Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-10-25
REPUBLICAN REVERSE
II Is Feared by President MckinIe,
at the Fall Elections.
Defeat Would Mean Rebuke to Imper-
ialtst Tendencies OF the
Party.
From the Springfield Republican,
Independently

Mr.. Depew has taken It upon him
self TO arise and sound the danger
signals. He Is alarmed at the ex-
tent and depth OF the Republican
apathy, and says that Republican loss
Of the elections would "mean that our
defeat will he accepted in the
markets at home and abroad as q
condemnation Of the prosecution of
war with Spain," aud would cause
investments TO stop. money to lie idle
and labor to lose employment.
After noting how enthusiastic the
crowds have been, and especially
warm In applaudlng all hints Of a
policy Of territorial expansion, one Of
the newspaper correspondents on the
presidents train wTites:-
During his journey President Nc.
Kinley has not received encouraging
reports from the campaign. Every
politician with whom he has
talked along the way has lamented
the apathy OF Republicans, and l
Imagine that he must be getting a
little nervous regarding the COM
plexion OF the next House OF Rep
resentatlYes. He would deplore q
Democratic victory because Of it's
effect upon the Spanish government
and the negotiations now In progress
at Paris. Peace Is not yet made. The
treaty will not be signed for several
weeks, and may be delayed for
months, perhaps indefinitely, II the
November elections should deprive
the administration OF the support OF
majority 10 the House Of Repre-
sentatlves.
Which reads strangely beside the
other statement that the people are
rising In mass to support and applaud
the president 10 securing an imperial
lst settlement OF peace.
The alarm at the Republican leaders
is probably justified, but this particu-
lar form OF appeal to the voters Is not
justified. We haYe reached a re.
markable state OF affBlrs II the peo-
pie cannot undertake to throw of the
yoke Of their Platts and Quays or
manifest their dlsapproval Of certain
features OF the conduct OF the war or
the suggested terms OF peace without
encouraging Spain to further armed
resistance. The bogy OF popular
Interference With n Just settlement
With Spain is OF straw, stuffed for
the purpose OF driving the voters
from the real Issues befo'e the ceun-
try into u helpless and practically
meaningless support OF the admins
tration in anything IL chooses to do.
The fact is that all reasonable and
far demands against Spain as a re-
suit OF the war, consistent with our
own interests, have already been ac-
ceded 20 aud substantially secured,
Porto Rico has been given up. Cuban
evacuation is proceeding, and II there
Is any hitch In that quarter 10 arises
rather from the Spanish fear OF ex-
treme American demands respecting
the Phil pplnes than from any cause
more directly connected with. Cuba.
III, then, the administration is fear
full OF the effects OF Republican de.
feat upon the peace negotiations, IL
must be because the administration
Is secretly preparing TO Insist upon
the cesslon of the Philippines aud
the extension OF the United States
sovereignty TO the shores OF Asia.
That such is the administration
purpose can hardly any longer be
concealed. The president has been
hlntlnR aud squirting that way all
through his western Journey, and the
members OF the cabinet with him
have been outspoken In their imper-
lalist sentiments. A Republican
victory, therefore, is Co be interpreted
as victory for the policy OF expan-
sion aud Republican defeat is feaied
especially for Its effects upon the i'll
concealed intentions OF the admlnls-
tration respecting the Philippines.
No other Interpretation can reason
ably be put upon these alarmist APP
peals TO rally ID the local Republican
tickets and so save the country a
renewal OF the Spanish war.
IL follows, consequently, that a
Republican reverse throughout the
nation will mean an imperIalistlc re-
verse aud popular rebuke for the
reckless politicians who are planning
to plunge the nation of hand into
new and menacing ways. This Is the
result and the Interpretation Of the
result which all the applause that
gFeets the uncertain utterances on
the uppermost issue OF the time can
not assure him against; for he must
know that Republican apathy at such
a moment Is the most damnIng evil
dehce OF popular opposition To these
schemes Of universal eniDife which
could be had this side OF an explicit
verdict at the polls, Against the
cheers OF partisans thronged about
hts train let the president consider
this Omlnous slleuce In the ranks Of
the people beyond.