Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-05
REPUBLICANS SATISFIED
REGARD THE RESULT IN VERMONT
AS AN ENDORSEMENT.
COnstrue 1t an Indicating That the
People Of the Country Are Not
With Mr.. Bryan.

The friends of the administration are very
we'll satisfied with the result of the Vermont
election. A very considerable reduction of
the majority below that Of 1895 was ex-
pected, and the plurality Of upwards Of
10000 obtained yesterday is regarded as
very satisfactory. There was reason to ap-
prehend tina. If the cry Of anti-imperialism
was making an impression upon the coun-
try that fact would be shown by q very
much greater falling off of the republican
plurality iE Vermont than the election yes
terday developed.
A significant lesson may be drawn from
Vermont When the Porto Rican tariff bill
was pending in Congress the opposition to
the measure in Vermont was probably az
strong as III any state in the Union. Sena-
tor Proctor made one Of the most effective
arguments against the measure and II was
said at that time that every newspaper pub
lished in the state opposed the law The
keynote Of the anti-expansionsts cry is
found in the Porto Rican tariff act
When Senator Proctor was in Washing
ton some time ago he said that though
there had been a strong sentiment among
vermont republicans against making any
discrimination between Porto Rico and
not involve antagonisrn toward the ad-
m1nistration, but represented merely q diff
ference OF opinion as to policy. At the same
time, 1t Is upon the opposition Of repubM-
cans to the discrimination between territory
Of the United States and that which has
come into possession Of the government
that the democrats rely for acquisitions to
their strength at the polls this fall. Their
expectation is that those people who believe
that the Porto Rican tariff act was uncon-
stitutional or improper will readily accept
the charge that the present administration
has adopted an imperiaiist policy. II this
expectation were well founded it might be
expected to be manifested more particularly
In Vermont than most any other state In
the Union.
ers to rise in their wrath and smite the
administration is regarded by republicans
as very plainly indicating that the people
OF this country do not readily accept the
theory that the policy of the administration
Is imperalistic.
1t is suggested that differing with the
majority of Congress as to the Porto Ri
can policy, Vermont republicans did not
hesitate to express their opinion. both
through the press and through members
of the delegation in Congress, and that If
they believed that imperialism actually
threatened the republic through the policy
OF the republican party. they would be just
as prompt to express their disapproval; but
the slight falling off from the immense ma
jority OF 1896 gives no such evidence Of
disapproVal or suspicion. .A
Friends of the administra ton regard it
as very safe to assume that republicans
and sound money supporters generally
throughout the country who may not alto
gether approve of territorial expansion or
of the policy adopted toward our new
island possessions Will, when ~4-comes to
the question of choosing between the re-
publican party and the allied organizations
represented by Mr.. Bryan. almost to a man
support the administration. The result In
Vermont Is construed As indicating that the
people OF the country generally are not
prepared to believe as Mr.. Bryan and his
supporters contend, that the policy Of the
administration involves imperialism and
Institutions.