The San Francisco call., 1898-06-27
CRITICISM THAT HURTS.

A rule Republicans can regard with compara- \ tive indifference the criticisms made upon the policies and performances o thelr party by Democratic opponents. These policies have proven so advantageous to the nation, and the performance have far fulfilled all platform promises that n the main the Republican position is unassaiable In the lack of legislation for the purpose of promoting an American merchant marine, however, one point ot weakness is found, and that point has been so ex- posed of late through the difficulty experienced by the Government in obtaining transport ships that an at tack upon it is extremely harassing.
 The aber and more aggressive organs of the Dem have been quick to spy out this weakness in the Republican position and turn their batteries upon it. All along the line the great free trade journals ot the East harping upon the lack of transports, charging the Republican party with responsibility for our deficient merchant marine and vigorously de- nouncing the majority in Congress for not providing a remedy for the evil.
 The attacks of course are unfair. Like all Demo- cratic criticisms upon Republican administrations, they are largely made up of misrepresentations, and inrequenty they so distort the facts to vir- tualy amount to falsehoods Nevertheless there is sufficient element of truth in them to make them effective weapons in political discussion.
 The New York Times is right in saying: The most urgent need of the Government now IS trans port ships. Our military operations delayed our brave endangered and perishlng daily because reenforcements of troops and material are held back for want of transports" Equally right is the Phila- delphia Record in the statement Tt IS very slip shod and shortsighted beginning in policy of colo nizaton and imperialism to be seizng islands-near and remote in the Atlantic and Pachc-and to be hammering down forts, while at the same time we are unable to find the of transporting sol diers to occupy the territory we have seized or to fight for its retention
 It is no effective answer to these charges to say that the Democrats when in power did no more for American shipping than the Republicans have done. It would be sad state of affairs indeed if Republican performances were to be measured by Democratic standards The party of protection to all American industries can justify itself for neglecting one of them by asserting that the opposition party has done better.
 The Republican platform of 1896 declared: "We favor restoring the early American policy of discrim- mating duties for the upbuildng of our merchant marine and the protection of shipping in the foreign carrying trade so that American ships-the product of American labor employed in American shipyards, sailing under the stars and stripes and manned oficered and owned by Americans-may regain the carrying of our foreign commerce"
 On that platform and upon that pledge the people elected Republican President and Republican Con- gress. Up to this time however, not single step has been taken to foster and promote merchant marine. Now the nation needs transports, and be- hold it has none. We have been compelled to grant American registry to foreign vessels in order to embark our troops to Manila and to Cuba It is not to be wondered that astue Democrats have chosen this point for attack upon the Republican record and it is safe to say they will continue it until they are silenced by legislation in fuil1ment of the pledge