The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1899-09-22
Chr 1emorrat.
" ashinRtun Letter.

The most substantial indication that
the imperIallstic policy is doomed in the
southwest, is the result Of the special
election Wednesday, to gil the vacancy
caused by the death of Mr.. Bland, late
congressman from Sth Missouri district.
This election was nos an ordinary one (.
By consent OF both sides, the result was
to be accepted as a test oil the Philippine
policy Of Mr.. Mckinley. No other issue
was discussed for weeks during the con
test preceding election. Not only that.
but recognizing the significance of the
Yesult, large sums Of money we're poured
into the district by thei republican con-
gressional committee. The republican
candidate was acknowledged to be GOOD
man, OF German descent, aud strong
with the German vote iu the district.
More than that, he was given the APP
pointment Of Census supervisor, thus
enabling him to use for campaign advans
age appointments Of couple hundred
Census enumeratoIs to help him win.
The democratic candidate was handi
capped. The district had been repre-
sented for generation by Mr.. Bland,
who by his prestige as silver leader
had secured practically lille tenure of
the nomination. Accordingly, when he
died, democrats who for years had been
unable to he considered for election to
congress-, were impatient to make the
race; and there was bitter contest for
the nomination, which left many OF the
candidates and their friends embittered.
The district has been of recent years
democratic, by narrow margin, and six
years ago it was carried by republican
without great difficulty. The republi-
can papers throughout the state have
had special correspondents working in
the district, and with editorials and f.
nancial aid as well, have done their ut-
most to SECURE the election of the repub-
lican, asan endorsement Of the president
and his Philippine policy. The demo-
Gratis stood on this simple declaration:
..We are unreservedly opposed to the
militsrism and imperialism of President
Mckinley"
Concluding a series of editorial efforts
10 pull the republican candidate through
to victory, the ST. Louis Globe, the Lead
ing administration organ Of the west,
said: "With the whole country watch
ing the result OF motion 10 eensure the
presidents Philippine policy, the iail-
ure CT a republican togo to the polls is
practically a vote for the democratic pro.
position to reprimand the president and
surrender in Luzon."
But this is practically what the re-
publicans decided to do. They took
this as an excellent opportunity to show
the president that they disapprove Iot
onls OF tie weak and inefficient manner
in which the war against Aquinaldo has
been waged, 5ut their opposition to tax
ing the hordss of Asia into assimilation
and competition with American labor
ers. This di,trict pile d up the hand
soonest democratic plurality it has given
for many yeers. The result was nor
to the republicans not only in :
the district, but throughout the west,
who see in it clear proof that whatever
strength expansion had year ago,
it has none today. 1t was strong in
Missouri, as it Was generally through
the west and southwest. 1t Is fading
away rapidly, and the result OF tlls spe. =
cial election shows it so conclusively o
that republicans in Washington now ad- .
init the probability that this admins =
tration win be forced to patch up some 81
sort of agreemen. with Aquinaldo and ~
get out OF the Philippines with as much p
grace and dignity as circumstances will =
admit. As political issue, imperialism y
will become soon as great burden az
snow nothingness was years ago. Oae =
3 quite as un-Ameriean a policy as The =
,ther, and deIiberation is all that is =
needed to insure its vigorous rejection BY q :
rue American manhood everywhere. :
Twenty-eight hundred was the major. VI
ty given the democratic candidate, up .
N his simple declaration against imper. g
alism, militarism and McKinley;sm