Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-10-28
GET OUT THE VOTERS
APATHETic REPUBLICANS MUST
EE AROUSED.

II Situation Makes 1t Imperative
that Every Republican Should Be
Vitality Interested in the Congress.
sinnal Elections This Fall.
What is cverybody's business is no.
body's busincss'-a saying rs true as
ii is trite-is nowhere better eNempli-
fed than in the attitude OF the average
citiHen toward his duties as an elector.
So busy is the American voter, and so
apt to take ii for granted that the
elections will take care of themselves,
that even in Presidential years extra
ordinary measures must be taken by
political managers for getting out the
party Vote This condition is so scri-
ously aggravated in non-Presidential
elections, when orators are recuperlt-
ing, when issues are more obscure and
personalities are more engrossing,
when election funds are not abundant,
and when brass bands and mass meet
ings are less in evidence as breeders
OF enthusiasm, that the success OF the
really dominant party in many locali-
ties is actually imperiled.
The year of 1898 is one of these lat
ter periods, Notwithstanding that the
admitteG facts of the triumph of sound
money. he increasing prosperity. and
The successful prosecution of II popular
war. all point seemingly to an easily
Republican year. This very confidence,
which lulls the Republican voter into
n feeling of optimistic security. is one
of the fatal seeds from which springs
disaster. 1t has already become appar-
ent ill the September elections. Ner-
mont and Maine are both stalwart Re
publican Statcs--though not equally so
and In both the election returns, al
though showing practically complete
Republican victories. yet Indicate Il
falling Off in Republican majorities,
which in States where the normal ma
iority is less would have been turned
into defeat. We do not propose here to
inquire why the American voter does
not realize and seriously accept his tre-
mendous individual responsibility to
his country. The fact is u%ndcniable and
deplorable. 1t is plain THAT the major
ity sentiment of the whole country is
satisfied with the prevailing policies of
the Republican party as they relate to
financial and economic questions, TO
the conduct of foreign affairs. to the
prosecution of the wan, and to the
movement toward territorial eNpan-
sion. but OF what value will he the
forward steps already taken if the
heedlessness of voters in this off year
!,j.iNus .lIlnnt l1ln pi...in,1 nf Un1, ,.r-,t n
ic legislatures, .: reduced or olliteratcd
Republican majority in the National
House of Representatives. and Domo-
cratic control OF The next Senate!
Tnnucstioncd control of the Fifty
sixth Congress is the vital issue this
fall which conironts every Republican
voter. and which should stir him out
of the apathy to which he shows signs
of succumbing. 1t is true that the legis-
lltion necessary for the immediate talk
ing over and administrator of the new
territories which have, and may to
still greater extent. come into our pos
session. will he Il part of the work Of
the present Congress. 1t is true that
the first settlement of peace conditions
with Spain and some Of her late colo
MES may he approved by the present
Senate. 1t is equally clear that the
closing of the war and the adoption of
new policies affecting remote islands
and their government must at first be
tentative and provisional, and will pre-
sent complex problems not to be solved
and adjusted by the craftsmanship
which n he crowded into Il short ses-
sion of barely ten weeks.
The broader and more permanent
work of defining the relations of the
United States Government toward Ha-
waii, Porto Rico. Cuba and the Philip
pines. and establishing IL form Of gov
eminent for such of those islands as
are destined to come under IL perma-
ncn rule. are forming q group of deli
cate subjects which will require the
hardest work and the most intelligent
craftsmanship from the Congress the
membership of which will he deter
mined by the elections of this fall.
AS to Cuba, and the Philippines in
particular. the action which ma be
taken in the present Congress can he
nothing more definite than to point out
Il policy which will need time to
evolve and elaborate. and much of this
will fall to the Eifty-siXth Congress.
That same Congress must take up the
subject of rcorganiZing the regular
army OH Il footing comparable to it's i'll
creased needs. and create for it a new
system of discipline. and reform the
administration of its departments
wherever they have recently shown de
fects. The Fifty-siNth Congress will
be concerned in the extension of the
naval establishment to a degree made
necessary by the new Importance of
the United States as a tirst-class power,
The Fifty-siNth Congress must estab,
lish Il new system for the organization
of q national guard. The old system
has been discredited by the trend of re.
cent events. The country must have a
force of peace-footiMg Instantly avail.
able for effective work. and free from