New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-20
SENATOR WoLC0TT IN THE CHAIR.

The Republican National Convention per-
formed the preliminary work Of organization
Yesterday in an expeditions manner and under
auspicious circumstances. The spectacle or
great party engaged in the act OF equlpplng
itself for a strenuous contest with confident
expectations of winning the victory which 1t
well deserves is intensely interesting to the
whole country, and can scarcely fall to produce
at least q temporary sense Of exhilaration even
in those who hope for its defeat 1t can easily
be believed that after the protracted period of
anxious consultation and negotiation over the
Vice-Presidential problem the delegates and the
great miscellaneous audience were alike ready
TO welcome the beginning Of the Conventions
formal labors Opportunities for displays Of
tremendous enthusiasm such as the galleries
love to promote and watch were naturally not
provided at the opening session, but there was
no lack of genuine and joyous feeling, and II
may be considered a good omen that the
heartiest applause was discriminatory be-
slowed where it most properly belonged.
The Convention and the party were well
served in the choice Of a temporary chairman.
Senator Wolcott has gained the respect Of the
whole country by his loyalty and courage under
circumstances of peculiar difficulty, and amply
earned the honor Of being chosen to enunciate
as the original spokesman of the Convention
the party's claims TO public approval for what
is past and the principles on which it solcits
further lease Of power. The Colorado Senator
possesses the gift Of copiOus and inspiring ora,
tory. and never had cause to doubt his capacity
to arouse audience 10 fervor, but he wisely
chose to make his appeal to the reason and
judgment rather than TO the emotions Of his
hearers His speech, indeed, was full Of ANNA
tion and more than once rose to a strain OF
lofty eloquence; but it would have failed of its
most worthy and essential purpose If 1t had not
been of a character to commend it to the taste
and the sober consideration of the millions by
whom.it was not heard but will be read. 1t is
a serious. orderly, comprehensive and convinc-
ing statement of the Republican case-the kind
OF statement that is an argument and wins
verdict
Senator Wolcott was forceful and felictous in
all parts OF his address, but especially impress
sive from such a source was his declaration
that "fOr us the time has come to give fair
notice to the world that We too, make gold our
standard and redeem our obligations in that
metal" The unanimous response of the Con-
vention to this emphatic utterance by the fore
most representative of reunited party in Colo
RADIO and throughout the Northwest was one Of
the significant and welcome incidents of the
opening session. Not less firm and satisfactory
was that portion of his speech in which the
temporary chairman reviewed the origin, mo-
tives and events of the war with Spain, set
forth the imperious obligations resulting from
that just and magnanimOus conflict and pro
claimed the unfinching purpose of the RepubH-
can party to keep faith with the country and
the world by discharging those obligations TO
the uttermost. He said:
The American Commissioners. men of differ
ing political faiths, reached a unanimous
clusion The Treaty Of Paris was ratified by
Senate,
acquired under it became lawful and legal
possessions of the United States The RESPONSE
bility for the rested upon all; the respon-
sibility for the treaty rests chiefly upon the Re
publican party, and that party avows the wis
dom Of the treaty and declares it to be the
policy Of the party to adhere to its terms and to
accept the responsibilities it imposed. . . . No
civilized nation in the world, Christian
ton, could have turned these people back to
Spain. We are told that the islands
rich in all the products Of the tropics and in the
possibilities of their future development. SO
much the better. But if they were barren
the Libyan Desert we would have taken them
just the same. We haven't been there long, but
long enough to reach two conclusions. One is
that the first thing intend doing is to sup
press the Tagal instruction and to establish
law and order throughout the archipelago. That
is the first thing we shall do. And the last the
very last, thing we intend doing is to consider
even for moment, the question of giving up or
Of abandoning these islands.
In these sentences is clearly defined the duty
which the Republican party understands that il
owes 10 itself TO the Nation and to the world in
respect to the new dependencies and there is
not the faintest indication that the American
people entertain a different idea of their obiga-
lions any thought of regulating them They
will again intrust the Government with all its
weight of cares and interests at an eventful
period in history. to the hands which have re-
stored National prosperity and upheld National
honor.