The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-01
Party Disabling.

Party Discipline.
II party discipline were a sure Fuaran-
tee OF success, there would be no doubt
OF a great Republican triumph In the
Presidential campaign. Never IN the his
tory Of parties in the United States has
there been so conspicuous an illustration
Of the cohesive power OF discipline as mas
been afforded by the Republican orgauiza-
tion in the past few weeks. The first Incl
dent in this connection was the passage
Of the Porto RIcan bill. in which Congress
reversed the deliberately formulated pol
fey Of the administration and the chair
man OF the Ways and Means Committee,
and set itself I'm opposition 10 the indg-
nant strenuous. and persistent protests
OF the almost solid Republican press and
the voting masses Of the party. Never be-
fore did any party cndow the opposition
with such a redundant supply Of cam-
paign capital as was furnished Gurilg
that episode in speeches and interviews
by the leading lights Of the Republican
editorials on "our plain duty" The pas-
sage Of the Porto Rico tariff bill, under
such circumstances, might well have
been expected to result i'm hopeless de-
moralization. II seemed impossible that
the discipline which forced that measure
through Congress could force Republican
State conventions 10 indorse II. But it
met with appreciation in the six Rapubu-
can State conventions held last week,
and If the Republican editors and voting
masses are stiIl resenting IL, they are
wonderfully successful in keeping their
disgruntlement to themselves.
Opposition to the Porto Rico tariff bill,
the protest against deserving plain
duty" and putting tax on the products
Of the little island to whose people we
had promised equal rights under our Cen
stitutiOn, was more intense in Indiana
than in any other State. Il was mani
tested in a manner calculated to make it
effective But the Indiana Republicans
in their State convention declared that
we unhesitaungly indOrsa and approve
the policy and course Of the administra-
tion and the legislation by Congress in
respect to our newly acquired. posses
sions"
Not a word or hint of dissatisfaction
appears in any part Of the platform. All
is as serene as if sweet peace and JIissful
serenity had never been interrupted Has
the tornado left no debris, 10 mark OF
devastation to show that It ever came?
Are there no sulzers who viii be too busy
on election day to so to the polls; no nal
contents whose resentment will take
them over to the enemy? We cannot an
swer those questions, but we are bound to
declare that the Indiana Endorsement Of
the Porto Rico tariff Legislation by Con-
gress' is an exhibition Of party discipline
so superb that in the estimation of prac-
teal politicians it must seem almost sub
lime.
On the general policy Of expansion all
the Republican conventions have recorded
their support Of the administration. That
of course they were bound 10 do, in view
of the assured denomination of President
Mckinley. But there was some doubt as
to the course Massachusetts might take
with regard to the Philippines. The storm
center of "anti-imperiaiism," the place of
its birth and the home Of its most distin-
guished promoters, is the Bay State. The
senior Senator from Massachusetts is the
ablest opponent Of the retention Of the
Philippines. His great speech-great in
every sense of the WOTd-Was delivered a
few days before his Bay State brethren
met in convention. Their expansion planks
in 1888 and 1888 had been regarded a
somewhat straddl;ng The radical clement
OF the party determined that in the Presi-
Dental year no such mistake should be
made \ day or two before the convention
of last week met the Boston Journal said;
THE committeeon resolutions, the officers
Of the convention, and the convention IL
self should remember that the Republican
party II Massachusetts is so strong and
so harmonious, so sound in principles an
policies that its danger IS not from out
side attack. but from inside decay. They
should remember particularly that in tht
declaration of It's beliefs the Republican
party In Massachusetts can afford to b.
anything except cowarGly or obscure"
AS II In response 10 that appeal, tn
platform. referring to our new acquisl
tions, says:
''No greater trust thar the uplifting and eiucat
ing OF these de.erss!ess people has been impose.
upon the United State. Tho Republican party De,
leves it 10 be -b. hisE anl solemn duty Of o.,
rat.on 20 accept ana execute This trust. Win al n,
responsibilities it involves Jy retaining the ISL
aads AID by providing for taelr adequate govern
meat upon the principle o. liberty and humanity
i believes that 20 abandon them q, local ans-.a,
oT to tie lust OF the invader would be c5uarly ar.
eishonora5ls ana betrayal of Ifs trust lur5vs.ll.
to be Contemplated BY a great ires and sal.ra,eaa.
nation"
Party discipline. although lax in Mas
sachusetts IN or years is evidently heI,
by taut rein IN q firm hand I'm this grea
quadrennial campaign. Even Senator
Hoar. In spite Of all his opposition 10 ex
pansion, IS so much of party man tho
De viii take right hold and DO his best t,
insure the triumph OF Mckinley and ex
pansion.
No Place for Party Politics.
There Is one Republican nominee r. II