Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-24
in 4. GREAT TANGLE.
REPUBLICAN PARTY Is RENT
ASUNDER.
In No Shape to Enter Upon National
Campaign, Its Leaders Now Freely
Admit Near Ascendency of tho
Democratic Party.
(Washin gton Letter.

WY 5AoohiJ otdtC VI ihiAha.
They fail to satisfy the trust inter-
ests, whose dictation is responsible for
many of their troubles, and the whole
country is making its revolt against
imperialism felt.
President Mckinley changes his
mind with every new shade of public
opinion that presents itself. That
pliability of his is very trying to his
followers. Each one has different
story to tell when he comes from the
White House.
The administration immediate Off
cial family are not a source of COM
fort. Secretary Hay is said to be posi-
lively ill over his fiasco in the Hay
Pauncefote treaty. Secretary Gage is
wondering if the Republican majority
can shield him from further investi-
cation of his deals with the Standard
Oil bank. Secretary Root is in Cuba
trying to persuade the Cubans to be
good children and not bother the ad-
ministration just now, and so it goes.
Without doubt the administration
now wishes that it never whipped its
followers into voting for a Puerto
Rican tariff, and it certainly wishes
it never heard OF the Philippines.
Then, too, wrathful delegation of
Idaho miners, eX-prisoners of the bull
pen," went up to the White House the
other day and told the president what
they thought of his scheme of martial
law in Idaho. His courteous manners
and soothing remarks did not soothe
these indignant citizens at all. They
wanted to know what he proposed to
do about it,
So really the president is not happy
at the moment nor does he see great
promise of reelection. 1t is significant
of his depression that he no longer
talks in high-sounding platitudes about
his imperial mission.
The gloom from the White House
affects congress too. The opposition
have good reason to be cheerful.
Their Republican colleagues are hoist
ed with their own petard, and if the
sensation is not pleasant they have
only themselves to thank.
The Republicans are so thoroughly
disorganized that they are only
thinking how quickly they can adjourn
congress and get away from Washing
ton.
Their lesson on the Puerto Rican
tariff bill has not given them the cour-
age to confess their error and come
out and stand by the constitution.
Their only notion of repairing the
blunder is to pass bill iiceping Puerto
Rico and the Philippines under mill
tary law, and then depend on invent
ing some explanation that will satisfy
the people.
The failure of any legislation for the
new possessions will not offend the
trusts, for it will leave the Dingley
duties in force. The Republicans are
so tied up in trust control and so de-
pendent upon them for the financial
part of the coming campaign that they
cannot stand out for principle and the
rights of the people.
The opposition have a clean and con-
sistent record from the beginning of
congress. They have stood for the
constitution and for the protection of
the people against the trusts.
!, The Democrats pointed out some
time ago that the popular sentiment
was growing against Imperialism and
the trusts. 1t is useless to beat about
the bush. The Republicans are in
power and are going to be held respon-
sible for every omission of duty as we'll
as for the positive injury done along
certain lines.
The table of our exports to the Phil
ippines for the last seven months
shows only a million and half of
dollars for the total. This Is entirely
for the army. In fact, not all Of the
supplies for the army are sent from
this country. 1t costs about 100000
900 a month to carry on the war of
subjugation in the Philippines. Every
time you help pay the war taxes you
can reflect that, even commercially
considered, we get back about one dol
lar in ten that is expended. Spain used
to sell Cuba, Puerto Rico and the
Philippines an aggregate of about $40,-
100000 in normal times. Our total
trade to these islands falls far short
of that even when we count the eX
penditure for our big army. This idea
of trade following the troops seems to
be bit expensive.
Representative Fitzgerald has Of
fered resolution in congress calling
attention to the enormous dividends
paid by the Standard Oil trust, and
suggesting an investigation of it's
methods. He submits that the retail
price of oil has risen about cents per
gallon to the consumer recently. He
might have added that in Idaho the
trust charges As cents a gallon for the
precious fluid. This Republican con-
gress does not intend to encourage that
sort Of thing. 1t has pigeonholed
half dozen resolutions by Representa-
tive Richardson, asking for informa
tion about trusts. 1t will be entirely
satisfied If 1t can pass the ship sub
sidy bill with it's absurd prattle about
not being for the benefit of a trust, and