Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-10-04
Carnegie Compares Party Tenets.

Carnegie Compares Party Tenets.
The leading feature in the October
number of the North American Review
is collection of articles under the
caption Bryan or Mckinley! The
Present Duty of American Citizens,
upon the great issues in the Presidential
campaign from the pens of Adlai E.
Stevenson. Postmaster General Smith,
Senator Tillman, Senator Hoar, Edward
NJ. Shepard, Senator Platt, Richard
Croker, Senator William NJ. Stewart,
Erving Winslow, Secretary of the New
England Ant-Imperialist League, An
drew Carnegie and James II. Eckels.
Mr.. Carnegie entities his contribu-
ton, The Presidential Election; Our
Duty" He calls attention to the fact
that in the construction of platforms
the leaders of parties aim at stating
that which will unity the party, and
omittipg what might offend any in
dividual or section of the party. There
come times. however, when the patrl-
otic citizen is compelled to consider
whether he shall withhold his support
from his party and either refrain from
voting or vote with the party which ne
has usually opposed. Such an occasion
is the present campaign.
Mr. Carnegie strongly expresses his
conviction that those who act upon the
principle my party, right or wrong,
or even, my country, right or wrong,
are the most dangerous of all classes tc
their country's welfare, and he illus
trates this position by pointing to the
fact that among Englishmen it is Burke
and Chatham who denounced the
American War, and Bright and Golden,
who denounced the Crimean War, not
George III. and Lord North, nor the
Crimean War. who are held in highest
esteem
NEW ISSUE OF IMPERIALISM.
The questions which citizens, who,
like Mr.. Carnegie, never voted any
other than the Republican ticket are
called upon to consider at the present
moment is the departure of the official
leaders of their party from the policy OF
the Republic in the purchase and at
tempted conquest of the Philippines,
with the intention of holding the coun-
try as conquered territory and not as
part of the Union. Is this the miss-stel
sufficient to cause them to refrain from
voting for Mr. Mckinley or even to vote
against him? This question can be
answered only after consideration o!
the alternative and the consequences,
and in order to do so the platforms OF
the two parties have to be carefully
examined
In its pronouncements upon questions
arising out Of the results of the war, Mr..
Carnegie finds the Republican platform
open, to no serious objection, except that
he cannot consent TO the claim that
the payment of $50, 900, 900 we
have acquired sovereign rights over the
A HOPE OF IMPROVEMENT.
The important point, in his Judgment,
is that the platform pledges the Republi-
can party to give Cuba independence
and self government, and he finds in
that pledge reason for entertaining the
hope. if not the belief. that the Republi-
can party will eventually deal
the same spirit with the in.
habitants of the Philippines, since there
is no reason why the one people should
be treated in different way from the
other. But it is not enough to consider
the platform only. Much depends upon
the man who is to steer the ship of state
under its provisions.
Mr. Carnegie pays high tribute to
Mr.. Mckinley as an individual, but ex-
presses the opinion that if he were to re-
tire at the end Of his first term his posi-
ton as a statesmen would rank low, in
deed 1t would be unfair, however, in
Mr.. Carnegie's opinion, to judge MIR.
Mckinley upon his actions during his
first term, as many embarrassments
have hampered all Presidents during
their first term. Had he followed his
own individual judgment. the result
would have been happy, since he has
shown remarkable insight and faculty
for grasping the true bearing of public
affairs.
MCKINL Fly RIGHT WHEN UNHAMPER-
ED.
He was sound upon the question OF
war; he was right i'll regard to the
Philippines, as is proved by his instruc
tions to the Peace Commissioners; he
was right in regard to Puerto Rico. but
he allowed himself to be overborne by
the party leaders. When he was moi
hampered or constrained he has shown
the highest craftsmanship, as in his
of the dangerous CHINESE
question, when Congress and the leaders
are scattered. There is thus ample
ground for hope that if reelected Mr.
Mckinley may shape events in such a
way as to be able to grant to the Philip
pinos, as to the Cubans, free
and independent government
and Thus make himself th'
father not the oppressor, OF th'
first Republic of the Orient
Turning to the Democratic platform
Mr.. Carnegie finds that it is truly
American in its opposition to imperial
ism and to militiarism he finds i
right upon Puerto Rico; also in REGARD
to expansion also in condemning th'
Hay Pauncefote treaty; also in regart
to the Beers; also in regard to the speed.
repeal of war taxes. But when this haI
be en- said all has been said that can b.
said in favor of the Democratic ticket
He continues:
The most serious objection to it is no
the proposed lowering of the STANDARD
of value, serious though that be. 1t lie