The record-union., 1899-10-19
A DEMOCRAT ON THE DEMOC-
RACY.

Ex-Governor Pattison of Pennsyl-
Vania is Democrat, a Democrat who
has proved his faith in many a cam
paign. But Governor Pattison is not
cranky or any other kind of a Demo-
crat that goes around bowling about
"anti-imperialism." The expansion that
takes his attention is the enormous
trade expansion of the country, which
he declares to be wholly unprecedented.
He adds that this is but the premoni-
tory sign of greater things in the near
future.
Governor Pattison says that he can
not understand upon what logical
grounds any one can "now assume a
position Of Indifference to public senti-
ment and the course of affairs" For
Governor Pattison believes that it
must be apparent to those willing to
see, that the overwhelming sentiment
Oh the country is favorable to the
broadest kind Of national policy-of
reaching out for commercial advan-
tages. And then this old time leader of
democracy goes on to say that the
party must stand upon a very broad
platform if it is to command conf
dence; that no one pronouncement will
DO; that the party must keep abreast of
the sentiment of the people, and that
only the blind can fail to know which
way that runs. The shouting element
Of the Democratic party, he adds, is
Just now unfortunately ahead, the peo-
pie are doing the quiet thinking:
In my travels in the West I have seen
no signs of a backward movement any,
Where. What We hear is nothing but
shouting. Tell me what was
the lesson of the Dewey parades. Was
all that outpouring Of the multitude
on the ground and the appIaudjng
American people everywhere an indi-
catlon Of any abatement of enthusi-
asm? By no means. VIII not the af-
Ialrs IN Washington and Chicago show
the same sentiment? I believe in plan
hlng campaigns with some reference TO
PUBIC sentiment I cannot imagine
mat the Democratic convention will
pIndIy put the party on the defensive
py carrying out any other program.
Japan is already factor in the com
mercial world. Both China and Japan
open a vast market for our commodi-
ties. The Philippine Islands belong to
the United States beyond question. not
only by right of conquest, but by bill
OF sale. 1t is the only desirable patch
on the face of the earth which has not
been absorbed by one Of the great
Powers. No one can now saw how i'm
portant factor 1t may be in the in
terests Of American trade. I would
ike TO ask, Can the Democratic party
carry any State on the Pacific Coast
on platform of surrender of that val
liable territory?" They surely cannot
carry any State west of the Mississippi.
The great commercial State of New
york cannot be carried on such lines.
Where the party can expect to carry
any OF the pivotal States necessary to
win l am at a loss to know.
Yes, Governor, and so are all others
who think upon the subject calmly. But
outside Of party advantage and drift,
the Governor reasons upon the Philip
pine question. He believes that we need
the Philippines for commercial reasons.
that we are constrained to hold them
because If for nothing else our aban-
donment Of them would mean the in
slant seizure Of the group or parts of
it by other Powers:
Nations are near together to-day with
modern facilities of transportation and
communication. The United States is
a foremost factor in the worlds affairs.
l cannot imagine any American citi-
zen who would wish to reverse
the, progress Of his country I
cannot suppose that the Democratic
Party which took such a prominent
part in the affairs Of this country in it's
former steps of development, will pur-
sue any such course as proposed by
some Of its prominent men.