Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-10-28
peared dark and gloomy At arst but

peared dark and gloomy at frst but
soon 1t disappeared and the sun oil
peace again showed his smiling face.
The tramp Of the American soldier
awakened the echoes Of the orient and
his blood has consecrated to liberty
the tryranny-cursed soil Of the West
Indies. The thunders of our victorious
feets have been heard in the two hemi-
spheres. and the banner of the stars
and stripes has been unfurled to the
gaze Of men who have never before
known anything but oppression.
The Hawaiian Islands have become q
part of u republic and are happily
resting under thes HELD Of American
sovereignty. and they will furnish
homes for thousands of our people who
are seeking new fields for American
enterprise. thrift and energy. They
will also provide a coaling station and
a safe refkuge for our ships Of COM
nserce as we'll as our ships Of war. In
deed, they will be a safe guard to our
western coast and will enable US to
control absolutely the future commerce
OF the Pacific ocean, which is destined
TO be the greatest in the world. These,
together with thee ontrol and owner
ship Of Porto Rico and the Ladrones,
and the guardianship of Cuba, to say
nothing Of the Philippine Islands. will
open up wondrous new chapter in the
story Of ourn ational policy. And 1t
will require great courage and wisdom
as we'll as the purest patriotism to
solve the gerat problems that they will
bring up for solution.
Our noble president can be relied up
OH to do his duty in the promises and
our country's interests will not be Inn
perilled by any act Of his, but 1t is of
the supremest Importance that he shall
have the hearty support Of the con-
eress of the United States. For how
can his policy be effective. or what will
his efforts avail IL one or both houses
of then ext congress shall be against
him? But If both houses Of congress
are in harmony with the president
tLen the national administration will
have a fair chance to make a record
for itself and will then be held respon-
sible by'the American people, who will
repudiate it at the first opportunity If
1t should fail to meet the requirements
of te age. and should prove unworthy
of the trust and confidence of a pro-
g7essive and liberty loving citizenship.
Should the next congress be antagonis-
tic to our president. our country would
again be in turmoil and confusion. Our
revenue system that is now replenish-
ing SO rapidly q depleted treasury
would Immediately be disturbed. The
spectres Of free silver and free trade
would again stalk abroad in our land
and in the shadows of their train sill
ent mills and factories, dust covered
Icons and shuttles ands pindles would
appear, while thes FRO and misery
of idle and starving people would pre-
vail upon every hand.
DEMOCRATIC IMBECILITY.
We have a right to Judge the future
bv the past. Then the same kind OF
opposition may be reasonably expected
from democratic congressman in the
next congress that was seen in the last
congress. Some Of democratic
friends are SO unfair as to declare that
the democratic congressman in the last
congress compelled us to declare wal
against Spain and hence they are re.
sponsible for all the glory that ha.
come out Of It's successful termination
And what are the facts? Simply thit
and nothing more: That every wal
measure following the voting of $780,.
Doc, 900 to be used by the president FOL
war purposes, either met with demo.
cratic opposition n with passive and
unwilling support Their ecord shows
that MI. Hay, a democratic member
from Virginia and am ember Of the
committee on Military Affairs, on one
occasion, when aw ar measure was
pending and objected to by democrats
said: at does seen to me to be a cur.
ious fact that no bill can be reported
here which looks to the real purpose O
defeating the foe with whom we are
contending without adverse criticisms
being made, and in my humble judg.
n,ent that sort of criticisms which
ought to have no weight with the mem.
bers of the house." And the following
editorial appearing in the Times, the
leading demrocatic paper in Washing.
ton. and a free silver paper, undel
date Of June %, last. says: "Since tn,
outbreak of the Spanish war the demo
Gratis in the house have committe,
about every error possible. Givini
grudging support 10 the various imper
alive measures which followed the orr
ginal appropriation Of $50.000,000 TO
the national defense. they lined them
selves up almost solidly against tn,