The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-29
THE CHEF ISSUE OF THE CAM
PAHGN.


There win OF course be several important
issues in the presidential campaign, but
the chief one will be imperialism. The
public mind is more fully occupied with
the question as to whether the Republic
can or the Democratic policy respecting
Porto Rico and the Philippines shall pre-
vail than with any other Gen. Grosvenor
was not so very far wrong when he said
that the most important question in the
presidential campaign had been left out
of the Republican platform-the question
as to whether the constitution extended to
territory acquired by the United States
without any action on the part of congress,
or whether Congress had authority TO ex-
ercise authority in such territory outside
OF the constitution. with certain limita-
tons. II seems that there was plank in
the platform stating the position OF the
Republican party in respect to this mat
ter when It left the hands of the President
Quigg of New York, the Platform Com
nlittee left it out of the platform on the
ground that it presented a question that
the Supreme Court was likely to pass up
on before the end of the presidential cam
paign. and the Republican party would
be in a rather unenviable position if the
court should decide against the position
taken in its platform.
But because /. was left out of the plat
form it does not follow that il will play
no part in the presidential campaign. AS
already stated the Indications are that it
will play the most important part. The
parts that will be played by trusts and
silver will be only secondary to it. The
people are dividing on the question as to
whether or not this country shall be an
empire. If the constitution follows the
flag, then the Filpinos are now under the
constitution and are entitled 10 all the
rights and privileges which that instru-
as the Republicans contend. the constitu-
ton does not follow the flag, the Phil
ippines are mere dependencies to be COVE
erned as Congress pleases.
The treaty by which the Philippines were
acquired differs in a very important par
ticular from previous treaties by which
the United States came into possession of
territory. In previous treaties it was stip-
ulated that the inhabitants of the acquir-
ed territory should ultimately become cit
liens. In the treaty by which the Philip
pines were acquired It is left to Congress
to say what the political rights and civil
status OF the inhabitants of the ceded ISL
T. 49, e
feet OF this provision of the treaty is TO
give the late Spanish possessions a dis
tinet existence under, but without the
United States" A point is made against
Mr.. Bryan that ne urged the ratification
of the treaty. and now takes the position
that the Filipinos ought to have their in
dependence. There is nothing inconsistent
In Mr.. Bryan's position. He knew of
course what the provisions of the treaty
were when he advised its ratification, but
at no time did he favor holding the ISL
ands as colonies. He believes that the
Filipinos should be dealt with just as it is
proposed that the Cubans shall be dealt
with. He believes that they should have
their independence when they are ready
for self government, and he is inclined to
think that they are now able to manage
their own public affairs.
The whole country is waiting with deep
interest TO see how the Democratic Ma
tIonal Convention will deal with the Phil
ippine question. 1t is undoubtedly the
question in which the people at this time
are the most deeply concerned.