The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-08-30
Imperialism or Free Government
the Issue.
PEOPLE MUST MAKE THE CHOICE
Republicans Disappointed at the
outcome mt Kansas City - Their
Plans Disarranged-Chine Trou
b1es-Roosevelt Hard to Manage.
FiIfpinos Still Full of Fight,
Especial Washington Letter.

ans have changed several plans as to
their own campaign. 1t is noticeable
that but very little criticism is made of
Stevenson as running mate for Bry-
an, and Bryan himself is treated with
far more consideration and courtesy
than he received four years ago. The
fact is that the Republicans are having
so much trouble restraining the wild
impetuosity of Roosevelt that they
have little time or strength left to
spend in discrediting the candidates
who are the choice of the Democracy.
The Republicans have been praying
to all their gods that the Democrats
would again put forward 16 to / as the
leading issue. They are both disap-
pointed and surprised that the Demo-
Gratis have boldly grappled with the is
sue of Imperialism and have served no
tice to the people that the country has
come to q parting Of the ways and
must now choose between an imperial
ism which will soon be applied at home
as well as in the colonies and the form
of free government contemplated by
the constitution.
President Mckinley has abandoned
his front porch campaign and returned
to Washington to attend to the bust
ness of the people for the rest of his
term. The excuse that the long dis
lance telephone and the telegraph
make Canton quite as available as a
White House for a presidential resi-
dence is not received with popular ia
vor.
However, if there were not cam
paign on and a very uncertain one at
that the administration and it's adj
visers would not care what the people
thought about the matter. But the
Democratic platform and the populari-
ty of its candidates have forced the Re-
publicans to revise every detail. Mark
Hanna and his cohorts realize that the
administration must be extra circum-
spect in order not to add to it's long list
of errors, so they are really looking for
some plausible excuse to have Presi-
dent Mckinley return to the White
House and make the campaign from
Washington.
The Republicans feel very cross over
being forced to make a campaign on
Imperialism. Not two months ago they
were loudly declaring that there was
no such thing as Imperialism and that
it couldn't possibly be an issue.
In President McKinley's speech &C
cepting a denomination few days ago
the allusion to Imperialism was plainly
made and with an evident effort to
steal Democratic thunder on that sub
ject.
Do. 1Nli aoy 70 fUn
that imperialism is the popular term
for the ADMINISTRATORS policy in the
Philippines and Porto Rico and Cuba,
and the same policy keeps it In accord
with Great Britain and unwilling to
extend even sympathy to the Beers.
The term is so very well understood
and the voters so willing and anxious
to have the campaign made on that is
sue that the Republicans cannot refuse
to take it up.
Representative Richardson, who has
charge of the Democratic congressional
campaign, has just returned to Wash
ington and says that the Republican
party will have to make the fight on
the record Of this administration. He
suggests that their unwillingness to be
judged by their record is a good indica-
ton that they fear the popular verdict.
The Democrats are pushing the con-
gressional campaign with great vigor.
From the headquarters here large
quantities of literature are sent to all
sections of the country. The plan of
work has been carefully mapped out
with especial reference to close dis
tricts, and the Republicans show how
thoroughly they are losing heart in that
their congressional committee has re-
fused to aid it's candidate in a number
of doubtful districts, saying that there
is no use in spending money where de-
feat is almost certain.
The Democrats are not taking any
thing for granted, but the indications
are that there will be Democratic
majority in the next house. The pas
sage of the Porto Rican bill has not
been forgotten, and the Republicans
find that party dissensions show more
clearly in the congressional campaign
than In any other. The Democrats are
trying to inform the people as to the
facts and are willing to abide by their
Judgment. The Republicans, on the
other hand, are extremely anxious to
keep the record of the recent Republic
an congress from the people. 1t Is not
"a record of which to be proud.
The administration publicly protests
that 1t doesn't know what it Is going to
do about the Chinese complication, but
it is a significant fact that the war de
partment Is extremely busy these days
Transports are rushing men across the
Pacific, enlistment is being encouraged
all over the country, and prodigious
quantities of arms and ammunition are
being made ready.
The state department gives out the
opinion informally that even If all oul
citizens, including the United States
minister, were slain at Picking thai
would not In itself justify declaration
Of war on our part IL the Chinese gov