Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-09-27

Wedo not recall nny purely political
paper Of recent wears which has had such
= wide reading aud has produced such a
strong impression as the presidents let
ter Of acceptance. Not only are tie
wisdom and ability of the writer appar-
ent 70 all, but, far more effective than
these, his belief that he is right stands
out clear and strong. The language is
not that Of Snug and adroit hypocrisy,
but Of earnest, truth.seeking patriotism
Impressed with the sense of his response
s%ilities, the writer is plainly striving 10
meet them with the proper estimate OK
their gravity and yet with a resolute
spirit. One man who has been strongly
opposed to the presidents policy, who
did not vote for him four years ago and
disagrees with him on many subjects,
said after reading the letter: alt seems
TO me to be a very strong paper and in
its logic practically unanswerable. His
grouping OF events and the recitation of
the steps he has taken as a consequence
OF those events seem to me TO justify his
actions. 1t has raised him very much in
my estimation and makes him approach
greatness. Heindicates a course Of duty,
ignoring every gross argument or consid-
Grafton which seems TO me to be clear
and distinct and which he seems to have
followed through all the devious paths
with which the strange happenings Of
the past three years have led u.s.
In that last sentence lies the key to the
presidents policy in the Philippines, as
well as in other great affairs. 1t is the
easily found solution TO all his actions.
IL Is simply the assumption that the
president means to be and do right. OF
course to insist that his every act is right
would be 10 endow him with perfection
and superhuman qualities. To say that
he makes errors, that be Is compelled at
times to compromise and that he is sub
5ect TO prejudices and passions Is only TO
say that he is a man, with faults and
foihles. But 70 refuse to take cognizGnce
OF this rational explanation for his acts,
IL seems to US, Is to ignore what is patent
and 20 stamp ones self as narrow and
looking rather for darkness than light.
Honest no doubt are many Of the presi
dents critics-let them credit him with
honesty. Patriotic surely are they-and
so Is he. And SO are the thousands OF
the leaders of his party throughout the
country who, despite all the talk Of party
slavery anG political patronage, would
not follow him II they thought he were
not honest and patriotic.
Righteous as are these critics, do they
claim to have all the righteousness in the
nation? We believe the vast majority of
the American people have become pos
sessed of this key to the presidents
course; one hears little else than the ex-
preston of belief in the presidents hon
esty among the abiest Of the opposition
at Washington. The hurabler citizen
who, after all, often more quickly senses
fact than the learned, just as the masses
loved and trusted Lincoln while the
leaders sneered at and belittled him
throughout his presidency, We believe
have q conception that the president Is
acting solely for what he considers TO be
the highest good Of the people here and
in those unhappy islands. "The pity OF
1t all" one ca,.lct help exclaiming when
he contemplates the bitter warfare the
Iagalogs have waged against our arms.
People talk as il we were denying those
natives their rights, although in point Of
fact, while they are seeking the ignis
fasrus independence which they could
not possess longer than it would take
foreign ironclads TO reach their coasts,
they are denying themselves inestimable
boon Of individual freedom, peace and
safety, and at length self-government.
.Self-government' is the presidents own
word freely repeated in his letter. The
natives are divided into the yenal leaders
and blind, trusting, fanatical followers,
and we submit that anyone who encour-
ages them in their contest against our
authority is only rewarding the wicked
ness Of the one class and bringing greater
punishment for the folly Of the other.
For this latter class nothing but sorrow
can be felt. What greater boon could
any people, long In bondage, ask than
the protection and eleyating influence Of
the American government? Who is there
! thai does not believe that the aim OF the
administration is to protect, elevate and
enlightcn the Filipinoss And who does
not cry out against the awful blunder OF
these people, who, when this aid was
! freely offered them,
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
/, Richer than all his tribes
IL Is the PURPOSE Of this administration
as kindly and carefully as it can, to show
the poor natives their blunder. 1t will
take years TO accomplish this, 10 repair
. that mistake hnf N ~ ,&o+ a. A~No