The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-05
gatlu g Eagle
NJ. NJ. MURDOCH, Editor.
THE KEY NOTE.

The Republicans of Indiana in their
state convention, held day before yes
terday, in all probability, by their plat
form set the pace for the next national
campaign. 1t being the first state enun-
citation Of Republican issues since the
war, it will be taken largely as a key
note. There is no telling now far, or if
the national administration is in any
sense inspired by the declarations Of
the Indiana convention or not, but the
man who presided over the preliminary
organization of the convention which
nominated President Mckinley, at st.
Louis, Senator Fairbanks, presided
over the convention at Indianapolis.
That portion of the platform dealing
with the question Of territorial acquisi-
ton, now so closely pressing upon the
people, is too much Of a glittering gen
arality. There is no question but that
America is entering upon the greatest
period Of power. through its achieved
manhood, under God, and that the gov
eminent will have to meet new and en-
larged conditions, and in commanding
a much greater trade will have to have
a larger navy to protect its increased
commerce. But the resolution referred
TO does not definitely say whether the
convention favors the annexation Of
the Philippines in any sense farther
than its demands for coaling stations
in a general way for naval rendezvous.
The chances are that the Republican
party will be compelled, to a definite
ness touching this subject. 1t must
either stand for the acquisition Of the
Philippines, a suzerainty, an independ-
ent government with a port Of the !
island retained, or a transfer Of the
islands to some friendly power capable |
of guaranteeing that people a stable !
government. At present a consensus !
of Republican opinion seems favorable |
to outright possession, or otherwise for |
REIMBURSEMENT TO its own people, re- |
serving a bay with its Notifications |
and CITY, such as England holds at !
Hong Kong. for our own purposes as a
naval station and commercial port.
The convention indorses the annex |
alton Of the Hawaiian group, in which /
nobody viii probably take issue. Its
demand for the early construction of |
the Nicaraguan canal, under the i'm
mediate supervision and future control
Of this country, will meet the approba-
ton Of majority Of the people of this
country without regard to party. Only
for the power we have demonstrated in
this war there would have been Euro
pean objection to this country building,
owning and controlling a canal through
territory not our own. But the powers
will be very chary of raising any OBJ
jections after the object lessons we
have given the world in the bays of
Manila and Santiago, to say nothing
Of the speedy way in which we organ
lied and put into the field a great and
effective army.
AS to the money question, the presl-
dent of the convention unequivocally
declared for the gold standard The
resolution itself de-
nounces unlimited coinage of silver 16
to l as certain TO debase the value Of
money. In a second paragraph the st.
Louis money plank is indorsed; that is,
q parity value for gold, silver and pa
per, the gold to be taken as the stand
ard value or measure.
The tariff policy Of the present adj
is indorsed with reciproc-
ty emphasized, and a tariff for rev
enue only condemned. Under the
present prosperous condition Of the
country that plank will be heartily sec
onded by every section and wing Of the
party.