The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-09
AS Others See Us.

| "A to Germany, eX-President White,
| before an audience of American
students whe were receiving instruc-
| tion In German universities, the point
was made that Americans while in for
| eign lands ought to be careful not
to speak i'll of the president of the
| United States or other prominent
American officials, for the reason that
their random criticisms, seldom meant
to be taken literally, are snapped up
| by foreigners and used to the disad-
Vantage of American interests general
| ly. The foreigner is not as a rule ac-
| customed to the breezy freedom of
| comment characteristic of American
political discussion and is prone to ac-
| cept as serious the remark of the itin-
Grant Yankee that Mckinley for in
| stance, is a "saphead" or that this,
that or the other public official is a
| "faker" or "booder" or "knave."
Mr.. Whites judicious and timely pro-
test is called to mind by the receipt
from Mr.. William II. Richmond of
| copies of the Paris edition of the New
York Herald, containing number of
comments on American affairs which
would be entirely amusing If the
foreigners who read them could do so
Understandings. For example, on the
day that President Mckinney was re-
nominated, Mr.. Btnnett's Paris play
thing led off with solemn leader
captoned: "Mr. Mckinley Is Nom-
nated-It Now Lies Between Him and
Brydnism-God Help the Country"
and to that silly heading ii appended
II lot of flub dub, of which the follow
ing is "a sample:
Mr. Mckinley is nominated. This is the re-
ward he receives from the Republican party
shepherds for the lamb-liir dorility with which
he has obeycd their orders in every particular
during the past four years. 1t is also a guarantee
for the United States that, il Mr. McKnlcy's
nomination he followed by his election, there
il going to be another period of backing and
filing Of sophomore craftsmanship, and Of bow.
ing to the will Of party leaders The Rcpub.
lican party dictators have decided 80 prooug
the life Of McKinlcyism. viii the Democratic
leaders ignore this obicctlosson, and, instead
Of nominating statesman in whose hands the
dcstinies Of the United States will he safc-torce
Organism upon the people? If so, God help the
| country!
Another specimen of idiocy from the
same source is embodied in a column
article in which President Mckinley Is
grotesquely implored TO withdraw in
favor of Governor Roosevelt, while
Colonel Bryan is with equal earnest
ness pettiOned to cause the Demo-
cratic national convention to nominate
ex-President Cleveland. Witness:
The people Of the United States ale now con
| frOntCd with a dilemma, the satisfactory solu.
tion of which depends the welfare peace anl
| prosperity Of the nation. on the one hand, there
is McKncyism; that is to say, weakness, va
cillatiOn, scrylity TO party politics and Lack Of
decision in national crisis OF all this the pco,
pie are heartily sick and tired. ON the other
hand, there is Organism, or, in other words,
| Populism, and the reputation Of national honor
which follows in the wake Of his silver policy.
OF this the people are terrified before they have
even tried it. What is the way out Of the diff.
iculty? Patriotism suggests one, and the only
one. Unfortunately, it has not been followed
II Mr.. Mckinley really animated by de-
termination TO do what is best for the country
he would have retired in favor Of Mr. Roosevelt
II the Republican party leaders were genuinely
patriotic, they would have put Mr.. Roosevelt
at the head of their ticket on the other hand
the Democratic managers would manifest the
|
: his reckless theories overheard and coming out
strongly in favor of Mr.. Cleveland. This would
have narrowed down the issue in such a way
as to guarantee the welfare Of the country, nc
matter how it were finally decided.
There is more of the same hopeless
imbecility but we forbear Now this
kind of literature is harmless so far as
Americans are concerned; they are
habituated to it and it does not feaze
them. The mischief in it comes through
the fact that the average European is
not equipped with the American point
Of view; he sees in Gordon BENEFITS
curiosity shop an oracle Of American
wisdom, culture and representative
= public opinion; he therefore immedi
} ately adopts its estimates of American
| public men and institutions rs his own
/ We wonder at European ignorance o.
American affairs, but are we not lr
; part responsible?
; 1t is a pity that the shore line doe!
not bound the indecencies of American
r politics.