Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-06
THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF 1T.

Whatever there may be of merit or
demerit in a public issue practical men
concerned in the matter of political sue
cess must carefully weigh it's reception
as a whole by the American people. Po-
litical leaders do not make issues. They
grow out Of conditions, force themselves
upon the attention Of the public and are
in turn championed or opposed by politi-
cal organizations. Sometimes a public
question unifes~ sentiment to a degree
that leaves no room for a controversy,
and then all political parties vie with
each other in an attempt to recognize the
public will. This was notably true in
the inception Of the Spanish-American
war. Political leaders, as a rule, took lit
tie thought of the possible consequences
of War-the many complications that
might grow out Of a contest with Spain.
Public sentiment was overwhelmingly in
favor of the war, and the political leaders
made haste TO recognize the belligcrent
attitude OF the American people.
Now that the war is over and great
questions are to be deliberately met in
volving lines Of national policy, a differ
ence Of opinion has arisen that is likely
to grow in magnitude until it results in
a partial reaiignment of the great politi-
cal parties of the nation. With this pros
pect ahead it is fair to speculate on the
practical effects of such an issue as ma
tional expansion. Few questions have
arisen in late years upon which a wider
divergence Of views is possible. 1t will
prove an issue upon which Numerically
opposite arguments can find plenty of
standing room, and will therefore invite
the best energies of debate.
But the expansion issue will be settled
not alone upon the logic of the situation
or the strength of the arguments a
vanced by either side to the controversy
Like the late war. it will be largely
determined by conditions more powerful
to the argumentative features of the
situation brought out by the expansion,
lists, that side of the question will receive
a powerful support from the young mel
of the nation, who ambitiously await tn
creation of new opportunities in life. Elk
pansion offers to young men, and 70
that matter to thousands of men in mid
die life whose environments in a bust
ness and professional way are not salts
factory, the promise of new opportunitie
for success. With the growth of tn
commercial and industrial interests O
the republic consequent upon nationa
expansion, with the new internationa
relations affecting our trade with Asiati
countries, and all that, there will /
created thousands upon thousands c
DiOIltdblc oiJCiilHSo oillpiIlouo "iiNi ci
crgetic men.
To say that this prospect will not az
peal to the American people, especial
to the young men of the nation, is to ur
derrate the spirit of enterprise and pus
that dominates the average citize,
Moreover, there is in the American hea
q spirit of adventure that will seek graf
fication in the new conditions presente
for the great theater of the worlds activ
ties during the next quarter of a centul
will be Asia and Africa. Both CONNER
and war will find q field upon the plac
bosom of the Pacific, and an era of ente
prise will be nurtured by the trackle
pathways of the great western ocea
The development of the western porto,
of our country will result from the poll
of expansion, in the natural trend
things, and through this medium enlar
the opportunities of young men. Und