The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-03-15

ity; consequently the Wanamakers are
eligibly located for the purpose Of I'M
derstanding Repuhlicanism in all its
badness and rottenness. In a late issue
The North American says:
Craftsmanship is the sorest present want Of the
Republican party. 1t needs leaders with con-
science and foresight. Those in command at
Washington exhibit an abundant lack OF both.
They have led the party away from Republican
principles into swamp Of difficulties amid which
they laundering, frightened at what they
have done and too stupidity stubborn to take the
back track to solid footing. They have actually
begun to beg the Democrats to save them from
themselves both in the house and senate.
Throughout the country Republican newspapers
which WELD influence on public opinion because
they decline to assume that the official party
stamp transforms bad measure into good one
are crying out against leadership that produces
th. seevlts which we witness at the national cap.
ital.
While the great problems growing out Of the
Spanish war await solution we see the senate
wasting whole session discussing a ship subsidy
bill, for which there is no popular demand and
which only private interests are pushing.
Extravaganza Denounced.
If Democrat or pestiferous Popu-
list had written that, it would be easy
to dispose of him by yelling '"TraitorT
or "Lunaticw but it appears in triple
loaded editorial in a paper published
by one of the elect-to wit, Wanna
maker fills, and no doubt with the
sanction of "Pious John" himself.
After suggesting that President Nc
Kinley once upon time said some
thing about economy, The North Amer
lean treats us to this pungent para
graph:
The answer Of the chosen representatives Of the
people to that is appropriations already aggregat-
ing nearly $500, 900 900 within less than three
months, and that is merely part of the answer.
While war taxes are being collected 1t Is not only
proposed to present 10000 900 year to q knot Of
favosed shipowners, but the suggested cure for an
emptied treasury 10 issue Of interest bearing
bonds! .5,. =.
Suppose the Democratic party were IN power
and had been guilty OF equal extravaganza and
folly, is there any rational Republican who would
expect the people at the polls to indoSse such
record? s's" t ESQ
1t is high time for President Mckinley to assert
himself and exercise his great authority for the
guidance of the Republican party out d the bog
into which deficient brains and excessive greed
have plunged it. He do it If he win! :Espe-
cially can he end at once peril that threatens
the party with disgrace and the country with
dishonor. Bad as conscienceless waste Of the pub
lie money is, that is innocence itself in compare
son with the movement whose aim is to have the
Republican party repudiate the nations sacred
pledge to Cuba That cannot be done without
rank disloyalty to the partys platform adopted
at Philadelphia, which says: saU.
"To Cuba independence and self government
were assured in the same voice by which war
dec1a rad nd 70 he this r1a1po shall ha
performed
Repeatedly the president himself has reaffrmed
the binding nature Of this promise to the fulfill
ment of which the United States is committed Us
securely as honor can commit any nation to any
act Why, then, do members of the Republican
party, many Of them in high official place, dare
to intimate that President Mckinley be
persuaded to consent to the dishonor Of the coun-
try and his administration?
In December, 1900 Mr.. Mckinley in his message
to congress said it was our plain duty to grant
free trade to Porto Rico, which had been deprived
Of her Spanish and Cuban markets by annexation
to the United States. Yet President Mckinley
induced to recede from that just and honor
able position. Hence the hope Of the advocates of
perfdy and spoliation in the case Of Cuba that he
may be cozened Unto reversing himself again.
Now, what does The North American
wish to stir up unpleasant recollec-
lions for? Why does it harrow up the
memory with reference to that his
toric wabbling and somersaulting in
the Porto Rican business? Hasn't
President Mckinley right to change
his mind radically on questions Of
greatest pith and moment while you
waltz" Hath The North American no
bowels of compassion?
Dragged In the Mire. Ky"
The further it goes tile worse it gets,
for it has the hardihood to say:
The party needs leadership from the White
House. 1t needs immediate and plain speaking
from President Mckinley, which shall crush ut
once and forever the rising hope Of those who
would saddle the Republican party with the crime
of denying independence to the Cubans. billion
and half dollar congress the country might pos
sbly be argued into forgivirg, but unless Ameri-
cans have forgotten self respect and good faith
there could be forgiveness for the party re-
sponsible for national perjury. That this perjury
should even be suggested by Republicans holding
seats in congress and on terms of cordiality with
the White House is an insult to the president SO
intolerable that marvel he has not resented it
ere this. The party is being foully stained, and
the Republican president owes it to the Repub-
icans Of the United States as we'll as to himself,
to rebuke and rout the Beverages, the Stewards
and the Reds.
The same leadership that has dragged the party
into the mire Of indefensible extravaganza seeks
to make Of it pack animal for the trusts-for
wealth whose only interest in government is to
itor the increase Of private profit at the cost
Of the masses OF the people. It WAS the sugar
and tobacco trusts that applied the pressure which
deprived the Porto Ricans Of country and pill
loried the United States as the doer Of cruel and
sordid injustice.
The North American ought really to
be ashamed of itself to publish that
last sentence, for it must know two
things: ~ That Hon. Serene E. Payne,
chairman of the committee on ways
and means, fathered that bill after