The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-18
CUBAN DEBTS And CREDITS.

CUBAN DEBTS AND CREDITS.
1t goes without saying that the Demo-
cratic party will work the postal frauds in
Cuba for all they are worth in the coming
campaign. A party that never does any,
thing itself, and whose whole political
stock in trade consists in condemning what
the other party does, must be expected to
magnify, exaggerate and distort every act
Of its opponent and TO hold 1t responsible
before the people for the wrongful acts of
its official agents. There is a measure Of
justice in this. but 1, can easily be pushed
to an unreasonabl. ard unjust degree. 1t
is right that a political party in power
should be held responsible for the honest
and faithful administration of the govern
ment, but 1t is neither reasonable nor just
that a few acts OF dishonesty should be
held as tainting the whole party or admin
government, and thousands of honest off,
Gals should not be punched as criminals
on account of the acts of three or four ras-
Gals. The rank and file of all parties are
honest, and. while every administration
since the foundation Of the government has
had some delinquents and some embezzlers,
the vast majority of public officials have
always proved true to their trust. 1t has
been but a little while since a city official,
an appointee of Mayor Taggart, was found
amount. Yet no person on that account
thought of holding the whole city admins
tration and the Democratic party in In
dianapolis corrupt or of charging Mayor
Taggart with putting his friends I'm office in
order that they might steal Because Of
an occasional delinquency or act of dis
honesty on the part of public official the
American people. at least the reasonable
portion of them. will not conclude that a
whole party or administration is corrupt.
They will strike averages and judge a par
ty or an administration by net results.
based on credits as well as debts. If a
party or administration is to be held re-
sponsible for every wrong act done in it's
name 1t should also have credit for every
important achievement and every piece of
good work. Judged by this standard.
which is the only fair and logical rule. the
Republican party and the Mckinley admin
istration deserve infinite credit and immor-
tai honor for what they have done in Cuba
they have been under our control. Gov
ernor General Wood said a few days ago.
Speaking generally, the postal service of
the Island of Cuba is in a high state of
efficiency. The money order branch is
especially useful. but all the branches have
made good records. The service as whole
should not be blamed for the faults of a
handful Of rascals." Let everybody re-
member what this army officer and rigid
disciplinarian says: "The service as a
whole should not be blamed for the faults
of a handful of rascals.' Cuba never be-
fore had postal service at all approach
ing what 1t has to-day. The same is true
of Porto Rico. where there has not been a
breath of scandal The postal service is
but one branch of the work which the adj
ministration has done in Cuba and Porto
Rico, work of incalculable benefit to the
present comfort and future wealth and
prosperity of the people and necessary to
the establishment of local government and
municipal reforms. No other government
ever undertook more difficult task than
the rehabilitation and reconstruction of
Cuba and Porto Rico nor ever accomplished
as great results in that direction in the
same length of time. If the Republican
party and the Mckinley administration are
to be held responsible for the acts of what
Governor General Wood calls "a handful
of rascals," they must also receive credit
for the acts of large number of honest
and capable officials in both islands who
are laboring zealously to carry out the
policy of pacification in Cuba and of Amer
icanization in Porto Rico. The time is not
far distant when the beneficent results of
the work that is being done in both islands
will appear I'm a manner that will chal-
lenge the admiration of the world. When
that time comes the frauds in the Cuban
postal service, disgraceful as they are, will
be no more than spots on the sun COM
pared with the splendid results of Amer
lean occupation of the island. These re-
suits will pass to the credit side of the Re-
publican party and the Mckinley admins
tration, and when the balance is struck it
will be immensely in their favor.