The times., 1899-10-11
Dewey and the Presidency.


nominated for the Presidency by the next
Democratic National Convention is exciting
unusual interest in all parts of the coun-
try, the extent of the sentiment back
Of it being plainly in evidence in the
columns Of Northern. Eastern, and West
ern newspapers. The movement is with
out organization, and is a spontaneous
expression OF popular feeling. So regarded,
it is worthy of respect The trouble is
that it is inconsistent with certain vital
facts and conditions which make it i'm
practicable. There are at least four good
reasons why it would appear to be i'm
possible for Admiral Dewey to become the
Democratic candidate in 1900
First: SO far as he has any politics.
the reasonable presumption is that Dewey
is Republican. Els childhood and youth
were passed in a Commonwealth then and
always strongly Republican. His an
cestry. carly associations, the POLITICAL faith
OF his family and connections, would ell
tend strongly to give him the prevalent
bias OF his environment. Admitting that,
like naval officers in general he has out
grown any deep or personal interest in
politics. the chances are that he has re-
mained and is what he was born-a Re-
publican.
Second: independently of the first con-
sideration. it is not lik, ! that Admiral
Dewey would be offered the nomination
by the Democracy. or could accept it if
rendered, if the eonuactionist views of
Democratic leaders and the utteranees of
STATE conventions in agreement with them
are 10 be taken as prophetic of the next
national platform. For he is known to be
an advocate ard champion of American
expansion in the broadest and most com
plete meaning Of the term. He believes
that every foot Of Philippine territory is
now as much American soil as California
is. or Louisiana; that the archipelago came
to Us as a result Of war, accepted formally
and fully and brought under absolutely
legal and final American sovereignty by
the Treaty Of Paris; and that to surren-
der any part of it to native anarchy or
TO foreign occupation would be unpatriotic,
ungererous to the Inhabitants of the ISL
aads. uneivnized and inhaman. Admiral
Dewey favors the =. ~ compression of the
Tazal musiny in The eiez'e Island Of Luzon,
and the estabHsanent CT honest. efficient.
and benevolent government over all the
tribes and peoples OF the possession; giving
them. from time to time. an Increasing in
fuence and voice in the same, as they
gradually may render themselves capable
OF inteiligently assuming the rights and
functions Of citizenship. He considers the
ownership. control and development of the
rich insular empire necessary to the COM
merce, political position, dignity and future
progress and prosperity OF the American
people. There is not doubt that the vast
majority Of them fully and heartily agree
with him; but his views are not the views
liable to commend him as a Presidential
candidate to the Democratic National Con-
yention of 1900.
Third: Admiral Dewey is known. in
general way. TO oppose the Democratic
doctrine OF free silver In several inter
views while he was stationed at Manila
he made this entirely plain. AS a naval
officer Of high rank, his personal asso-
Citations have been almost exclusively with
people who would naturally favor the gold
standard, and his service abroad has
brought him into contact with conditions
making in the same direction Intellect
ually as well as morally. he is thorough
~ honest man, and it is possible that.
we're he to give his mind TO an unpreju-
diced study OF the economic science of
money, his views might change The fact.
however. is that at present he agrees with
the Republican party on the question of
the currency. 4 monometaliist would
hardly receive the Democratic nomination
next year, nor accept it If offered, on
platform demanding the free and unlimit-
ed coinage of silver at the ratio of six
teen TO one,
Fourth: The Democratic National Con-
yention OF 1900 vii! be organized with an eye
single to the denomination of Mr. William
J. Bryan, and, according 10 present indica-
tions. that purpose Will be accomplished by
practically unanimous vote on the frst
ballot. and, we thinss, by reclamation with
out any ballot. Such opposition as Mr.. Bry-
an may have 10 contend with viii of neees-