New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-01
JUDGE PARKER's OPPORTUNITY

In acknowledging that it had been misled as
70 the facts of the payment to the Furnaceville
Iron Company on a canal contract and acquit-
ting Mr.. Higgins Of any wrongful act or intent
in connection Herewith The New-YOrk Times"
has set its candidate for President wholesome
example Under the pressure of an importunate
demand that he should show himself TO the
public Judge Parker has concluded to commit
the improprety-as he has regarded it-of tax
ing the stump in his own behalf and deyoting
the last week of the campaign to a series Of
speeches in States which he is told doubtful.
If he is really actuated by that love of justice
which is proclaimed to be the foundation Of his
character, he will embrace an unexpected op-
portunity TO confess that relying on untrust
worthy evidence which he ought to have sifted
before he accepted it. he has made number Of
gross mlsstatements on important subjects
which he feels compelled TO withdraw with sin
cere apologies to the American people for his
credulity and careessness.
Five minutes at each of the meetings which
Judge Parker is to address this week would
suffice for the performance of this honorable
Obligation and such an acknowledgment Of
error and expression of regret would be an in
grat1ating Introduction to what he might after
ward wish to say, with strict regard for the
truth. on the Issues Of the campaign. He would
be able to make 1t clear in few sentences that
he is now aware as of course he is:
That he has monstrously exaggerated the
amount OF money spent and the number of
lives lost in governing the Philippines
That he has gravely msrepresented the facts
as TO national expenditures and the deficit
That when he accused the administration of
suppressng department estimates and declared
1t was impossible TO ascertain how the revenues
were being expended he was densely and cul-
pably ignorant.
That when he quoted Mckinley on reciprocal
trade arrangements he garbled and distorted the
Bufralo speech of September 3. 1901.
mat In the effort TO sustain his original blum
der IN respect to the common law and the trusts
he smartly cited decision of the Supreme Court
which at once proved to be irrelevant
mat the Presidents pension order which he
condemned as an encroachment on the legis-
lative power and therefore unwarranted by the
Constitution, was strictly within the law and
amply supported by precedents, both Republi-
can and Democratic.
That the statement for which he made him
self responsible, describing the condition of
thlhgs In the Philippines as hdeous and dis
eracerul to this country, has been refuted on
the highest authority, and that in snatchng Mt
the testimony Of n single witness, whose claims
10 lmparuahty and Importance became ridden
Ious the moment his name was known the late
Chier Judge OF the Court Of Appeals caricatured
the principles by which he is supposed +o have
been guided on the bench
we feel bound also to tell Judge Parker. espe-
clally II his mind is still dwelling on the colIec-
lIoh ana distribution Of campaign funds that
he cannot afford TO ignore in his speecbas +bis
week the following explicit assertion made nv
The New-York Herald" yesterday morning:
They 1.-THE Democratic nanagersl have bear
conducting a still hunt in the States of iii
hols ana OHIO Judge Parker has had men at
WORK III these States continuously for two
months. They have reported to him that the
len! pelnocrats nave been collecting money and that
Connecticut hundreds of thousands of dollars for
use on Election Day -0-
If that Odious accusation proceeding from
friendly source is false Judge Parker must be
eager to deny 1t with indignant emphasis.