New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-18

Our friends the "anti-imperialists" are begin
ming to realize that they have lost cause"
On their hands. 1t is a case with them of wis
dom lingering" for to the great mass of Amer
leans it has long been evident that "anti-im-
pelialism" was a buried issue. But even the
organizers of the famous Anti-Tmperialist
League can now read the handwriting on the
wall, and they are mournfully preparing to
throw to the fishes the dead corpus of a dis
credited and impracticable political programme.
Such at least, is the conclusion to be drawn
from some remarks dropped the other day in
Boston by the new president of the Anti-Im-
perialist League, the Hon. Moorield Storey.
Mr.. Storey was recently Installed in Office
filling the vacancy caused by the death of ex-
Governor George s. Boutwell, and n luncheon
in his honor was given by the Boston leaguers
last Monday. Speechmaking followed and
though some of the orators were disposed to
insist that ''anti-imperlalism" was as para
mount an issue the Democratic ma
uonal platform declared It to be in 1900, the
new president faced the facts more squarely
when he admitted doubtless to the astonish-
ment Of most Of his hearers) that 1.-THE Ameri-
"can people apparently do not care now about
''the Philippine question, and they regard it as
zone of those issues which have been disposed
Of" He could not, he added, personally indorse
this judgment. Yet he virtually recognized its
finaIity by suggesting that the league broaden
the scope Of its work, and thus afford its men,
bers new topics on which TO focus their now
unexpended energies.
Mr.. Storey limited rather vaguely at the new
issues" TO which the league should turn its at
tention. Besides the independence of the
Philippines" he said, there is the Panama
question" What the Panama question" might
be was tactfully left to the Imagination But
there was also the question Of Industrial COM
oT1H Jhn ott it1rHn Of
lard them" "Some Of the decisions Of the
United States Supreme Court" Mr. Storey
gravely announced, ARE worthy Of the most
careful scrutiny" In his opinion the league
should cease to devote itself to q single cause.
1T should be ready TO stand up and say: This
sis wrong, this is wrong this Is wrong of any
public policy which does not bear the marks of
Justice and righteousness"
Such a broadening Of the leagues activities
can. Of course, only lead to its speedy dissolu-
ton. 1t is inconcevable that its members
drawn together by their ardor IN a specific
cause, can be held together brotherhood
or universal protest. The formulation OF an all
round political programme would surely lead
TO schism and disintegration. If the anti-im-
perialistic agitation is moribund the leagues
occupation is gone. 1t is foolish to think that
It's life can be artifciay prolonged by turning
it into general debating society. Mr. Storey
is 10 be congratulated on recognizing at last
that the American people are thoroughly weary
OF the attempt TO make our policy in the Phil
ippines an issue in partisan politics. The agi-
tation begun by the Democratic leaders in 1899
and continued in 1900 was shortsightedy dema-
gogical AS a political manRuvre it was as
i'll judged it was ineffective The United
States acquired the Philippines as a legacy
from the war with Spain, and, having acquired
them, our only purpose has been TO govern
them to our own best advantage and to the best
advantage of their inhabitants. That is the
only Philippine problem, and the American