The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-10-27

In his speech Of acceptance he ac-
knowledged our responsibility for them
ard said we should give them self gov
eminent. His friends. In great distress
OF mind. cried out 10 him that that was
the Republican doctrine. and that what
he intended 10 say was that we had no
responsibility for them and must give
them independence Certainly that was
what J meant, said the judge---and he
wrote something like It in his letter OF
acceptance.
But even that was not enough, and
10 days ago he revised his views again
ana now declares for the absolute aban-
donment OF the islands and for an imme-
diate proclamation OF our intention TO do
so. Among the reasons he gives for this
reckless and lll-consldered utterance are
some which show an incredible careless
ness ot the facts.
But these mere errors In his figures
gross as they are do not compare with
the monstrous levity which would cover
us with lndelible discredit, which would
he an abdcation OF our position in the
Pacific, the surrender OF our commercial
prestige i'm the far east a base treach-
cry and betrayal of the loyal and in
tclligent Filipinos. who nave trusted us.
and direct invitation TO intestine war
and foreign invasion.
~ II pInuneT WeH-nigh Incredible
for him to say that we should treat the
Philippines as we did Cuba There f.
no analogy between the two cases. We
have never owned Cuba; we have never
claimed TO own 1t. The Philippines are
ours by every sanction known to public
law; by fortune OF war. by treaty. by
purchase, by occupation, by undisturbed
and undisputed possession. To saw that
the cases are the same. and REQUIRE the
same treatment. simply shows In the
man who says II a confusion Of mind or
deliberate Misrepresentation. either OF
which proves him TO be--in the words OF
one Of Judge Parker's most ardent ad
mirers-'not 1T to be president this year
or any other year
LAUNDERING INSTINCT.
AT every election we hear that there
should be rotation In office--that neither
party should be continually In power
None Of US deny that there is some truth
in this contention.
There should be occasional change IN
the government: there may be whenever
two things happen When the Republi-
cans torsake their record and the Dem.
ocrats get rid OF theirs. Again I saw
we are not so silly as 10 claim any In
olVldual superiority, moral or intellec.
tual over our opponents.
1T would be absurd to say that nearly
half our people are devoid OF the highest
civic virtues. But the simple truth is
they are badly led. They made a mis-
take deplorablc past all computation.
IN 1880 and they have not recovered from
II yet.
First there was slavery extension
then secession. then reputation, and
populism and free silver--a hopeless sue
cession Of mistakes. II is most difficult
We hope II will not be impossinle--for
them TO extrlcate themselves from such
Serbonian bog. We all earnestly de-
sire the day when the two parties NAV
enter the lists under equally sane and
safe leading. IL Is painful TO say that
day has not yet dawned.
There was n moment this year when
we had hopes OF salutary change In
the Democratic attitude They were
travel-stained and unhappy with their
wanderings In the wilderness In 1896 and
1900
Some of their leaders apparently In.
tended when they went 10 81 Louis. 20
say 10 the country: We are Just az safe
and sane as the Republicans We are for
the gold standard. for n reasonable tariff
FOR restraining unlawful combinations
without injuring lawful business. for
self-government. not abandonment. Of
the Philippines. But the Instinct OF blum.
derins was too strong for them
The SOUTH AND TA,fMANy
with this harlequin ticket and timidly
radical platform they have gone 10 the
country and, little BY little. their we'll