.n represent the greatest dan.
gers which confront the country. and
they are net to be disposed of by mere
specious falsehoods, such as make up the
body of the observations" of him WIG
is being fast regarded by all Americans
as the plant tool OF those remorseless
enemies Of American social and political
institutions
The supreme court of California has
decreed that $50 is ali Mrs Nettie GRAY