Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-10-26
The Things That Made Us Squirm

"Craven made the Auntes squirm. -
Uympian.
The morning gad-ny has for once
told the truth. Beyond all question
Mr.. Craven did make a good many OF
those opposed to Mckinley imperial
ism squirm. Even some Republicans
whose partisan hide is not absolutely
impenetrable, sQuirmed, too. These
are some of the things that made us
squirm:
"Arguments are not necessary in this
campaign because the course of events
is sweeping the Republican party to vic.
tory"
In view OF the fact that the pol
icy proposed by the leaders OF
the Republican party in relation
to our Island acquisitions, chal-
lenges the most cardinal American
doctrines and ideals, such statement
as the above is sufficiently astounding
to make any honest-minded American
squirm. The proposition that we
shall, unthinkingly and without a
careful consideration of the results to
follow, and with no regard to the
righteousness of the course as judged
by oui time-honoied standards, yield
ourselves to the pressure OF current
events, is simply monstrous. Is it
any wonder we squirm
"The Islands of the Archipelago are
peopled with Mohammedans Christians,
Roman Catholics and Cannibals.
The above is highly calculated to
make the Catholics squirm, and all
the rest Of US who are fair enough to
recognize that the Catholic church is
as essentially Christian as any of the
Protestant denominations. But, mas
much as the words fell from the lips
of member of the party that lost
one Presidential election on account
OF the famous Rum, Romanism and
Rebellion" remark of the sainted
Burchard, it did not 80 very greatly
surprise his auditors. 1t made us
squirm to hear Mr.. Craven speak
sneeringly OF the courageous Philip
pine patriots who opposed their naked
bodies, armed only with bows and
arrows, to the murderous fire of
Maxims and gatling guns, in the de-
fense Of their independence and po-
litical freedom. In substance, the
speaker said that the situation in re-
spect to the Philippines was not un-
like man being called up in the mid
die of the night by knock at his
door to find no one there but naked
babe in basket. He described the
situation as one which thrust the un
sought duty upon US OF rearing, edu.
eating and caring for the unfortunate
fondling. He then proceeded to ex-
plain that our first duty in the prem
ises was to kill the kid, in order to
make room for the glorious expansion
of American trade. -.
This we confess made US squirm.
"The Democratic party has been
everlastingly wrong, but the Republican
party has been everlastingly right"
In view of the fact that not very
long ago the Republican party, in it's
platform, and Republican speakers
upon the stump. were vehemently de-
manding, without condition or quail
fication, a bimetallic monetary system
for this country, and in view of the
fact that that same party is to-day
denouncing such system as impolitic,
dangerous, and anarchistic, the state.
ment that the Republican party has
been everlastingly right. did make us
squirm. If there is any one thing in
a man that is disgusting, it is the
claim that he is always right and
never wrong. We have to overlook
md allow this in women, or we wonld
have to get along without them, but
in a man it is simply contemplate.
Every man of any sense knows that
he makes mistakes. II he did not, he
would not be man, but god. If
the Republican party claims to be
made up of gods, or women, the re-
mark above quoted might be allowed
! to pass. But, inasmuch as there are
come men in their party, the senti-
ment is calculated to make us squ.rm.
Oh, yes, the gentleman did make us
squirm.
THE Republicans are complaint ng