The Washington herald., 1918-09-27

We wonder Just what part President
Roosevelt's rebuff of Paul Milukoy,
of Russia, several years ago had to
do with the latter's sinister Germanic
gyrations of the present.
1t may be long jump to reason
from that stern rebuff to the present
activity of the renowned Russian, but
we have never disabused our minds
of the thought that some day 7. r. S
rebuff would come home to roost-
and we think 1t has now with all the
American people having to stand the
consequences.
Milukov. who about that time was
lecturing in this country and was
connected with the University of Chi
cago. dropped into Washington and
asked to see the then President He
was told in a comparatively few
words-a la Roosevelt, of course
that his presence would be more
wanted in his home country than
here. And it was known then that his
presence was not desired there at all
save by a few lightning-bug revolu-
ticEists. 1t was rebuke of awful pro-
portions for Paul, for he was not
known as a nihilist, but as a con-
servative, well-educated Russian of
anything but radical tendencies.
He eventually went home, of
course, but we doubt if he ever got
over the Rooseveltian slam. And
now he is paying back somebody
at least he is getting even, whether
he will or no, with the country from
which he was banished as an uE-
desirable
1t was Milukov. as minister of for
eign affairs of the provisional Rus
sian government, who was told by
Secretary Lansing in April. 1917. "The
sum OF 5000, 100000 has been set aside
to assist Russia and II was the
same Milukov who a few days later
cabled back to our Secretary that
he was grateful indeed for this news
and that arraL gements for the use
Of that money "are now being busily
made"
And 1t was Milokuv who has started
a pro-Hun party the distinguishing
feature of which seems to be a de-
sire to pull steadily with the Ger
mans and to make as much trouble
for America ard her allies as can
be made.
An interesting note comes from the
Philippine Islands, where the new
government given by the American
Congress seems to be working out its
own sovation-and the salvation of
the people of the islands.
Representative Pettigrew wrote 70
the edito~ OF the Review, of Manila,
that evidently the kind of independ-
ence given the islands Is like that
given to England's colonies. In other
words" he declared. I'VE reserve the
right for American business men to
exploit the people of the Philip
pines"
And he added this harsh thought:
Il regret very much that your people
Joined us in the war with Germany"
The editor OF the island magazine
shot back in a way calculated TO
cause the emission of all the breath
from the body OF the honorable Rep
resentative. Said the Filipino:
The answer is plain and forthcom-
ing. We look at this matter in an al
together different way. There is to-
day no exploitation of our people by
American business men. There can
DS ipAlN- III It's Eltdu lneTe is I1lT
competition which is becoming keener
every day. The Filipino people are
today better equipped for the strife,
and must, as il has TO. win in the end
Although with certain limitations,
justified by cur present relationship
with the United States, we have alb
solute legislative powers regarding
matters of absolute local Importance
hirh doubt O.,
where in the European colonies in the
Far East. We are not colony. While
the act the Jones-HitchcoCk self
government law) does not mark our
final aspiration as nation, we are
satisfied it is the biggest step ever
taken by the United States toward
our national independence, which, We
trust. will finally come"
Which, we think is some castiga-
tion, so far as that goes for the Hon,
Mr.. Pettisrew. But to make the
matter worse and rub it into the in
quisitorial and perhaps too ignorant
Petugrew. the Manila editor goes on
with reference to the Philippines as
sociation with US in our cause:
"As to our joining the United
states in her war with Germany we
Joined 1t because it was our duty 10
do So Absolute neutrality, for OBJ
Wous reasons, would have been one
OF the greatest blunders the Philip
pines could have made in a situation
like this. which would have meant
ungratefulness and selfishness unbe-
coming our race which has always
shown national disinterestedness and
consciousness.
The reply should hold the Hon. Mr..
Pettgrew for some time, we think. We
can conceive of no more striking re-
buke than this. Certainly it is more
effective than as IL 1t had been ad-
ministered by one of our own Con-
gressmen. Coming from the lips of
one of the freed men of the new. au-
tonomous government it cuts deep
into the hide of the Hon. Mr.. Petit
grew and must cause him to hide his
face, figuratively speaking, in the ut
most shame.
The political armtstice for the ne
riod of the liberty loan will meet the
approval Of most of the people. Per-
haps there are some who wish 1t
would extend up to election day-and
then be repeated every two years.
Really, however. there is a good
use which may be made of political
campaigns. They are important to
the conduct of the government and il
We are to preserve our usefulness as
a nation the interest of the people in
candidates and measures must be con-
tinued.
There Is a constant contest between
two candidates these days to attract
the attention of the voters. Some
men do 1t by advocating strange prin-
ciples, others by strange dress, others
by staunch conservatism, and still
others seem to be utterly devoid of
any desire whatever to attract the
voters by any irregularities of politi-
cal or physical makeup.
The people who sit quietly bv and
| sttndn. Z i, L..