The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-29
The Prevalent Feeling of Security and
Its Causes

The premOnitOry physical symptoms Of
the approach Of autumn, already so APP
parent, are becoming manifest also in tho
more vigorous intellectual energy with
which the great questions to be decided
next year are discussed by our esteemed
newspaper contemporaries. Meantime the
movement OF the new regiments to the
Philippines will soon begin at San Fran
cisco, and all the preparations for decis-
i've campaign there at the close of the rainy
season are proceeding with methodical
activity. Undoubtedly the degree of sue
cess attained in that military campaign
will have an effect on the character OF the
political campaign OF next year, but no
doubts OF the substantial settlement Of
that disturbing question long before the
Presidential election are in tho public
mind. Practically the whole country sup
ports the Administration in asserting the
national authority over the Philippines.
From this time forward the political cam
paign for the election of the next President
and the determination of the national policy
for the four years from March /, 1901, will
be under way conspicuously for more than
fourteen months. On the side Of the
Republicans there is less handwriting with
reference to it because practically both the
candidate and the policy of their party are
already settled. Mr.. MCkINLEYs renomi-
nation is assumed everywhere az a foregone
conclusion, and that the Republican party
will make the contest on the issues OF the
preservation Of the gold standard and the
| harvesting Of all the fruits of conquest in
| the war with Spain is not less inevitable
| Such doubt as there IL is confined to the
| Democratic party.
1t is not doubtful, however, that the
National Con vention of the Democracy will
| not declare for the maintenance OF the gold
| standard. In no quarter is there any expec
tation that the party will reverse squarely
its silver policy Of 1895. 1t is not probable
that even a suggestion that it should do so
will be made by single delegate in the
| Convention. The most that is hoped for
| by any Democratic advocate OF the gold
standard is that the Convention will not
declare openly and positively for 10 to
l. but as such Democrats are insist
ing upon such a declaration by the
Republicans it is not within the range OF
reason to suppose that they will support
their own party ifit is less emphatic in pro-
|
the Chicago platform, in general terms at
least, may be set down as inevitable. but
whether its currency feature will be
repeated specifically in the new platform
may be doubtful. That the Democratic plat
form in 900 will have to be radical to satisfy
the sentiment which gave Bryan his aston
ishing and portentous vote in 1895 is
obvious. Disaster in the Philippines might
settle the question in favor OF fierce
Democratic denunciation OF the policy of
expansion, but the probably successful out
come OF the campaign in those islands, for
which we are now preparing 50 vigorously,
would shut off the possibility OF conducting
anything approaching a popular campaign
on that Issue; and even unexpected failure
TO accomplish the result promptly would
only tend TO cXasperate the people against
party which called for surrender.
In either event the denomination of Mr..
BRYAN is now accepted by the Democracy
generally as almost as much OF foregone
conclusion AZ the second nomination OF Mr..
MCKINLEY, No other Democrat upon whom
there is any prospect OF uniting his party
has yet appeared all the efforts Of the
opponents of Mr.. BRYAN to train up such a
rival have been In vain thus far
Undoubtedly the Democratic minority in
the coming Congress will determine by it's
course the policy OF the party next year,
but as it is overwhelmingly free silver In Its
sentiment it Is likely to strengthen the
probability Of Mr., BRYAN's nomination,
J with all that would imply. The Democratic