The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-10-21
DEMOCRATS AND THE WAR
They Wed With the Republicans In
Giving the Administration
Financial Support.

Mckinley Lack of Diplomacy and vieor
is Dealing with Spain Was RoundIy
Criticised by the R@publicans-C Chair
san War . state Issue to Bolster Up
His Party.
\ 1t ought to be remembered. because il
Is true. that the Democratic party was
the real war party OF the nation. 1t was
In favor Of the war with Spain for hu-
manitarian considerations. 1t believed
that Spain's rule In Cuba was brutal.
savage. horrible. and 1t believed that
the Cubans ought to enjoy liberty and
Independence. So persistent were Demo-
Gratis in demanding q declaration Of war
against Spain that the remark was often
made: "This is Democratic war"
1t IL a matter of record that when 1t
became apparent that war with Spain
was inevitable and the administration
wanted the means for war purposes,
Democrats In congress Wed with Re-
publicans in giving to the administra-
tion all the money 1t demanded and
$50. 900. 900 was voted and placed in the
hands Of the president to be expended
as he might deem proper.
II Democrats doubted the policy Of
issuing interest bearing bonds to snp-
ply war revenue, IL was not because OF
any hostility to the war. or for the pur-
pose OF embarrassing the administra-
tion. but. rather because they believed
the time had not arrived making it
necessary to burden the people with an
additional bonded debt and taxation.
They believed that the war would be Of
short duration, that the reserves Of the
treasury were ample to carry on the
war. even If it should continue to De-
oember, when, il bonds were required.
the facts would be before the country.
and bond loan could speedily Dc made
TO meet all emergencies. In a word,
the Democrats, in and out OF congress,
with patriotic unanimity have sought
In every possible way to uphold the
hands Of the administration In conduct
ing the war.
II there were criticisms Of Mr.. Nc.
Kinley's diplomacy and Of his Lack Of
vigor In dealing with Spain. 1t should
be stated that Republicans were even
more pronounced in their complaints
than were Democrats. And it will be
remembered that IL required heroic ef-
forts on the part OF Republican whips
to restrain Republican members Of con-
gress from breaking through all re-
straints and openly condemning Mr..
McKinley's dilatory policy.
The Democratic party studiously de.
clined 70 drag the war into politics. 1t
was not. IN its origin. q party war. II
Mr.. Mckinley was obnoxious to criti-
cism. II was because he "detested" war.
and exhibited the greatest reluctance In
beginning hostilities. In his own Ian
yuage he desired to be satisfied that .
war with Spain would be righteous
war;" and even the sinking Of the bat
tlsship Maine did not arouse him from
his lethargy. And the facts show that
Republicans were more censorious than
Democrats over such exhibitions Of
supineness.
And In this connection il is worthy Of
mention that the Democracy Of Indiana,
In state convention assembled. in put
ting forth their platform. ignored the
war ~ . political issue. There was not
one word in the platform arraigning
Mr.. McKinley's administration for any.
thing done or omitted la conducting the
war. On the contrary. the platform
gave only expression OF patriotic senti.
ments. The war plank OF the platform
was In the highest degree eulogistic Of
the war. army and navy. Indeed. In
such regards its Endorsement Of the war
was even more pronounced than the
declarations of the Republican platform.
To still further demonstrate that the
Democratic party was opposed to drag
ging the war into politics. on Aug. II
Hon. Parks M. Martin, chairman Of the
state Democratic central committee,
gave expression to his views in an in.
tsrview in the indianapolis Sentinel ON
the war as q political issue. and is re-
ported a. follows:
"As l said, don't believe that the
war should be made an issue In this
state campaign. 1t was not a political
war. II was waged In the interest Of
to succor the down-trodden,
people Of Cuba. The Demo-
Gratis are not disposed to bring the war
Into the state campaign. not that they're
afraid to. for II the Republicans show a
to make It a campaign mat.
ter we arc going to take care Of our.
selves all right IL they are going to
make this war campaign IL Is not putt.
ing II too strong to say that we will
handle them without gloves. We might
be able to show. for instance, that the
war was brought about by the Demo-
Gratis in congress. assisted by few Re-
publicans, and that II II had been left
to President Mckinley aud his advisers
we would probably never have had
war do not say this in the way OF
criticism and am opposed to trying to
make campaign material out OF war
that was supported Loyalty by all parties
and all sections
This completely disposes all the shal.
l,~v ~ x.S tka u .,>.. lsI, ......