The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-09

was years ago, because the living, who are
chiefly criticised and belittled. are con-
stantly compared with their dead predeces-
sors whose greatness has been recognized.
This is due largely TO the pessiniism of a
class Of men of some intelligence and great
self-conceit, who. for causes which cannot
be explained, have arrogated to themselves
a sort OF infallibility which to some ex-
tent is recognized by many people because
their wisdom has not been put TO a prac-
teal test.
With the exception OF Abraham Lincoln
no President has been confronted with so
many serious problems as has William Nc
Kinley-more serious because all OF them
have been new questions for the solution
OF which there was no precedent. Could
Washington or Jefferson have brought to
the issue with Spain higher faculties as
statesmen than has William Mckinley?
To-day, Cuba has peace. security, good
government. its cities are longer breed
ers Of disease and danger spots. its people
have schools and freedom from oppression.
Such is the result Of the Presidents pol
icy-could any OF his predecessors have
devised a plan that would have insured
better results? Having rescued Cuba from
oppression could any statesman Of the
past have devised a more prudent policy
than that Of the President which holds
Cuba to the United States? The Philippine
policy is yet open 10 intelligent criticism,
but who will say to-day that If Washington
or Jefferson. under the present conditions.
had had the shaping OF the treaty with
Spain, they would not have included IN its
provisions the control Of the islands? Pro-
ceeding without precedent Mr.. Mckinley
held it important to secure the sovereignty
Of the Philippines. Who has presented
better plan for the disposition Of the
islands? Is it probable that the statesman
who negotiated the Louisiana purchase
would, under present conditions, If he had
! been in Mr.. McKinley's place, let some
other government come into possession Of
the Philippines? Was not the statesman
ship of Mckinley as broad in the Philip
pine affair as that OF Jefferson in the
Louisiana purchase? In the Chinese af-
fair the craftsmanship Of the President
was more potential in shaping the adjust
ment than that Of the representatives of
any other nation. Could that Of any Of
his predecessors have been more humane
| or easier?
In one respect President Mckinley has
showed the best evidence of high states
manship, and that is in his ability to mod
| ify his opinions to meet the swiftly chang
ing demands of a people that has become
a world-power since he was elected. Turn
to the last speech he delivered. If he had
been a narrow man. bound to his earlier
| convictions, he would not have made the
! speech he did. But the high quality of
| craftsmanship was displayed in his recog-
milton of the changed conditions, and the
| courage of broad craftsmanship was shown
: in his urgent advocacy of a modification Of
| the policy OF which he has been the ex-
| ponent That is craftsmanship which en-
ables a public man to appear even to con-
| tradict himself in order to meet new condi-
/ tons.
To-day the thoughtful men of the coun-
/ try, even if they do not subscribe to the
/ policies OF William Mckinley, will not join
with those who sneered at Secretary Long
i for asserting that in craftsmanship the
present executive is the peer Of his prede-
| in he