The San Francisco call., 1898-08-23
KNOTTY PROBLEMS.

THE question of territorial expansion, or what ! is coming to be known throughout the country
 as imperialism" is likely in the near future to divide the principal political parties number of State platforms have been constructed in the Eastern States since Dewey captured the Philippines and Miles and Shafter invaded Porto Rico and Cuba, and in most cases the question has been sraddled lodged One of the latest is platform issued by the Repub licans of Indiana, in which the subject IS coolly avoided
 These Republicans approve the annexation of Ha- wa, but that IS as far as they go. Whether the Hooser State wants Cuba Porto Rico annexed or favors the acquisition of the Philippines is deep and impenetrable mystery.
 However on all sides there is strong demand for "coaling stations" Even the Indiana Republican Conventon-the pink of conservatism-favors the establishment of these stations wherever necessary, thus squntng at imperialism in its mildest and most innocuous form. So long as care is taken to refrain from saying where these coaling stations to be located or how they to be acquired the cautious platform makers of both parties will manage to keep out of the hole of territorial expansion. It IS quite credtable to them that so far they have discussed "coaling stations without committing themselves to policy of annexing the hordes of the Orient the mongrels of the West Indies.
 The difficulty is bound to come however when Congress meets Then the politicians will be forced to take sides one way the other. For long time both parties have been declaring for the enactment and enforcement of laws restricting and preventing the immigration of undesirable foreigners. This done for the benefit of free American labor which it has been proved compete with the cheap labor of Asia. For the purpose of maintaining this posi- ton the politicians of both parties have repeatedly charged that the Asatics live on rice and rats and work for few cents day, and every effort has been made upon this proof to the of American laboring
 How the politicians going to take the posi- of these degraded Asiatics and at the same time main tain reputation for consistency it is difficult to fore see In many States where there is large labor vote this position will have to be assumed rather dplo- matcaly. The United States has already annexed some forty or fifty thousand Chinese and Japanese in Hawaii with the approval of both political parties To explain why the competition of these people should be feared while under foreign rule and why it becomes innocuous under American rule will be calculated to tax the ingenuity of even such diplomats as make Democratic and Republican platforms.
 Evidently the Eastern politicians realize that diff cult task confronts them. They are approaching it With great caution-the Democrats with view to withholding as much Republican thunder possible and the Republicans with a long eye to the future
 An instance of the dangers which beset all parties IS found Tn the case of Texas. The Democrats of that State have declared haty in favor Of territorial e- pansion' with all its consequences But then there is no labor vote in Texas and annexation is traditional with its people