The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-29
POLITICS FOR THE PACIFIC.
The West Coast vitality Interested
in the Campaign.

The Pacific coast has special interest
in the result OF the election this ran.
Men on the Pacific coast. especially In the
states that have coast line, understand
what expansion beyond the sea means.
Since 1897 there has been a transforma-
ton on the Coast. With the needs or
Australia and the Philippines to the south
and west the rehabilitation of Hawaii
Alaska and the ISlondike region and the
increased Oriental trade, the West coast
states have been given thrill or new
life and an Importance that under ordi-
nary circumstances they would not have
attained in twenty years.
Assuming that Mr.. Bryan IS sincere,
and that II president he would use all his
influence TO carry out his stated plans
the result could not help but be disastrous
TO the Coast. 1t must be understood that
his policy is TO practically give up the
Philippines at once. Deep down In his
heart he has no possible use for the pro-
tective tariff and il he can be elected and
with him house and senate to carry out
his views, 1t will simply mean contrac-
tion which will make useless half the
ships of the Pacific. and which will make
Improbable go many of the occupations
on land that wage-earners will. as they
always have been when that experiment
has been tried, be turned out by the thou
sands to earn a living the best they can.
Whatever the men of the East may do or
think of doing, there should be but one
question on the West coast. Mr.. Bryan
was bred inland. He was bred with all
the narrow prejudices which attach to a
people who have but. limited horizons at
best. and whose lives are so hard that
they are interested simply in what they
themselves are doing A distinguished sem
ator from Kansas was here some years
ago, and when II was explained to him
what mighty advantages would accrue
were system OF storage reservoirs TO be
established In the Rocky mountains. which
would Increase the area that might be
cultivated by many thousands of ACRES,
he bluntly said that he did not care 10
see that work carried on at present. and
when asked why. he said with such OPP
portunities thousands of men would leave
Kansas and come West to make homes
where the promises of reward would he
so much greater than in Kansas. As the
South for many years had a contempt for
and a prejudice against great manufacture
ing establishments. 90 the men of the mid.
die West cannot see why they should be
taxed that We may have more ships on the
sea, more commerce and more prestige
as a nation. Unconsciousiy Mr. Bryan Is
more or less environed by that hereditary
narrowness. Hence he is a free-trader.
He believes that when the farmer sells his
right to send to England and buy what
he wants for his house in the lowest pos
sible market in the world. and never yet
has been able to see that II great manu-
featuring establishments could be started
in Nebraska. even II the goods cost a lit
tie more at first the result would be that
the farmer would get half as much again
for his corn. The American people have
tried the experiment Of electing such n
president over and over again. They have
paid fearfully for the experiment but with
a strange perversity about once in so often
they are beguied into trying Il anew. But
the men Of the West coast surely ought
TO be enlightened enough to see that the
empire OF this country--and BY empire we
mean the prestige and the power of this
country working for the good OF mankind
docs not stop, nj least ought not Go stop
on the shore. The way the Philippines
have come to us make certain duties on
those islands unavoidable. and as an en-
enlargement 70 perform those duties the
islands themselves lie basking there under
"A perpetual summer sun. waiting TO pro-
duce all the sugar. all the coffee all the
tea, all the rubber which this country
every wear pays s2o0. zoe 600 for. and 20
have This progress stop just as II is be-
ginning would be an impeachment Of the
intelligence 81 our people. The West
coast people surely viii not add 10 the
shame OF that Impeachment.