Evening star., 1898-10-22
HILLS BROOKLYN SPEECH
Democrats Delighted With His Presentation
of the War Question.

The democrats are greatly delighted over
Senator Hills speech last night in Brook
lyn. In this speech was made the first
satisfactory presentation of the war ques-
ton by any prominent democrat in this
campaign. The democrats have been
afraid to dwell upon the war lest they
should make an issue which would be in
furious to themselves. There las been a
great deal of confusion of counsel in the
party as to the attitude to be assumed to-
ward the administration with relation to
the conduct of the war, and they have also
been afraid to anticipate an issue with re-
lation to the question of expansion, or So
called imperialism. Consequently they have
been put in the position of practically tgnor-
Ing the war, and this has seemed artificial
and unnatural. The speech of Mr.. Hill is
nailed as the democratic keynote on the
war question, and democrats speak of 1t as
most effective response to the claim ex-
pressed or implied, by the republicans In
the campaign that the credit of the war
shouid be given 10 that party and that the
victory would be tarnished should the
democrats be successful in the elections
thls falL. The democrats have wanted to
say to the country that the democratic
party was the original Cuban sympathizer,
that the republican administration was
forced reluctantly into the war for liberty
of the war the democrats were as much en-
titled to credit any one else They have
appeared, however to experience great
dlf1culty in getting this view of the ques-
non satisfactorily presented until now
and 1t is probable that Mr.. Hills speech
will be repeated by democrats all over the
country during the rest of the campaign
The Expansion Idea.
one thing in this speech, however. which
is rather startling to some democrats, is
where he refers to the American flag calm
ly floating over the newly acquired Ameri-
can territory, never. as it is fondiy hoped.
to be lowered again"
IL is a little uncertain whether Mr.. Hill
has in mind all the outlying territory I'M
DER dispute, or whether he confines his
fond hope to Porto Rico alone: but the ex
preston savors of a broad. expansive pol
ICY which a good many democrats con-
template with ill-favor. But Mr.. Hilrs
speech will probably be regarded as tho
compete presentation of the democratic
case with respect TO the war as an issue
IN thiS campaign, and all that he has said
on the subject will go together with very
nttie i! possioil1ty of any one venturtng to
take issue with him on this particular
point. running the risk of provoking a pen-
eral discussion of the expansion question
winch there is general desire should be
kept out Of this campaign.
Shifting the Line of Battle.
Another phase OF the Hill speech is that
1t is likely to give to the ex-senator a re-
newed prominence in the democratic partv
quite inconsistent with his position In that
party heretofore since the adoption of the
Chicago platform. The speech is designed
to SO shift ground as to make the line of
battle one of party against party gener-
ally, instead of confining the struggle TO
the one issue which the Chicago platform
lists have constantly in mind 1t Is re-
garded as evident that Mr.. Hill is making
q bold stroke to regain his prominence in
the party. and that he is likely to accom-
plfsh good deal in this way by rea son of
his superior force and his ability and dar-
ing in dealing with q difficult question In
which the party sympathizes with him, but
has not had the skill 10 present