Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-10-27
The Dewey Movement.
Reasons why Many Thoughtful People
Turn Toward the Hero OF Manila Bay
for Our Next President.

/
Turn Toward the Hero OF Manila Bay
for Our Next President.
From the Boston Herald
There is something more than admira-
ton for military hero in the general de-
sire that Dewey shall be the next presi-
dent of the United States. The brilliancy
of his naval exploit has much to do with
this, but there are many people not carried
away by its dazzling quality who still hold
that Dewey is the man of the present era
for that office. They reason very much In
this way in forming such an opinion: The
important question in our public affairs
for the immediate future is the settling of
the nations policy as regards its relations
with its new possessions, and particularly
as regards those in the Philippine islands.
Dewey is thoroughly competent and reli-
able here. He is the only man who has
been connected with the latter whom
events have shown can be safely trusted.
Every one else concerned in treating them
has bunged more or less. Dewey alone
has been entirely successful.
Under his administration all went
smoothly in the Philippines. Spain was
overthrown there, and the people of the
islands were brought into alliance and CO.
operation with the American forces to
achieve that end. After Spain was over
come, Dewey, in representing American
interests, was still on excellent terms with
the islanders Everything was going on
satisfactorily for the settlement of Philip
pine affairs on the best basis for our own
country, and to the contentment of the
Philippine people themselves while Dewey
was in control. 1t was only after the
power was taken from him that strife en-
sued, which at last ended in war with peo-
pie who, while Dewey continued to repre-
sent our country, were on the best terms
with IL.
What wonder, then, that thoughtful
people should prefer the man in the presi-
deney who had demonstrated that he I'M
derstood the Philippine question, and had
the skill and tact to deal with it, to one
who had so conducted affairs there as to
involve the nation in a costly war, destruct-
i've to life and property? While others
had conspicuously failed Dewey had clearly
demonstrated that he was the man for the
situation. Indeed, it was Dewey's great
ness In his profession that had created the
situation. When the Spanish war broke
out no one anticipated its bringing the
Philippine islands into the possession Of
Gfof 10 Al.
surprise of every one. He brought to the
nation gift which she hardly herself at
first understood, and he showed in the
time that Immediately followed that he
was as skilful in dealing with this gift as
he had been courageous and resourceful in
the procuring of it.
This is really the rout Of the movement
for Dewey for the presidency in the minds
of the more thoughtful people of the coun-
try. A great issue has arisen in our poll
tics, one which, for the time being, dwarfs
questions of currency, tariff and all others.
1t is one of national expansion, and the
point to be decided is as to how national
expansion shall be conducted. Shall it be
put into the hands of men who are no
more than politlclsns-who have already
confused it by bringing on an unnecessary
war, which threatens to leave the people
who are to be added to the country sullen,
resentful, and with a sense of being iniur-
ed in their entrance into our association?
Shall it be continued in the politicians
way with the offices created in it in pollti-
clans hands to further irrtate and Cypress
an already much too inimical people?, Tor
shall it be intrusted to the hands of a man
like Dewey, who has shown that his meth
DDS are such as insure peace, rather than
invoke war, who will treat the Philippine
question in a spirit of craftsmanship; who |
will have no political friends to reward by |
quartering them upon its offices; who may |
be expected to heal the strife which a de-
parture from his policy was the direct
cause of creating?
The Dewey movement for the next pres
idency rests upon something above politics
and partsanship. 1t is based upon the |
needs OF the country, If its new policy of
acquiring territory is to be carried out I'M
der the best conditions. 1t may not sue
coed in breaking down the barriers of par
tisanship that confront it, but the public
feeling that has called it into being is too
plain to be mistaken.