The Atlanta constitution., 1900-01-01
Our Duty in the Philippines.

In another column will be found the
comments OF The Washington Post on
an address recently delivered In Buff
falo, y. ". by the editor OF The Con-
stitution. and side by side with 1t. the
comments of The Charleston News and
Courier on the editorial article OF The
Post
A careful consideration OF both ar
tIcles will discover to the reader
curious mixture OF ideas. motives and
sentiments. showing how the human
mind finds itself at war with every
view that runs counter to its preju-
dices. Because we are advocating a
clear and consistent democratic poll
cy. The Post desires US TO embrace the
republican party and indorse IT, and
The Charleston News and Courier has
suddenly become so solicitous for Mr..
Bryan that il is in quite a state of
mind for fear that the editor Of The
Constitution will say something or do
something contrary TO the views of
the democratic leader.
Well. while we have ticketed the ar
ticles OF our esteemed contemporaries.
and placed them on exhibition side by
side. we cannot undertake to do full
Justice 20 their cons.derate aspirations
in our behalf.
In this Philippine business. the re-
publicans have been compelled partial
ly to advocate q policy which has been
democratic ever since jefferson organ
tied the party. II is policy so i'm
portant that we feel compelled to in
sist that it can be carried out more sue
ceSsfully and more in accordance with
the desires OF the people by the demo-
cratic party than by the syndicates
which now represent the republican
party
Really. we think that our contem-
porary's mOmentary devotion TO its
own views Is responsible for its desire
to place The Constitution in a position
which The Post consistently refrains
from taking. The Constitution Is not
independent. that is 10 say. IL is not
independent OF the truth il finds in
democratic doctrines; It is not inde-
pendent OF its own beliefs. And IL
believes very sincerely that the dem
Ocratic party IS better equipped, by
virtue OF its experience and traditions,
TO dea! with this Philippine question
than the republican party.
II VIII be observed rnat The Charles
ton News and Courier announces that
IL has not been converted. Our ns.-
ural regrets in this matter are some
what mitigated by the fact that. so far
rs we know. the editor OF The News
and Courier he's never been converted
TO anything beyond the reach of his
elbow. lie has his views. as he has
a right to have them: they were born
with him. ami they cannot be changed
by study. reflection or argument. In
this respect the editor affords as in
terestlng phenomenon as can be
found in any part OF the country. So
far as his views are concerned, the
conditions existing In the south are
precisely what they were forty years
ago.
So far as we know. his mind has TAX
en- but one tilp-fiap in many years.
Awhile ago he was the most violent
anti-Bryanite 10 be found among the
editors of the United States. but now,
II We are to take his cOmmets seriously.
he is extremely soIicitOus lest The Con-
stitutiOn shall differ with Mr. Bryan"
Differing with Mr.. Bryan himself. and
opposing pretty nearly every impor-
tant policy of the democratic party. The
News and Courier takes us TO task
because 1t fears we do not agree with
Mr.. Bryan
Well, genuine democracy IS the salt
that will save both The Constitution
and The News and Courier. II
should be borne in mind that the DEM
ocratic policy with respect to the spe-
cial details and bearings OF the Philip
pine question has not been formally
declared. has not been clearly defined
SO far rs the party is concerned. Thus
IL has been a fruitful topic OF discus
sion among democrats. and as there
can be no discussion without difference.
II follows. a. a matter of course. that
democrats have differed among them
selves as they always do upon the ap-
pearance of questions which the party
is likely to define.
In point Of fact. however. the Buffalo
address delivered by the editor of The
Constitution is not inconsistent with
the declarations of Mr. Bryan and
other welI-known democrats.
Parties. as well as individuals. have
70 take things as they find them and
make the best of them. The human
Mad can neither foresee nor fore