Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-14

THE Washington Post, one of the
leading republican papers of Washing
ton, ID. c., has this to say of the real
designs of its party leaders, as con-
trasted with their pretenstions:
''Why can not we be honest in our
utterances touching the territories we
have recently acquired Really it
would save time and trouble, To say
nothing of life and treasure, TO come
out frankly with the announcement
that we have annexed these possessions
in cold blood and that we intend TO
utilize them to our profit and advant-
age. All this talk about benevolent
assimilation all this hypocritical pre-
tense of anxiety for the moral, social,
and intellectual eXaltation of the ma
tlves; all this transparent parade of
responsibility and deep-seated pur-
pose; all this deceives nobody, aVails
nothing, helps us not an inch in the
direction of profit, dignity and honor.
We all know down IN our hearts that
these islands, groups, etc., are import
ant to us only in the ratio of their
practical possibilities. We value them
by the standard of their commercial
usefulness, and by no other All this
gable about civiliZing and uplifting
the benighted barbarians of Cuba and
Luzon is mere sound and fury, signify
ing nothing. Foohshly or wisely, we
want these newly acquired territories,
not for any missionary or altruistic
purposes, but for the trade, the com
merce, the power, and the money there
is in them. Why beat about the bush
and promise and protest all sorts of
things? Why not be honest 1t will
pay.
AS matter of fact, we are not con-
cerned in the ethical or religious up
lifting of the Filipinos. After all, the
difference between a breech clout and
starched shirt front is mere matter
OF climate and personal opinion. Dis
honesty, untruth, crime, and general
wickedness are here in our midst-pres-
ent with us as part of our daily life
and growing with our growth. We
need not go to the West Indies or the
Philippines in search of material for
moral rescue. Our own slums abound
with opportunities for missionary zeal.
Why not tell the truth and say-what is
the fact-that we want Cuba, Puerto
Rico, Hawaii and Luzon, together with
any other islands in either ocean that
may hereafter commend themselves to
our appetite, because we believe they
Will add to our national strength, and
because we hope they will some day
become purchasers at our bargain
counters We might as well throw off
the pious mask and indulge ourselves
in little honest candor. 1t will cost
us nothing, and it may profit much.
At any rate, we shall have the comfort
and satisfaction of being honest with
ourselves and the privilege of looking
into tho p1ippnY Nusthnnf blnSbino,
From our stand point the most signi-
ficant thing in the foregoing article is
not the evidence it furnishes, by con-
feSSion, of the criminal purposes of the
republican party and its president.
A Sriminal who has some conscience
left mag be reclaimed, but Grim
inal who has brought himself to be-
lieve that wrong is right can do moth
ing good except die. The Washington
Post brutality avows the criminal de-
designs of its party, aud takes it for
granted that all republicans are equally
aware of them (which is untrae.) 1t is
not unlikely that The Washington Post
has judged the republicans of the whole
country by corrupt samples that infest
we believe that if all republican news
papers should follow the example of
the Washington Post, and be equally
honest in avowing their party'S designs,
there would not be enough votes cast
for Mckinley this fall to prove that he
was running. Men may be willfully
blinded by partisanShip; they may be
mistaken in their Judgment as to the
cause and effect of certain policy;
they may think policy wrong, but
may hope for better counSelS to guide
their party. These things are all con-
SiStent with honesty, and the men who
can be kept in party by reason of
such considerations as these could not
be kept in it moment if its leaders
were all so blind TO the difference be-
tween right and wrong as to be willing
TO ayow their real purposes, fearing
nothing from such avewal, but believ-
ing that all men are as eonsienceleSs rs
themselves