The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-04
rho Warand Political Parties.

The War and Political Parties.
What effect IS the war and its results
going to have on the two great political
parties? That question is beginning to
command attention.
Both parties agreed that Spain should be
driven out Of cuba The war was under
taken for that purpose. The politicians
saw nothing out of which to make polih-
cal issues until after Dewey's great vic
tory at Manila That victory opened the
way for a policy of territorial expansion.
Leading Democrats-Col. Bryan. the
Democratic candidate for President in 1895.
and Senator Jones, the chairman of The
national Democratic committee, and 9TH
ers-took strong grounds against that pol
icy They declared that there was vast
difference between annexing nearby ter
ritory which could be readily peopled by
our own race, and taking possession of
far off countries, inhabited by people that
could not be assimilated, and which would
have 20 be held as colonies.
The Republican leaders very generally
favored the policy of expansion. They
talked of the great commerce which would
come to the United States if they held The
Philippines and made a fight for the trade
OF the far east, The feeling that prevail
ed in The two parties was shown in the
vote ON the resolution providing for the
annexation Of Hawaii The Republicans
Were for il and the Democrats were
against IT.
But how are political parties going TO be
affected by the terms of peace which the
President has offered to Spain? The Pres
ident does not insist upon having the
Philippines, but he demands Porto Rico.
He insists upon concessions in the Lad
rones and the Philippines, which viii
give us a chance to compete for the trade
of the far east. DO the terms which nc
has proposed eliminate from our politics
the probability of an imperial policy? 1t
looks very much as if they do There is
very little, if any opposition to aunexing
Porto Rico, and il is more than prob
able that cuba Will be part of our ter
ritory within very few years, but these
islands are not far away, and the major
ty of the better part of their populations
desire the protection of the American flag.
w Siieth Aotl VI COURSE, annex CUBA, IN
less her people ask it, but that they will
ask it, after a short experience in self-gov-
eminent, there is not much reason to
doubt.
But what position are the political par
ties going to take in respect 10 the Philip
pines? VIII the President find himself
opposed by the majority of his own party
and will he have to look for support to
the Democratic party? That interesting
question cannot be answered Just vet. IL
may be that the Republicans win see the
folly of the policy of holding on TO the
Philippines, and viii admit the correctness
of the Presidents position If they take
that course they viii keep out of politics
a question which, until recently, promised
to be the leading one in the congressional
campaign this fall
The position of the Democrats in Con-
gress has been all along clear ana unmis-
takeable 1t has been against a policy of
expansion. That is their position now. It
may be that the position which the Presi-
dent has taken Will force the Republicans
to take the same position. The question
which promised 10 be a great political is
sue IN the campaign of 1850 will probably
be settled before political parties get a
chance to take sides in respect TO it.