The evening times., 1898-10-21
RooseI "Nar Issue.v

Colonel Rooseyelts pose as the rep
resentatiye of patriotic America. as
sailed by Spanish Democrats" was too
absurd to escape ridicule and too in
sincere to escape exposure. He has
affirmed that the war was an eXclu-
sively Republican enterprise, and i'm
piled that its result was chiefly due to
his own gallantry: that his defeat for
the governorship would mean that the
people repudiate the war with Spain,
and other similar nonsense. Because
the Democrats have naturally called
attention to the canal frauds, by which
nine million dollars was stolen and
wasted under a Republican administra-
ton he asserted that the Democrats
were afraid To face the war issue"
The only war issue" there is relates
TO the wrecking Of a magnificent army
by the War Department that was first
at.acked by Colonel Roosevelt himself
and is now defended by the President.
1t must be admitted that the Demo-
cratic orators in New York have not
paid as much attention to this as its
the Roosevelt challenge, however, ex-
Senator Hill has taken up what the Re
publicans cali the war issue" al
though theil meaning is not quite clear.
In reply To the declaration that the
election Of Judge Van Wyck would be
taken as a Reputation Of the war, MIR.
Hill recalled the fact that the Demo-
.,,in IN nd
Democratic press compelled "a halting
and reluctant Republican Administra-
ton to inaugurate a war to which it
was opposed" This is a matter Of rec
ord There were Democrats, here and
there. wEo were not for war, but they
were not as numerous or as talkatiye
as the Republicans who were strongly
against il The Presidents secretary.
Mr.. Porter wrote letter to personal
friends at Hartford, to have the local
board Of trade adopt resolutions ap-
plauding the President for his refusal
to go to war. saying he acted under
the approval Of the President. But for
the popular support Of the war Demo-
Gratis. which overwhelmed Senator
friends of Spain and peace. not d gun
would have been fired to destroy the
tyrannical power of Spain in this hem
isphere. There is documentary proof
Of all this. The personal vanity Of
Colonel Roosevelt is responsible for
raising what he calls IAN issue" that
must be a serious injury to his party
in, +l,. Gov, elections
That issue cannot end with the be-
ginning of the war. At this moment.
when the demand of the American pes
pie is for the rescue of the people of
all the Philippines from the oppressive
sovereignty of the Spaniard, Presid mt
Nc KinIey is determined to favor Spain
to a degree that must d!sappoint,
shock AMI anger Republicans as well
as Democrats. In spite of the peril
dious resolution of the New York Re
publicans and the treacherous asser-
tions Of Senator Hanna and Judge Day,
the restoration of Spain's power in all
the Philippines, except the Island of
Luzon, is fully intended by the Presi-
dent, and he has given to the Peace
While these who have listened 10 the
speeches of the President in the West
have cried out for the keeping of the
islands, he has never responded; he
has never given an approving smile
when told that the flag must never be
hauled down where il has been raised
On the contrary, he has told the people
that desire must give way to duty"
and in every way except by distinct
words he has intimated his purpose to
consider what he regards as his duty
to Spain, rather than his duty to carry
out the wishes and demands of the
American people.
If the Democrats of New York have
any sense, they will allow Colonel
Roosevelt and his friends to make all
the war issues they can. The Democ-
racy has everything to gain and moth
ing TO lose in the discussion.