Washington sentinel., 1900-04-07
DAVIS
Gives the Administration some
thing to Think About.

Gives the Administration Some
thing to Think About.
That the resignation Of Assistant
Secretary Of the Interior Davis has
brought fresh trouble to the Ad-
mi nistration is shown by two cir
cumstances. One is that the Pres
ident hesitated about accepting it.
The other is that it was oi sufficient
importance to form a topic Of dis
cussion at last Tuesdays meeting
Of the Cabinet. If Mr.. Davis had
not explicitly assigned as the sole
reason Of his resignation the TACT
that he is in hearty sympathy with
the Beers his action would cause
no concern to the Administration.
But the human mind unconscious
lY acts so logically that there is
only one conclusion to be drawn
from Mr.. Davis statement, which
is that the Administration is not
in sympathy with the struggling
Beers. Ergo, the Administration
is in sympathy with Great Britain.
It is not believed Mr.. Mckinley
would care to 60 before the coun-
try on a platform expressing sym
pathy with the British. And yet
unless something is done to Offset
the effect OF the Davis movement
that sort of plank will be inserted
in the Phila delphia platform by the
public judgment, whatever may be
the expression OF the convention
on the subject. The question, then,
naturally arises as to how the effect
Of Mr.. Davis conduct is to be
overcome9
Heretofore the Missourian's lov-
atty to Republican principles has
never been questioned. He has
fought the battles Of the party in
the strongest Democratic COM
munity in the country when such
eminent statesmen as the Hon.
Ethan Allen Hitchcock was too
busy forming the Glass Trust to
give any attention to politics.
Therefore it is not likely that Mr..
Hitchcock, his official superior,
could break Davis down politi-
cally if he should try. There is
not a breath Of suspicion agains:
Mr.. Davis official conduct. Hence
the sleuths Of the Administration
cannot attack him on that score.
AS a private citizen his record is
clean and above reproach. What,
then, can be done to offset the dam.
aging political effect Of Webster
Davis apostasy7 Something, Of
course, is looked for from Admin
istration quarters against Mr..
Davis. He is certain to do harm
to the Mckinley. Hanna crowd by
his speeches on the Boer question,
because he cannot help creating
the impressi on-howeYer false it
may be-that one word from this
mighty Republic would stay the
hand Of Great Britain before the
little Republics in South Africa
are wholly wiped out. The fact
that few we'll known Irishmen
came forward when it was learned
that Mr.. Davis was willing to make
his initial speech in Washingto ton
and put up the money for the rent
Of the hall shows what that element
oi citizens are willing to do to help
along the movement against the
Administration. It is not believed
that Davis can be coaxed back
into Office Of any kind under the
Administration. In no circum.
stances can he be induced to re.
sumo his former position in the In
terror Department, and il he shoulc
accept some other place at the
hands OF the President he woulc
ruin himself for all time. 1t is evi.
dent, therefore, that Mr.. Davis ha.
burnt the bridges behind him anc
cannot turn back. And having
got we'll started on his journey
away from the Administration it i!
predicted by people who under.
stand his tempera ment and natura
sympathies that before the Presi
dental campaign is over Webster
Davis will be making speeches fol
William Jennings Bryan.