Evening star., 1900-10-18
DR.. ELIOT AGAINST CHANGE
HE CRITTCISES POINTS IN BOTH
POLITICAL PARTIES,
But Concludes That Mckinley at His
IS lE
Worst Ii Better Than
Bryan.

Charles w. Eliot. president OF Harvard
University, has written for this weeks Is
sue of the Outlook AN article on polltlcai
principles and tendencies. in which he says:
"In regard to domestic policies. three
principal subjects have, engaged public at
tention during the last thirty-fve years.
The first is the establishment OF the gold
standard and sound banking system. Grad
ually, through prolonged discussion and
much painful experience the greater part
of the people came to- see that this prob
lem touched the honor of the republic and
affected deeply It's Industrial and CONNER
cial welfare Then the problem began 70
be Solved. 4t
.'The important gains which have lately
been made on this subject are due to a ma
jority OF the republican party and minor
ity of the democratio: but at this moment
the great cause of sound currency is prac-
tically defended by the republican party
alone"
President Eliot says the second funda-
mental topic Of political discussion Is pub
lie service based on merit only. He asserts
that the mass Of neither party is as yet to
be trusted with this reform In answering
the question, How can this reform be pro-
moted?" he says:
Republicans for Reform.
1.-The personal and political history of the
candidates of the republican party should
cause them to be preferred on this issue to
the candidates Of the democratic-Dopuiist
party, for Of the two candidates nominated
by the latter party one is notorious spolis-
man and the other, being civilian without
military experience, accepted coloneicy IN
time Of war That act speaks louder than
orations. Moreover recent experience show
that neither party can as yet be trusted to
forego q spoils debauch at complete
change of the national administration.
President Eliot mentions the protective
tariff as the third principal topic. and
points out that the two great parties do not
distinctly join issue on this question this
year. He says:
'Since the democratic party has abso-
lutely thrown away the low tariff position
which such leaders as Cleveland, Carlisle.
Wilson and Russell won for 1t. the reci-
procity doctrine of the republican party
seems to afford the best immediate oppor-
tunity for liberal legislation, although ii
must be confessed that progress toward
worldwide trade is more likely to come
through the logic of events than through
legislation-that Is, through the increasing
superiority Of American industries and the
manifest insufficiency of the home market.
Against this chance Of improving COM
mercial and Industrial conditions by reci-
procity treaties must be set the strange
subserviency of the republican party lead
ers to small groups Of capitalists who, hav-
ing made great sums of money by means
Of high tariff legislation are willing to
make large contributions to republican
preserving their special privileges The
machine or boss is, however, much the
same currupt and corrupting agency in both
parties, Messrs. Quay and Platt being well
matched by Messrs. German and Croker"
Attack ON Judiciary.
President Elliot calls attention to the fire.
quent outbreaks Of disorder and violence in
different parts Of the country. and the fact
that many Of these outbreaks have been
tolerated by both government and people.
I'm this state of affairs, says DR.. Eliot.
amy attack on the Independence Of the ju-
attack is made for the..second time in the
platform OF the democra cspopulist party
Harvards president finds little material
difference between the declared foreign pol
when It came to action In all probability
the actions OF Mckinley and Bryan would
be much alike.
president McKinley.." Dr. Eliot SAYS. Sin
his unwonted function Of sovereign and ar
bitrary ruler. committed lamentab BILE error
in the tone Of his proclaptation to the Fill
volved his country in 4 cruel war-or, rath-
er. long series Of military executions
with a semi-civilized hut liberty loving peo-
Spaniards. and who ought to have been In
yariably addressed with the utmost consid-
Grafton. not as purckasef subjects or con-
guered cue foes. but as comrades and friends.
delinquenctes of public officers In Cuba, and
for a less than generous treatment Of the
people OF Porto Rico. It has also sue
always besets rulers In time of war-the
temptation to keep from the people the
knowledge, not only of future plans. but of
past events and Q; the documentary evil
dence relating thereto This is one of the
worst incompatibilities between war and
public liberty. ga -. 81
Better Not te. eheaxe.
'Nevertheless, the patriotic 'cftizen may
well hesitate to contribute, by vote or in
duence to complete change Of administra-
ton. President Mckinley Is now surround
ed by cabinet effcers Of capacity and ex-
perience; and he has put good men at the
head OF affairs tn Cuba, Porto Rico and the
the presidency nobody can tell what sort
OF persons the great onicee e the govern.