The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-10

The Latest Executive Apology.
Inspired statements in the Adminis;ra-
tion press. and speeches by faithful bench
men on the floors Of the House and the
Senate seem TO have proven inadequate
to satisfy Mr. Mckinley that his Porto
Rican attitude is understood and appre-
ciayed by the country. SO. on Thursday
night. an anonymous Cabinet officer fell
upon the Associated Press with an ex-
PLANTATION on behalf of the President in
tended TO finally sllay the fright Of a
trembling party. and TO repeal an pre-
ceding explanations and sections OF ,x-
plantations.
Who may be the brilliant Secretary Of
State for Anonymous Affairs. to whom the
authorship OF this confidential proclama-
ton is due. we are hardly prepared TO
say in the physical absence OF The Hon.
Elhu Root from Washington. IL does not
matter. The work speaks for itself and
was evidently performed under pressure
If not excitement. Whoever prepared the
document was doubtless coerced into The
act by Mr. Mckinley. as the latter was
coerced out OF his free trade views by the
trusts and as the Administration was
coerced generally by the empty condition
Of the party campaign chest
The explanation presents the President
in the guise Of one who is, and always has
been, on both sides OF the Porto Rican tariff
question in a manner and to an extent that
ought TO be satisfactory to the most ex-
IRENE views Of the most divergent minds,
and il displays him as one beamingly
contented with such a position. But We
may be excused for suspecting that this
is a matter Of appearance rather than fact.
If the truth were known, ii is not i'm
probable that he would be only too glad
to have the public regard the incident as
closed and forget IT, Il will not be closed
at present, however. nor until it passes
from the scene TO the sombre music Of
hodsful Of dirt dropping upon the political
coffin Of the Hon William Mckinley next
November.
No one could help admiring the refresh
ing nsivete with which the Cabinet Of
fcer" defends his chief from the charge
that when the latter wrote his annual
message in December be was conscious
that not only justice and humanity. but the
Constitution entitled Porto Rico to free
trade with the remainder Of the United
States. The very fact. argues the apOloEist
that the President recommended action by
Congress, shows that he considered the Ma
tional Legislature and not the Constitution
as the supreme power outside Of State
boundaries. Il happens, unfortunately for
this line Of defence, that the gentleman 10
whom the President confided his views and
wishes. with reference TO Porto Rican leg
islation Cthe Hon. Serene E. payuei, on the
Path OF January wrote 10 constituent
that free trade with Porto Rico was neces-
STATED by the consideration that it had
been accorded to every other State and
Territory. and TO Alaska. not organized
into a Territory" The majority of intelli-
gent people think. and viii continue 20
think. that this declaration plainly indi-
Gates how the Presidential mind was az
fected to the question, up TO the time when,
like several thieves in the night the oil,
sugar tobacco. and rum trusts swooped
down upon him and compelled him 70 swal-
low his scruples and eat his words. In
deed it is quite obvious that, at the out
set. Mr.. Mckinley was painfully aware
that something was necessary 10 be done 10
keep the domestic free trade issue from
forcing It's way into the impending cam
paign He thought the easiest way 10 avoid
such contingency was 20 quietly present
Porto Rico with a right she already pos
sessed under the Constitution. hoping that
Democratic satisfaction with such a step
would shut the minority eye Tor the time
being. and that the trusts would see the
adyisability Of acquiescence.
We are not able 10 believe that what
followed could be agreeable to the presi-
dent His idea and original course were
the embodiment Of good politics II is 10
the memorable trust oligarChy he serves
that he owes the destruction OF party har-
mony the revolt against cruel and uncou-
stitutional legislation which is sweeping
the country. and bis own invertebrate and
pathetic position. The dreaded issue is IN
the campaign as i;s dominant factor. He
lie fully awake 10 the probability that it
viii sweep him, bis party. and its monop-
olist masters out Of power at The autumn
elections.
We have been careful 20 speak Of the
cabinet officers" explanation and apology
as the latest one, because il is not liable
TO be the last. Some one else IS almost
sure TO be handed the cudgels today or to-
morrow. The squirming and webbing is
not at all likely to cease while the situation
continues acute, with steadily increasing
force and discomfort TO the chief figure in
II. Mr.. Mckinley. as we have yentured to
remark, is now safely landed on 10th sides
Of the question. lie is too astute not to
realize that this position gives him a
chance to execute at least two lightning
changes before be exhausts his proximate
opportunities.
The Theatre Francais.
The destruction Of the Theatre Fran
Gals is a calamity which prospective WISH