Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-06-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, June %, 1904.

what he had to say about the Republican
platform. What has become Of the
party's courage he asked? "On some Of
the greatest questions its tongue is paral-
yzed. Isn't the labor situation conspic-
uously before the country The platform
says not word about it. What is going
to be done with the Philippines The Re-
publican platform does not lisp a syl-
liable. Has the tariff ceased to be an Issue I?
The platform makes no promise about it
except that it win be diminished or in
creased whenever its political guardian
thinks fit. OF the gross post Office corrup-
tions it merely says our administration Of
the great departments of the government
has been honest The subject OF state
hood is not mentioned in the platform,
although four inchoate States with mil
lion and half population are knocking
loudly at the door. Is that an attractive
platform ~
The forty Filipinos have come and gone.
They have been hailed and lunched by the
President, effusiveIy greeted by his sub
ordinates, lifted to the top Of the monu-
ment and carried through the public build
ings, and have FASTENED on to other cities
inquired his impressions from Major
General Birney, son of that James G. Biz
ney who made the free-soil run for Presi-
dent in 1874, and only survivor of four
brothers who fought in the Union army
He said s'they looked about like the same
number of intelligent persons from our
States on an excursion to the capital for
pleasure and instruction. If they are rep
resentatives of their people, we owe more
respect to the Filipinos than we have yet
shown. If the President Of the Fair at st.
Louis would devise plan to make our
people acquainted with these men instead
Of exhibiting lot of savage Igorrotes at
the Pike, he would acquire much merit.
A score of Digger Indians caught in the
Band Lands of the West would represent
only native population as well as those
Igorrotes represent the Filipinos .
asked: ''What did you think Of their
speeches % ''They were respectable, he
said, ''but not remarkable for originality or
force They were about what would be
expected of guests whose bills were paid by
their entertainers, and who would natur-
! ally avoid unpleasant topics They were
as polite as Spaniards. y
Don't you suppose their reports will do
good in the archipelago ~ [ asked "Per-
haps, he answered, "by giving the peo-
pie there more definite ideas Of the extent,
power, wealth, and industrial resources Of
this country. I don't know that the re-
ports will make them more friendly to us
They don't fight us as they did. Chains
don't hurt so much when they are worn
smooth. But no subiugated nation loves
its masters. The Beers and Hindoos do
not love the British, nor do the Firms love
the Russians, or the Filipinos the Ameri-
cans War-ships and rapid fire-guns main
tain what is called peace. No Filipino
rebels unless he has made his will, but the
spirit that demands independence is there
and would blaze up if favorable occasion
offered. Without battle-ships and gatlings
they are helpless; but if powerful nation
should offer them such facilities of defence
and offence, think they would rise in rebel
lion from the north end Of Luzon to the
southern cornor Of the Sulu possessions. If
Japan for instance, shall be victorious over
Russia, what will be likely to happen? I
don't know; but it is question worth
thinking about, while we are execrating
Russia and calling down curses on the head
Of the Gar
Cortelyou's Department Of Commerce and
Labor is trying hard to find out which of
its officials are directly responsible for the
General Slocum holocaust in the East river.
There is no Disgusting the fact that the
blame rests directly upon some Of Cortel-
you's inspectors But when they are
punished, if such contamination can be
hoped for, some blame will still rest upon
Congress itself. The most astounding
revelations in connection with it is the pro-
vision Of law which pays inspectors accord
ing to the number Of steamboats, they are
liable to certify to having examined in a
year OF course this is direct incentive to-
Ecarelessness and utter reeklessness. It
offers a premium for perjury and prize for
neglect Of duty. Under this law 4nspecta-
tors who do not inspect are paid three times
as much as those who do, on the sole con-
sdition that they are ready and expert
liars What kind Of Congressman were
they who enacted such law?
OF course, all the Republican leaders say
that their ticket is so intensely popular