Evening star., 1900-10-17
Letter to the Students of Harvard
University.
ADMINISTRATION VIEW PRESENTED
Growth and Development Of the
Nation.
QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

hensive exposition Of the administration
view of the political issues of the day in
the following letter to the Harvard Repub-
lican. the organ of the republican students
of the university:
The Main Issue.
Il see in the first issue Of the Harvard
Democrat that one of it's contributors, re-
ferring to the presidential election, says
that the best way to test what Is really
the main issue in it is to see what subject
is most talked about. and that that is i'm
perialism. Did you ever see sleight-or-
hand performance? If so, you recall that
the performer kept up a steady stream OF
talk, not to present the main issue, but
to conceal it. Perhaps 1t is true that there
has been more talk in this campaign about
imperialism than about anything else IL
So the reason is not because that Is the
main question, but because the democratic
managers have seized this issue as one on
which they could divert public attention.
And If they insist on making that the main
subject of discussion the republican party
in reply must make 1t so, too. Hence the
de.uge of talk in this direction. But the
real issue is Bryanism against the record,
achievement and outlook of the present re-
publican administration.
A Period of Prosperity.
president McKinley's administration has
been one. as everybody admits. of rare
times'-labor employed. capital active, the
farmer smiling. the laborer getting better
wages. and losing no time our revenues
full, our manufactured products going
abroad, the balance of trade in our favor
more and more. The change from bad
times under democratic administration TO
good times under a republican administra-
ton is the most striking object lesson OF
that sort ever known. The country mas
been rescued from the danger of depre-
ciated currency and put upon a sound
financial rock A war has been fought
with the most brilliant success. resulting In
the emancipation of oppressed peoples ana
accompanied with the least loss of life ana
with less expense and less of those democrat
izing discredits which usually attach IN
time of war than ever before in the his
tory of our country The departments Oh
the government have been administered III
such way as to command the confidence
and meet the approval of the people tne
usual imperfections of human affairs have
existed but nobody can deny that there mas
never been a better record of interior ad-
miniStration.
management of For Ieign Relations.
The management of our foreign relations
has merited universal praise 1t Is to be
noted that there never was another equal
period when distinguished leaders OF foreign
thought and humanity who meantime IN
their criticisms have not spared their own
been severe upon ours. have. 1t may be SAID
almost without exception, found Substan-
tally othing to criticise in our admlnis-
tration of our foreign relations, and eSpe-
cially in our bearing toward our new insular
possessions. Our conduct OF the recent Chi-
nese situation has met with unrestricted ap-
proval. and drawn even from leading demo-
Gratis hearty CONNIE ndation The greatest
problem has, of course. been TO meet our
new insular responsibilities. Rene was not
built in day. and yet in Cuba and in Porto
Rico the founda tfons have been already
laid for the happiness. education and wei
fare Of those islands in way that Will
make one of the brightest pages in our
history.
RccIaiming the Philippines.
''In the Philippines the administration, as
it's Instructions clearly show, has had
nothing in mind but the establishment OF
peace and order and a stable government.
the security Of property. the establishment
Of courts of justice. the education of the
people and their advancement to condition
Of Seif-government as soon as they can
qualify themselves for 1t. The most en-
lightened commissions composed largely OF
men who correspond to the best elements
in Harvard College. have been appointed TO
carry on this work 1t has been indeed re-
tarded by the opposition of single tribe OF
Tagals but their opposition will ooZe away
IT'S encouragement by the demo-
cratic party in the United States is ended
by the defeat of Mr.. Bryan next Novem-
ber
President Mckinley is dischargtng a
trust In the Philippines exactly as he IS in
Porto Rico. Both possessions came to the
United States by conquest OF the Spanish
forces and by treaty with Spain. Since
then they have been possessions of the
United States-possessons not OF the Prest-
dent and to be disposed Of by him. but OF
the United States. To be disposed OF only by
Congress Till Congress shall determine
otherwise he has had no power to give them
independence, and no other duty than, as
he has done, to keep order in them and 70
lay the foundations for American clv1lfza-
ton until Congress shall otherwise direct.
Il haves thus referred to but few of the
good elements of President Mckinley's ad-
minstration. We do not talk most about
the things that most vital. There is
nothing vital in the natural world as the
air we breathe and the water drink, and
yet rarely mention them. But would it
not be well and fair for the critics of Pres
ident Mckinley to give some weight to the
ninety-nine things with regard to which
even they agree that 1t can be said to him.
Well done. good and faithful servant and
not continually harp upon some thing
with respect to which they differ from him
although even with regard to that the ma
iority of the people think that he is right
and that his critics are wrong.
Only Recourse of the Democrats.
when, then the democratic convention
met at Kansas City. on what ground in
view of this record OF the last four years
could it appeal to the people for a change
in administration There was none. 1t was
necessary. therefore, to resort to slight
of-hand performance and create confusion
nf tongues. so to divert attention from
the card up the sleeve. What should be
talked about? Ingenuity could devise but
three things:
First, the unlimited coinage of silver an
issue which. the more 1t was talked about
only the more disclosed it's own fallacy and
on which Mr.. Bryan. who at first was very
ou.spoken is now endeavoring to veil his
convictions even evading the inquiry wheth-
err If elected he would not pay all the obli-
cations of the government In silver At any
rate. it cannot be necessary to argue such
question as this at Harvard College
The Trusts.
Second. the trusts Lately these seem
to be the main burden of Mr.. Bryan's song
but he is evidently making them only
cover for an appeal to the bitterness of
class prejudice, the arraying of capital and
labor against one another.
Everybody knows that trusts are the de-
velopment Of the principle of partnership
They are an evolution from the cornora
tjon a . the corpOration is an eyolutinn Pro,,