The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-19
Fighting shr of an Issue.

There is no doubt that the question as
to whether we should retain permanent
control of the Philippines and Porto Rico,
if they should come into our possession,
Is coming to the front as a party issue.
Neither the Democrats nor Republicans
are particularly anxious at this time to
have a party declaration In respect to it.
They are waiting TO find out which is the
popular side
AS the case now stands 1t looks as II
the Republicans would declare for terri
torial ACKNOWLEDGMENT and a colonial poll
cy and that the Democrats would stand
by the policy Of the fathers Of the repub-
lic-to develop the territory we have in
our present limits and keep clear of all
entangling alliances. In the vote in the
House the other day, on the Hawaiian
annexation resolution, the majority of the
affirmative votes were cast by Repubh-
cans and a majority of the negative votes
by Democrats Still tine vote was not
strictly party one, and many Democrats
and some Republicans are not willing to
accept 1t as indicating what the stand
of their respective parties will be on the
issue of territorial expansion.
1t is impossible, however, to keep this
question of a change of policy in respect
to our foreign affairs in the background.
1t is one of the most important questions
which has ever confronted the people of
this country, and it would not be surpris-
ing if it should cause a reforming of party
lines. Men who found themselves arrayed
against each other in the national cam
paign of 1896 may find themselves stand
ing shoulder to shoulder in the campaign
of 1900
Mr.. Bryan undoubtedly believes that the
question of territorial and commercial ex-
pansion is going to play an important part
in the campaign in 1900 or he would not
have been so prompt to take position in
respect to it. In fact newspapers and
public men in all parts of the country are
giving this question more consideration
than any other. In his speech in the Sen
ate last Tuesday, on the Pan American
Bank bill, Senator Frye of Maine said, In
substance that the party to which he be-
longed the Republican party. began five
years ago to change from policy of
jealous provincialism and home market
economy to a policy of commercial ex-
pansion" He meant of course that his
party in future would favor any policy
that of territorial expansion or any other
which would give this country a greater
market for its products
Parties may fight shy Of this new issue
which the war has developed, but they
will have to meet it fairly and squarely
in the near future. And when they do
meet it there will be some surprising
changes in party lines. For instance,
Speaker Reed voted against the annexa-
ton of Hawaii because it Is understood,
he does not favor acquiring territory dis
tant from our shores. In voting against an
nexation he took a stand against the
dominant sentiment in his party Re
Gently it was understood that the Presi-
dent, although favoring the annexation of
Hawaii, was against the acquisition of the
Philippines. Whether or not he now ia
vors holding on to the Philippines is I'M
known, but it is probable that he is in
harmony with the majority sentiment of
his party.
This new issue may not cut much Of
figure in the congressional elections next
fall, but political parties will have de-
elared for or against it before the cam
paign of 1900.