The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-01
washington Letter in New York Even

Washington Letter in New York Even
ing Post.
Among seriously disposed persons who
| listened to Senator Hoars great speech
on Thursday, the commsnt most frequent
| iy heard was that he and his ideals wer'
typical of an age that Is passed. ii
somewhat varying form. according to th'
point of view, this WAS the comment o.
both Imperialist and Anti-Imperiaiist
One side said rudely that he was behine
the times and had outlived his useful
ness. while the other acknowledged re-
spectfully that the America of the pres
ent day had forgotten the 'eals to which
the America of our childhood WAS at
Mr.. Hoar's loneliness on the Republican
side of the chamber. But whichever way
the idea was expressed, whether by i'm
patient critics or by sympathetic friends.
its effect was the same. Senator Hoar
belonged to the older crder.
In his personality this is notably true;
He Is an orator Of the type that graced
public affairs in the earlY days Of the
Republic. Books and the thoughts OF
great men have been his companions. and
the Senator today Is not getting many
members of this class. New England,
more than any other part OF the coun-
try. adheres to the tradition that Sen
ator should be man Of education In the
literary sense and of some ability as a
speaker. The South also pays more or
less attention to this motto put has Oh
course. its own standards OF measure
ment. But the commercial States OF the
North and the commercialized States
elsewhere are coming to look on their
Senators as merely representatives OF
their great business interests. When OBJ
servers here Try to interpret the conduct
of Elkins and Scott, of West Virginia,
for instance, they are recognized as ag-
gressive Sepators. but no question Is
raised as to the ideals In public life and
national policy which they. stand for; the
only inquiry Is, what Industry or what
business class or corporation in West
Virginia Is to be benefited by the pro-
posed legislation? So 1t Is with other
states their Senators are viewed as rep
resentatives of big local interests-copper,
sugar, steamships, railroads-quite as
much as of the broad political faith and
aspirations and philosophy of their neigh
bors, In short, 1t will be found on exam
come to regard their Government as q
business insti. Ition very largely--a1 In
stitution for promoting business pros
perity.
All our recent Presidential battles have
been fought on business issues. While
there was obviously a great moral ques-
ton involved In the maintenance OF an
honest standard of value. It was chiefly
as a business proposition that the free
silver plan YVES weighed. Would 1t be tor
the material welfare of the United STATES
to go to the silver standard! In the
same way, the tariff question. which has
was one of business, and In the Presi-
Dental campaigns of the future the coin-
try is likely to divide on other business
issues. This Is an evidence OF our com
| mercial strength. The discussion of ideals
In any nation belongs to the storm.and
stress period of it's life: when 1t nc
longer needs to fear external enemies Q.
disruption from within, 1t raturali,
I gives its attention to the development o.
such policies as will increase its materia
welfare. That, at least, Is what this
country has done and so Senator Hoar
In discussing the Philippine question II
its bearings on the fundamental princi-
pies of the Republic, Is talking. figura-
lively speaking, in dialect fast FADING
from the public mind.
The public welfare point OF view Is II.
Illustrated In an Interview which appeared
in some newspapers side by side with
Senator HoaT speech. Its author was
William Lorimer. the Republican boss
of Chicago He talks, like Senator
and OF its dominant party. but on a diff
ferent line, for he Is quoted as saying:
THE greatest thing we have to fear IN
the way of party censure Is the prevail
meats. But this can be met with brief
argument and YOU will find as the CAM
paign progresses that the Democrats VIII
make mighty little political capital out
viii meet them is the good wages Of Ia
Dor. and the general ability of the peo-
pie to pay for what they want.
According to this view voters should
,oox at the parties before them much as
1T a choice Of restaurants, and select the
one which offers most for their money.
That MIR. Lorimer should regard govern
ment in one way and Mr. Hoar IN an
other, is the natural result of their d.
verse training and environment. At the
age in his life when Mr.. Hoar was por-
ing over Cicero and Thucydides Mr.. Lori
mer was backing boots and selling pa
ners' near the old court house. in Chi
cago. when MIR. Hoar. in young man
hood. was attending the gatherings of
Freesoilers and of the carly Republicans.
ringing with addresses on the rights Of
man ard the principles of liberty. Mr..