Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-28
NO REAL OPPOSITION
Democrats in Congress Cannot Be
United.
FEEL KINDLY TOWARD PRESIDENT
His Tact in Dealing With Them
and the Result.
ERA OF GOOD FEELING

President Mckinley has accomplished
with reference to Congress thing that
seemed impossible. He has overcome or
Eanized opposition to administration policy
The belief is expressed that his second
} term. as was that of Monroe will be known
20 history as an EZRA of good feeling" The
show Of resistance in the Senate to the
Cuban and Philippine amendments to the
army bill. and the party vote formally reg
lstered against them last night, did not
represent a real opposition under party or
gani21tion.
1t Is recognized even by some democrats
that opposition to the general policy of the
administration with reference to our in
sular affairs is being so undermined that
at this time it may be said truthfully that
1t is not represented by an anti-administra-
don party in Congress. There is no party
that can be held together in antagonism to
the administration. y considerable number
Of the democrats are in such a state of
mind that they are not willing to seriously
feSist the administration. Underneath this
Hes a lack of faith in opposition being right
and the fact that general cooperation in an
aggressive policy of opposition cannot be
Secured \ move in that direction receives
check at once through the threatened dis
closure of the disintegration that has been
going on within the democratic congress
u0nal organization.
Cannot Be Led Into n Fight.
The party as compact organization can
not be led into a fight, and every attempt
1t such leadership has disclosed a lack OF
courage a lack of faith in their own posi-
zion among democrats, and disposition, di-
rectly or indirectly, to aid the President In
carrying out his policy. The resistance
that is made Is either merely formal and
half-hearted OF is confined to few indivfd-
ealS VINO cannot secure support enough to
make their efforts successful. Much Of the
PuDnc criticism of the Presidents policy is
believed to be insincere, and he has enough
support of an indirect sort from men who
h their hearts, believe that the attitude of
opposition Is wrong to render ineffective
hight
There is an underlying good will toward
The President within the democratic party
This has been brought about largely
through the tact and skill of the President
himself, though assisted by the divergence
Of opinion both as to principles and policies
within the minority party. The President
has shown a generosity and amiabl'ty 10
ward members of the minority party as
Stunning manner of such frankness toward
them and readiness TO listen to them and
TO treat them in a non-partisan spirit that
be has succeeded in establishing good feel
Ing to an extent that may hardly be reaIiz-
so by the public. and which Is effective in
taking the real force out of partisan oppo-
bifiou IN Congress.
The Effort Which Failed.
tremendous effort was made by a few
men to arouse party spirit and TO force a
relentless fight against the Cuban and
Philippine propositions. but the feeling
could not be found that would be necessary
20 sustain such struggle. Besides the
feeling of half-approval of the administra-
ton policy. there was encountered a fear
TO take the responsibility for consequences
that might follow an interference with the
Presidents pla is. While the minority
might be held together fairly we'll for
merely formal opposition, this could be
only with he knowledge that 1t was not to
smount to anything.
The weakness of the party spirit that
polds the democrats in Congress together
Is ttn alarming revelation to some OF the
party leaders. 1t is realized that a strong
feeling of loyalty to the administration
and good will toward Mckinley exists
within the so-called opposition, and that
the minority party is so uncertain In its
attitude that the President has only an
individual, not an organized party opposi-
Gon in Congress This IS regarded as one
Of the greatest trumphs for any President
"a