The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-15
THE sENT11rESr ron ExPAxsroM
How It IL Found 70 BE In New York By an
Intauirent Ohaerver.

To THE EDrToR OF THE suN-Sir. 1 fnd
from conversation. even with those who are
most conservative by nature and association,
that there IL among them no such radical oppo-
sition 10 expansion. imperialism. - az was de-
clered during the campaign by Carl Schurz, for
instance. So far as 1 can Judge from the opin-
ions I hear expressed. the vote for Theodore
Bacon on the Citlzens' absurd ticket represents
about the whole OF that decided and bitter oppo-
sition-720 in New York. Whatever propulsion
that political movement received from reason
came from the "anti-imperiallsts" as a dis
tinct force.
OF course. the vote for Van wyok represented
nothing. outside Of mere slayish subjection to
Tammany Hall. or the opposition Of the brew
ers to the Raines law. except pure hatred OF the
Republican party. II the position of the two
parties as to State and national questions
had been reversed. those Democrats would have
voted the same. Their partisanship proceeds
solely from prejudice against the Repub-
licnn party. Whether the Democratic par
ty had declared for or against i'm
periallsm," they would have supported It.
Hence they cannot be counted on either side OF
expansion they are simply Democrats. and as
such hate the Republican party simply because
1t is the Republican party. They are in oppo-
sition only for the sake OF opposition and as q
matter Of habit. This was proved very conclu-
sively by their voting for and electing all the
Democratic candidates for Congress. though
these had refused to say whore they stood as to
gold or silver. and the great majority Of the
Democrats to whom 1 refer are pronounced In
their own gold opinions.
The simon-pure "anti-imperialists " are dis
coverable only among the forlorn hope of 1873.
I see that at yesterdays meeting OF the Con-
trial Labor Union the opposition found some
support, but IL was not hearty. Sentimentally
the great body OF the workmen are for expan-
sion IL may be said. indeed. that they are ale
most unanimously for Il.
Among the people with whom I have talked
! have heard doubts expressed as to the policy,
but no decided and irrevocable opinion ad-
verse to 1t. Instinctively they favor 1t. but
some OF them distrust such a guide. and con-
seouently are hating. though hoping in their
hearts that the policy will be carried out.
and when IL is carried out they will Join the
overwhelming majority OF the American peo-
pie In supporting It. OF out n rabid and
radical opposition to expansion like that OF
Carl Schurz ] find none outside of the Bacon
eccentrics. Schurz is OF the type Of mind
which generates the innumerable side and
cranky factions which appear in the politics of
Germany. and the absence OF which as q dis
turbing quantity has made representative gov
eminent so successful In this country and
England. He is wholly un-American in spirit.
When he kicked against Lincoln 80 v~iciously
1t was simply because Lincoln was q sensible
American. He Is without influence. except
with his own type Of mind. and a very insignif-
cant type It is here.
When the Philippines are secured to us it
will be found that the sentiment In favor OF
such a conclusion is practically unanimous.
and it will become a flame of indignant re-
sentiment II any foreign nation or combina-
ton seeks to prevent our getting them. The
Schurzes. Godkins. Gamaliel Bradfords and
their kind will then appear as weak relatively
as was the Citizens ticket in New York last
week. AMERICAN.
NEW YORK. Nov. IA.