West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-09-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
Genuine Alarm Among the aopubli-
can Leaders Over the Stampede
For Bryan.
The Germans Strongly Opposed To MILL
tarism and Imperialism.
Prom our special Correspondent.

| DNPi. II i1OO.--
Putting the American flag where
1t ought not to be is a Mckinley
specially which has brought the
country trouble and humiliation in
big chunks. But that did not pre-
vent his ordering the flag to be
raised in the wrong place again this
week. 1t is by Mr.. McKinley's
order TO be raised over the notorious
Ii Hung Chang. who is to be taken
from Shanghai TO Pekin under its
protection, and on board an Ameri-
can warship if he wishes, and when
he gets TO Pekin Gen. Chaffee and
his brave American soldiers are to
be his body guard. What use to
make of the American flag and Am
erican soldiersl This old rascal has
been afraid to leave Shanghai
afraid alike of his OWN countrymen
and the powers, with the exception
of Russia which is said to own him
body and soul. And now Mr.. Nc
Kinley PUSHES into the breach and
raises the American flag over him
and takes him to Pekin, regardless
OF whether the other powers con-
slider such action an affront or not.
and he goes even further. He has
promised Iii Hung Chang that he
would use his good Offices to per-
suade the powers to enter into nego-
tiations with him, although several
of them have already refused to do
so. Mr.. McKinley's friendship for
Ii Hung Chang is really suspicious.
1t would be easily possible to get
a decision from the u. S. Supreme
Court before the Presidential elect
ION on the case involving directly
the Constitutional status of Porto
Rico, and incidentally that of the
other island possessions of this gov
eminent, which has been appealed
from the u. S. Circuit Court of the
Southern District of New York;
but the administration is too much
afraid that the decision will be
against its position to take any
chances. Consequently it may he
accepted as certain that the decision
will not be handed down until after
election. This is not meant to infer
that the court will in any way be a
party to postponing action on this
important question for partisan
reasons. That will not be necessary
In the several legal prelminaries
necessary to advance the case to an
early hearing it will be an easv
matter for the attorney representing
the administration, usually the
Solicitor General, to head off the
attempt to get decision before
election without resorting to any
extraordinary methods.
tt I
Publicly the Republicans pi etend,
OF course, that their majority in
Maine and Vermont are entirely
satisfactory, but they put very
different face upon the returns when
discussing them amoung themselves.
Every man who has been through
even the kindergarten Of politics
knows that if the same percentage
OF Republican loss shown in Maine
and Vermont is shown throughout
the Union In November that il will
mean the election of Bryan and
Stevenson by larger majority in
the electoral college than Mckinley
ana Hobart received four years ago.
1t isn't pretended over confidence
that exists among the Republican
leaders now, but genuine alarm.
They realize that the trend of public
sentiment is against imperialism.
and that if they cannot stopit Nc
kinley and McKinleyism are doom.
ed to crushing defeat.
ttt
DR.. Habercom, who had charge
of the German work for Mckinley
four years ago and who is now
working for Bryan and Stevenson.
says of the outlook, as judged from
extensive correspondence with prom
inent German voters: "The Germans
know all about imperialism. They
know that imperialism can only be
maintained by militarism and that
militarism means heavy taxation
and inroads on the young and
producing element Of the population
and most likely CONSUMPTION. Fol
lowing the European models com
pulsory service in the army or navy
for all men might be demanded.
The German voter is going to stran
gle the empire before it strangles
him. ! don't think the Presidents
letter Of acceptance did him any
GOOD. The most fhai can he .nid