The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-02
COURT OF CONSCIENCE
Trying the Administrations, and
VIII Render Verdict In November.


Trying the Administrations, and
VIII Render Verdict In November.
Baltimore Sun.
There are many signs that the whole
case for and against the new policies in
itiated by Mr.. Mckinley and his party in
dealing with the countries and peoples
that have come under our control as a
result of the war with Spain is now be-
ing carried into the court Of conscience.
The president himself, by his emphatic
instructions to Mr.. Bristow to make his
investigation of the Cuban postoffice
scandal thorough and complete and to
vigorously prosecute all the guilty par
ties and to bring them to "condign pun
ishnent," has shown his appreciation Of
the fact that there IS such a thing as a
national conscience to be 'reckoned with.
In saying this we do not question the
sincerity of his Indignation at the betray-
al of trust by his own Cuban appointees.
No doubt he is shocked and grieved at
what has taken place in Havana, and he
is to be heartily commended and upheld
in his purpose to stop the looting and
bring the looters to justice. None the
less is his action an evidence of his per-
ception of what the public conscience
sternly demands.
Senator Hale's recent brave denuncia-
ton of the movement, not as yet openly
dNOWSQ, DuC all TIE time DSIuS CONGTlly
and quietly developed by powerful in
fluences," largely speculative and con-
nected with money-making enterprises"
to break the pledged faith of the nation
to Cuba and annex that island IS ano' her
symptom of conscience protesting against
the sordid programme of commerci2lism
and carpetbaggery. The outspoken Oppo-
sitieh of many Republican members Of
congress and of many Republican news
AGAINST fha to1. -
juggle and the quibbling preteEse that
Porto Rico is neither wholly in nor Who'll
ly out of the United States was still an
other indication that the imperial policies
are at length dis. urbing and distressing
conscientious men to the point where
even party lines will not restrain them
from making protest.
The most painful efforts of the admins
tration to have it understood and be-
lieved that the war in the Philippines is
all over, and that We are in fact now in
peaceful possession of the islands, eX-
cept for occasional encounters here and
there between our soldiers and some seat
tered bands of mere "guerrulas' and
''bandits,'' furnish further proof of the
administrations desire to calm the CON
science of the nation. If Mr.. Mckinley
and his advisers were not keenly con-
scious that the continued slaughter of
'the little brown men, is not a spectacle
that the Americans generally view with
pleasure, we should not have been treated
to those puerile proclamations by Gen
Otis assuring us that the war was at an
end. Since the last manifesto of that kind
was issued the cable has brought us news
of many severe confIc,s between the
"rebels" and our troops, in which many
hundreds of the former are reported to
have been killed. Still the administration
and its mouthpieces cling to the Otis fac
ton that we are on a peace footing in
the Philippines.
Could there possibly be any stronger
evidence than this of the administrations
fear of the ''stil small voice?" If it be-
1ieved that the heart and conscience of
the American people were with it in its
Asiatic career of conquest why should
1t be anxious to turn attention from the
sanguinary engagements with the Fill
pinos that have been lately reported? The
losses on our side have been small and
the losses of 1.-The enemy have been very
heavy If what we are doing is right all
the accepted standards of military success
should make this a matter of national
pride and Joy But where are there any
manifestations of national enthusiasm
over it? When-.the newspaper bulletins
are put out all over the land announcing
these splendid victories of our army in
the Philippines. and the incidental killing
Ol uuHOItuS- OA OOis tOSfo,- WIZ Is II CUdI nc
crowds gather to cheer and rHrow up their
hats. and sing thes national anthem?
London goes crazy over every victory
in South Africa, and the moving down of
the poor burghers brings huge mobs into
the streets to cheer and wave flags and
sing "RuIe. Britapnia. But in what
American city has even a small crowd
gathered to '&hooJ it up" over the news
of q Filipino NsIaughter? We have not
heard of any. TNeislfer has the administra-
ton, and in thal fact alone the national
conscience. speaks
Americans are not less patriotic than
Britons Neither are they less proud of
the valor of their, soldiers and the tri-
umphant vin9icatiGn of their flag But
the moral standards of the American and
the British people are different in this
matter of war. Imperialism. with its
| fierce lust Of conquest and its delight in
the crushing of weak peoples who send
In the way of the advancing flag, is the
popular thing in britain The British
| masses are completely iingoized But it
is not So yet with the American
| masses TIE ir~peTi7l idea is an exotic
here The real, honest. popular sentiment
of this ration, fed and nourished for a
| ccrtury and a quarter on the enirit of
1776, is not congenial to the policy that