Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-22
PRETTY VITAL ISSUES.

II is still not uncommon for even Demo-
Gratis to affirm that there are really no
vital issues before the people. Let us see.
An Independent Republican contemporary
remarks that one may get q slight idea
Of the drain that Philippine annexation
would make upon the American army and
exchequer by what is now happening. as.
for instance President Mckinley has de-
cided to send a further force of 5000 or
Goo of our volunteers to these distant
islands. and to dispatch a like number to
Honolulu as a reserve for the Philippine
army OF occupation. Here, continues our
contemporary, is an additional expendi-
ture at the rate of some S12,000OO0. Il year
which the President is authorizing as a
mere precautionary measure to prevent
foreigners from meddling in the archi-
pelago,
Precisely And the cost of the precau-
fionary measure is a mere bagatelle com
pared to what the contamination of the
policy OF the anneXationists would cost
us. The carrying out OF that policy would
necessitate the maintenance of "a standing
army and "A navy, the annual expenses Of
which would be some $3.50. 100000. Add TO
that the civil war pensions and the total
cost of our military and naval establish
ments would be about 500 100000 per an
mum II strikes us that this is a pretty
vital issue in itself, aside from the fact
that the annexation of the Philippines
would be likely to prove subversive of
our form of government. 1t strikes us
that IL is pretty vital issue apart from
any bearing II has upon the Monroe doc
trine. or the opportunity expansion would
afford for another such saturnaia Of car
pet-baggery, venality, and corruption as
obtained in the South during reconstruc-
tion days. III we supplement- the legiti-
mate expenses OF our increased army and
navy with the cost Of jobbery and the
salaries and pickings of the horde of
ofice-holders who would be intrusted with
the duty Of administering the government
of the conquered provinces" there is no
telling what the total annual drain on the
Treasury would be- And that drain in
turn would drain the pockets of the
masses, who could least afford to stand
IL. Viewed simply from the economic
standpoint. expansion represents the vital
issue Of the people against long-continued
and onerous taxation.
Then. too, what OF the Republican bond
sale which fastened upon the people Tor
years 10 come an unnecessary interest
charge? Next. how about the failure of
he Ioa,,nHf{eon Ia lfaa ,,la
20 give the masses and business, currency
and banking reform and deliver der finan-
cial system out OF the clutches of Wall
street, where the necessities of trade and
the people are made the srert and the
playthings of the spectators at will?
Again. what OF the misconduct Of the war
and the terrible suffering entailed upon
our troops by administration mismanage-
ment since the war? 1t strikes us that
these are also pretty vital issues-ssues
as TO which as Is the case with the ex-
pansion issue. the Republican party is
thoroughly vulnerable.
But this is not all. AS we have said
before. we might dismiss all these ques-
tions and the people would still have a
strong cause against the Republican |
party-a cause In which a most aggressive |
fight can be and should be made The |
Republican party would still be the party !
OF Capitalization. Of sectional legislation. |
and OF extravaganza. IL would sull be /
the enemy Of good government and a
menace TO true republican institutions ana !
our civilization.
On no, the issues Of the campaign are
not ohy pretty vital but many, and
oereiict In duty and wanting in political /
sasac'y 10 seize great opportunity the
democrats will be II they do not press
'nem nome. one and all. at every point.
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