The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-12
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
MONDAY, MARCH T.. 1900.
The President and His Party.

The President and His fnrtN'
There is apparently no good reason for
doubling the reconciliation Of the Hon
William Mckinley for the Presidency at
the Philadelphia Convention. Here and
there small bursts Of enthusiasm for Ad-
miral Dewey are to be noted, and occs-
sionally we even hear a little shout for
Theodore Roosevelt. These are negligible
phenomena when We consider how abso-
lutely the Republican organization is
owned. controlled and directed by a bakers
dozen Of trust magnates. to whom no other
representative in the White House could
be as satisfactory as Its present occupant
Il is perfectly safe TO assume that our
confidence in Mr. McBinley's renomina-
,ion is fully shared by that gentleman. But
he and We might differ as to the univer-
salty aud heaUiness which is to mark the
predicted action OF the convention. Indeed,
if he would revisit the scenes Of his dis
tinguished Congressional career for day,
in some impenetrable disguise, and listen
10 the current conversation among Sena-
tors and Representatives in cloak rooms,
committee rooms restauI ants. and corri-
doris. we fancy that he would come away
with the idea that while he will not be
the victim Of an open party revolt. between
now and convention time he may think
himself fortunate if one-third of the dele
gates who are to vote for him do so With
any heart in the service.
What Mr.. Mckinley. disguised. would
hear at the Capitol, he is not likely to hear
In She Executive Mansion. His immediate
advisers and pToupters are little likely to
let him know how bitter is the feeling in
the House Of Representatives, over his
course in dragooning reluctant members
into voting for the Payne Porto Rican III
fanny. and then shouldering responsibility
for the crime against humanity and the
Constitution upon them. There are several
who privately declare that their support
OF the Payne bill has cost them their re-
nomination and surely involved loss OF
their districts 10 the Republican party
Naturally they do not feel amiably toward
the chief. who first exhorted them that
Justice and good faith" demanded that
We should give free trade TO Porto Rico,
and. a little later at the command Of the
ell sugar. tobacco and rum trusts, or
dered thea 10 act with injustice and bad
iai,h toward the suffering people Of the
island.
Perhaps 1t is unnecessary to warn MI.
Mckinley that the constituents Of these re-
pentsnt sinners and the American people
generally will not feel any better satisfied
With them or him when the next develop
nlent in this Porto Ricau disgrace occurs.
Surrounded as he is by all the modern con-
xeniences and facilities for shutting out
the truth. even he must have heard the
muttering Of q storm that is coming this
way from Porto Rico. Whether he has or
not be may be assured that the inhaD-
itants Of the island are grieyOusly hum.l-
lated 10 realize that they are treated and
10 be treated as outeast aliens. in defiance
OF tho foundation law Of the country up-
pressing them. and they are deeply sorry
they ever escaped from the comparatively
mild and careless rule and protection OF
Spain. only to become the scrfs and sport
Of the OIL sugar. tobacco. and rum mag
mates. operating through the blighuus
curse Of Dinglcyism.
BeH0Nu any lOuDls At NllH Nt.--l lllLItANaAlIl
u The Administration TO levy an Illegal
customs tax on the domestic commerce be-
tween Porto Rico and other parts Of the
United States is carried out. the whole pop
ulation OF the island will join in a petition
to be released from the yoke of American
bondage and be returned to Spain. As
commentary upon the hypocrisy Of the Re
publican party and its trust-owued Admin
ie,rauon. such an appeal TO the American
people and the worlds sentiment ia favor
Of Justice and good faith" would be very
apt to exert something the effect Of a po-
liical cyclone in November next In view
Of the foregoing, although Mr.. Mckinley
has exhausted most Of the lightning change
opportunities afforded by the Porto Bicau
situation. there still is one open to him.
Tina, is TO return to his original position,
aud il there is any coercion necessary Do
Congress to apply il in the interests OF
equity and the Constitution.