New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-01
THE YOUNG MANS FRIEND.

Mr. Croker's lately manifested interest in
young men may have seemed to some rather
strange and sudden. Those who had not
known him as a philanthropst who lay awake
nights thinking how he could help young men,
planning to promote honesty, to remove them
from the temptations of vice and crime. and
give them a chance to go into business
whether they chose to sell ice or to run push
cart without having to pay tribute to trusts
or blackmail to police-persons ignorant of his
true character might have thought that his ap-
peal for the young men was mere bit of dem
agogy. IT. however, they will study Mr.
Croker's political writings they will find that
he has had the young men in mind for some
time, and that his present and sudden concern
about their relation to trusts is merely the re-
suit of his being turned from his former plan
for their welfare by the Democratic platform
which he is compelled to pretend to support
Mr.. Croker's heart has steadily been true to the
young men. 1t is simply his methods which
are changed by circumstances.
For instance, in January, 1899, when the
anti-expansionists and some Democrats were
making great cutlery against the retention of
the Philippines and announcing the views since
embodied in the Kansas City platform, Mr..
Croker boldly announced contrary view, out
of regard for the welfare of the young men,
In an open letter, published widely at that
time he called for the retention of everything
we had gained by the war, and said:
We have a population OF eighty millions of
! people, the country teens with young men full
! of life. hope and ambition. Why not give these
young men a chance to develop our newly ac-
! qured possessions, and build up a country ri
United States?
When the opening of careers for the young
men was at stake Mr.. Croker had no fear of
/ no al of Of
even of the suppression of a people struggling
| to be free from government without their con-
sent. Mr.. Croker pointed out the greatness of
| England, which came pretty near owning the
universe" said that "the United States was
| 1.-The only country on earth superior TO the Eng
| fish" and urged that we follow her example
! What If we did get into a fight with the Fill
! pnos? IF the great country west of the Rocky
! Mountains was filed with wild Indians at the
present moment, how long would it take us
/ Ito suppress them and make them respect our
flaws and our Constitution? The same thing
"apples to the Philippines and any other coun-
TRY that may fall into our hands by the prov
''ince of peace or war" Militarism had no ter
rOrs for him. The people wanted their rights
protected. "They will pay for standing
/ army, powerful navy and the protection of
our nag the world over regardless of any
monetary consideration They have proved
their Willingness TO sacrifice their blood for
the honor Of their country and their flagl And
when the question is brought to an issue they
"will rise as one man and demand expansion
"as citizens sacred right"
Mr.. Croker must indeed have been devoted
to the young men and their chances for ad-
venture in the Philippines to take view so
contrary to the Democratic policy, which it is
the study of his life to support no matter by
what twists and turns. He cannot avow such
sentiments now. so he does the next best thing