New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-25
THE POLITICAL ISSUE.

The political conventions In important STATES
remind n nation largely engrossed with foreign
affairs that II has business TO take care OF ut
home and the most necessary of all It's bust
ness In little more than two months II VIII
have not only TO determine the political control
OF many States for some time to come, Dut also
IN elect all the members Of one branch OF the
low-making body. and the Legislatures which
will select "A third of the Senators. Upon Con
Crcss will ultimately depend not only the ILL.,
crease OF the Navy and the maintenance of It's
full efficiency the decision as to the size ana
quality OF the Army and all reorganization Of
that force which may he needed with reference
10 larger duties and responsibilities in future,
hut also the disposition TO be made OF vastly
important territory which has come into pos
session Of the United States. 1t will rest in
great degree with Congress 10 say how that
territory shall be governed. what protection
shall be given 70 individual rights of inhabi-
tants what opportunity To Americans who may
settle there what forms of local rule shall exist
what shall be done about the kind of money
circulating there. what taxes shall be imposed
and how trade between these territories ana the
United States and between them and other
nations shall be regulated. II is not too much
10 say that the value of these possessions TO the
Nation will depend in great degree upon lie
patriotism and wisdom of the next Congress.
II is naturally supposed that, after remark
ably short and successful war; the Adminis'ra-
ton In power will be heartily sustained by the
neople II was at their demand that the war
was caused bg an ultlmatum which Spain ro
tected. and very rarely, If ever. has the action
of Congress pore clearly reflected the VIII OF
the great majority of both parties. The vigor or
the Administration. rs well as the heroism OF
the Army and Navy. has helped TO make the
struggle brief tho losses small. and the results
highly satisfactory. Yet IL is plain that pollt-
zeal party intends to oppose. as strongly ms u
can, the election Of Representatives and Scna-
tors whc will support the Administration In
completing It's work and in shaping The future
OF the great territories acquired. Such an oppo-
siion. because inspired of partisan feeling only.
and without regard TO supposed issues involved.
cucht 10 he everywhere condemned and yet will
unquestionably control in many States.
The silver question will be used pretext
bet It Is nothing ipOrc. Every intelligent man
knows that no action favorable TO the demands
of silver men will be possible until the terms
Of President Mckinley and Vice-Prcsldent Ho-
hart hive expired. and at the same time the
Congress now TO he elected will also cease TO
exist II can do absolutely nothing toward n
change Of monetary policy. unless 1t be some
thing 10 entangle and emharrass the Govern
ment ard clog its wheels and impair It's credit.
II that should be done by silver Congress,
everybody of intelligence realizes that IT wonld
only render more certain and overwhelming the
defeat Of that party in the following election.
Hence the silver men themselves. or as many
of them as have any sense will rcsoluely op-
pose the only action that is possible for them,
even il they should succeed In electing silver
Congress on the pretext that 1t could do some
thing. Nor does any sane man suppose that the