Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-05-18
Status of Affairs of National Inter
est and Doings of Political
Leaders.
DIsAppRovAL OF THE PORTO RIcAA BILL
ters-McKinley's Cabinet and Sec
rotary Roots TaIk-The Proposed
Subsidy Grab VIII BE Nailed by
the Democrats.
Especial Correspondence


NOR over the harmony" which pre-
vailed. Senator Fairbanks is gleefully |
that Indiana is entirely |
satisfied with the Porto Rican tariff |
bill. Hanna contemplates with pride |
the platforms which he and Represent
alive Dick made and had adopted in
various states. They claim that har-
mony has been fully restored even in
Ohio-the state where factions always
flourish.
In Washington there is disposition
to regard the republican harmony in
such states as Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin
and Massachusetts, in another light.
The reaction from the storm of Ropu-
lar disapproval came too quickly to
be Altogether genuine. From the sur
face point of view it is conceded that
Messrs. Dick and Hanna give fine eX-
hibition of thorough party discipline
when they write the state platforms
in Washington and have them adopted
without a murmur.
But what has become of the opposi-
ton of the republican press? Itvoiced
a deep and sincere protest of the peo-
pie in the Porto Rican matter, and
there is no indication that there has
been any change of heart since the bill
was passed. 1t seems suspiciously won
derful that state conventions can so
thoroughly obey the behest of party
bosses and at the same time reflect the
real sentiment of the people-especial-
ly when the two were as wide apart as
heaven and earth only few weeks
ago.
There is belief in Washington that
the Disguised and angry republicans
are staying away from party conven-
lions. That they are sulking in their
tents now, and that they will do the
same thing on election day. 1t is
good deal easier to impose party dis
cipline on a convention than upon the
mass of voters. 1t would be a more
healthy indicat ton if some of the re-
publican Indignation against the vacil-
lating policy of the administration had
broken loose in the state conventions.
The harmony which prevailed savored
very strongly of the harmony of the
graveyard.
Hanna and Dick have practically
foreshadowed the republican national
platform, and they show clearly that
they have no adequate grasp of the new
issues that have arisen in the last four
years.
They deal in justification and eva
sion of administration blunders, and
the fulsome praise of its imperial policy
is not likely to conciiate the people
who believe that constitutional princi-
pies are involved and that the future
of the nation depends upon their prop
er solution.
McKinIey's Creatures.
Members of Mr.. McKinley's cabinet
have lately been diverting themselves
and other people by attending ban
quets in various parts of the country.
Most of their utterances are harmless
enough. OF course they praise their
master and take credit to themselves
for various good things which they i'm
agine they have done. But Secretary
Root was more unfortunate than his
colleagues when he chose the Monroe
doctrine for his topic and suggested
that we might yet have to fight in its
defense.
He overlooked the very obvious fact
that our intermeddling with matters
in Pacific waters left the administra-
ton with very little reason to object
if European nations chose to assume
the aggressive on this continent. Sure
~ Monroe never contemplated this ma
ton waging a war of subjugation on
the Filipinos and massing war vessels
to grab share in the Chinese partition
when it comes off.
Secretary Root might have talked
very instructively on the coming of the
| rainy season in the Philippines, which
will suspend hostilities and leave the
Filipinos no nearer subjugation than
they were before. He might have
cheered his auditors by telling them
that the war department is constant
~ sending fresh troops and supplies to
the Philippines. He might have called
attention to the fact that its costs
| nearly million dollars day to carry
on the war in the Philippines, and that
the average exports from the United
States to those islands amount to
about $1,000 a day. They would be
| much less if we were not supplying our
own army with many requirements.
| He might have playfully explained
how necessary it is to allow our army
officers to have free hand when it
| comes to Cuban revenues, so that they
can live in princely magniicence and
| entertain 1avishly.
| He might have suggested that the
Porto Ricans will also be obliged to
| pay for imperialism out of the island
revenues. He should not have neglect
| ed to call attention to the democratic
| simplicity with which Gov. Allen land
ed in Porto Rico, though of course he
would be excused If he passed over the
chilly reception accorded the new gov
ernor by the populace.
Really there are so many interesting