The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-19
DEMOCRATS INCAPABLE.
Wisdom of the Country Bottled Up In
the Republicans Says Sem
ator PIatt,

New York. Feb. 19-The Herald
quotes Senator Plat, of New York, as
saying in an interview;
while the Republican platform upon
which we will make our next campaign
has not been definitely decided upon, it
is pretty well understood that we will
make our fight on the line Of policy Of
the present administration. The cam
paign is being shaped every day, and
the Democrats are entitled to all the
comfort they are able to derive from
what they seem delighted to call Re
publican mistakes.
1.-THE ridiculous exhibition OF inca
pacity on the part of the Democratic
leaders while the financial bill was
pending in congress was sufficient to
convince all observing persons that
hey are hardly capable of conducting
the business affairs of this great ma
ton in manner acceptable to the
American people.
Il understand the Democratic leaders
are declaring that we weakened on the
silver question by adopting bimetallic
amendment to the financial bill in the
senate, and they propose to make that
one of their campaign issues. They alsO
assert that they will draw heavily upon
our forces if the refunding provision OF
the financial bill becomes a law.
Some of my constituents are troubled
about that bimetallic amendment, and
] have received several letters on the
subject asking if the Republicans had
hosts by the adoption of that amend
ment. My reply has invariably been
that there was no lowering of colors
20 the silver forces or no substantial
deviation from the former policy of the
Republican party relative to the sub
ject of bimetallism.
1.-The senate amendment to the finan-
cial bill, which was effected by Senator
AIdrich at the instance of the commit
tee on finance, was simply declara-
ton of q re-affirmation of the party
principles that subject as laid down
in the last national platform Of the Re-
publican party.
LAS to our colonial policy that is
being formed now, and 1 have not
given the subject sufficient investiga-
ZION TO discuss it at this time. Our poll
icy toward Hawaii is pretty we'll de-
fined, and before the coming week ex-
pires we may have a pretty good idea
what we intend to do with regard to
Porto Rico. In the discussion of the
Porto Rican question the whole ques-
ton of our colonial possessions will
come up, and as there is a wide diff
ference of opinion the subject it
would be premature to attempt to build
a party platform so far in advance Of
the meeting of the national convention.
AT the proper time President Nc
Kinley and Senator Hanna. chairman Of
the national Republican COMMITTEES, Will
call q conference of the party leaders,
with a view to determining upon what
lines II may be deemed advisable 10
make the campaign / have not been
consulted by either President Mckinley
or Mr.. Hanna on the subject. and I
don't know that 1 shall be, but my in
terests in the success of the party in
duces me to try to keep posted as to
what is going on within our lines and
when 1 get a chance L take a peep into
the enemy'S camp.
q deprecate anything that savors of
over confidence in a political contest
and therefore / am not going to fol-
low the example of the Democratic
leaders by making a lot of rash predic-
lions as to the future. In my judgment
the majority of the people in this coun-
try are satisfied that their interests are
better protected by the Republican
party than they would be if the ad-
ministration were turned over to the
Democrats. I rely upon the intelligence
of the American people to choose be-
tween Mckinley and Bryan