The herald., 1898-06-12
DON'T HURRY

The Santa Rosa PreSS-DemOcrdt mas
made the astounding discovery that the
question of a new policy for the Demo-
cratic party is being quietly discussed
among thinking Republicans in many
parts of the United States" natural
inference from the foregoing would be
that it is the custom and pleasure of the
Republicans to dictate and provide the
policy of the Democratic party, changing
it whenever they see fit; but the Democ-
racy of our Santa Rosa contemporary is
proof against such an assumption.
The Press Democrat believes that our
foreign policy and tire question of terri
torial ACKNOWLEDGMENT will together form
the next great issue to be decided by party
politics in this country, and it assumes
that the Republican party is playing
for position as the saying goes. In
other words, that it is feeling the popular
pulse upon the issue, with the intention
of choosing the side that seems the
stronger, leaving the Democrats to take
the weaker, defensive side. 1t says:
How the two great political parties
will line up on the proposition-which
will be for and which against the adop-
ton of a policy of territorial acquisi-
tion-is naturally the first question sug-
gesting itself. 1t is the hope of arrang-
ing the matter to their own satisfac-
tion that has caused the Republican
| manipulators to begin their effort
| toward forming the new platform for
the Democratic party.
From all parts of this broad land
even now come indications which to
the keen discerner show upon which
side the Republican thinkers would pre-
fer their party should stand when the
matter comes, as it surely must, before
the great bar of the people for final
judgment. The leading journals of the
east headed by the personal organ of
the president himself, have begun, some
of them during the past few days only,
to strongly advocate the retention of
all territory acquired by conquest.
Snatchng at the bait, many papers of
the opposite faith have thoughtlessly
grasped the opportunity to differ with
their opponents. Statesmen in the halls
Of congress have already committed
themselves. and If the policy is not
stopped at once Democracy in as un-
mistakable a manner as is possible to
a party out of power, will find itself
committed to position not only short
sighted but absolutely untenable in the
light of modern thought and twentieth
century progression
Nevertheless, it is unnecessary for the
people of the United States or the Demo-
cratic party, to go off at halfcock. The
new issue was created in day, by Admi-
raj Dewey, only six weeks ago. 1t in
wolves on the one side radical depart
ure from the policy which this country
has pursued for century. 1t may be
that the time is right for the change, but
surely the time has not come to make
the question an issue of party politics
1t is a matter that calls for earnest, pa
triotic, disinterested consideration by ali
the people as citizens of the United States
Let the politics come in later on.
The nations of Europe should not force
the United States as nation hastily to
adopt a new permanent foreign policy
because of the Philippine Islands, nor
shall the Republican politicians make UP
a policy for the Democratic party to fol-
low