The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-19
ELIOT ON THE ISSUES.
Harvnrd's President Discusses Qucs-
TONS Involved in the Campaign.

| gins as follows:
| You have asked me for an academic
article on the political principles and
tendencies involved in the approaching
Presidential election-an article which
shall not dwell on the fears and hopes Of
today. but rather describe the deep and
| far-reaching currents of events and opin-
| ions. This request seems to imply that
| the election this fail is not a supreme
crisis, like the second election OF Lin
coin. but only one Indispensable act in
a long drama. AT any rate. that Is my
| opinion"
| At the outset, DR.. Eliot says that 1t
seems to him that those men and those
| parties that suppose the American people
likely to be permanently guided in their
| political action by any sordid commercial
| ism or other form of national selfshness
are grievously mistaken. Some party
managers and all mercenary voters are
governed by mean motives: but the mass
| of the people is never much Influenced by
| pecuniary considerations in politics. The
American people have long had a charac-
teristic political and social enthusiasm.
| Their two steady, passionate sentiments
| are for the security, prosperity, and honor
| of the Republic, and for the spread among
| the white races OF free institutions and
| of the good social conditions which grow
| out of them. Whenever the people Of the
| United States are to be called on for
great exertions and sacrifices, they have
first to be persuaded that such exertions
| and sacrifices will contribute to one or
other of these two causes which they have
at heart. The various policies. whether
domestic or foreign, of political parties
should always be considered with REFER
ence to these fundamental national pas
sions and sentiments"
He then takes up the three principal
subjects in regard to domestic policies
which have engaged public attention dur
ing the last thirty-fve years, and first the
establishment of the gold standard and
sound banking system. regarding which he
says: THE important gains which have
lately been made on this subject are due
to a majority OF the Republican party and
minority Of the Democratic; but at this
moment the great cause OF sound currency
is practically defended by the Republican
party alone"
The second fundamental topic Of political
discussion, in DR.. Eliot's opinion, rs
public service based on merit only. The
most competent statesmen of both parties
have promoted this reform. but the mass
of neither party is as yet to be trusted
with it." He asks how this reform can
be promoted at the present moment, and
replies: THE personal and political his
tory of the candidates OF the Republican
this iss;,a to the candidates Of the Demo-
tic-Populist party; for Of the two can
lidates nominated by the latter party, one
is a. notorious spokesman, and the other,
being a civilian without military expert
ence, accepted a colonelcy in time OF war.
That act speaks louder than orations
Moreover, recent experience shows that
neither party can as yet be trusted to
forego a spoils debauch at complete
change Of the national Administration"
The third important subject OF political
debate during the last thirty years has
been the protective tariff, and DR.. Eliot
enquiries which Of the two parties is
likely, on the whole, to be able to adopt
legislation tending toward freer trade.
He thus answers his question: Since the
Democratic party has absolutely thrown
away the low-tariff position which such
leaders as Cleveland, Carlisle. Wilson.
and Russell won for it, the reciprocity
doctrine of the Republican party seems to
afford the best immediate opportunity for
liberal legislation; although 1t must be
confessed that progress toward world
wide trade Is more likely to come through
the logic of events than through legisla-
tion-that is. through the increasing su-
periority of American industries and the
manifest insufficiency of the home market. |
Against this chance OF improving COM
mercial and industrial conditions by reci-
procity treaties must be set the strange
subserviency of the Republican party
leaders to small groups of capitalists, who, !
having made great sums of money by
means of high tariff legislation, are will
ing to make large contributions to Re- |
publican campaign expenses in the ex-
pectation of preserving their special privt- |
leges. The machine or boss is. how
ever, much the same corrupt and corrupt !
int N hpth
and Plat being well matched by Messrs. |
German and Croker
Another portentous subject VIII ca |
has attracted much attention since 1893 |
is the frequent outbreaks CT popular dis |
order and violence in various parts Ct the |
country, conspicuously the Chicago rail |
road strike of 1894. in which local mob |
rule was suppressed by the Democrats |
national Executive and the Unit d tate5 !
courts. with the approval Of both p2liti- !
cal parties. DR.. Eliot concludes his dis |
cussicn Of this matter by saying: In |
this state Of affairs, any attack on the |
independence of the judiciary is much to |
be deprecated. Such an attack is made |
for the second time in the platform Il
the Democratic Populist party"
"In regard to foreign policy" DR.. Eliot |
says, sit is not easy to state any material /
difference between the declared policies /
of the two great parties. Pres d mt Nc |
Kinley and Mr.. Bryan use different |
phrases in describing their foreign pol |
icies but when 1t came to action, in all |
probability their policies would be mucii /
alike" lie criticises the course of the |
Administration in Cuta. Porto Rico. and !
the Philippines. saying. among ether |
things: president Mckinley, in / Is I'M
wonted function of sovereign and arl l. |
trary ruler. committed a lament BIZ e. |
rcr in the tone OF his proclamation to the
Filipinos of December. 1898, and thereby |
involved his country In a cruel war-or
rather long series of military execu-
tions-with a semi-civilized but liberty
loving people who fought by our side
against the Spanards. and who cusht t.
have been invariably addressed with the
utmost consideration, not as purchased
subjects or conquered foes, but as COM
rades and friends
On the other hand he says: 1.-The pa
triotic citizen may well hesitate to con-
tribute by vote or influence to n COM
plete change OF administration Pres-
dent Mckinley Is now surrounded by
Cabinet officers of capacity and expert
ence. and he has put good men at the
head Of affairs in Cuba. Porto Rico, and
the Philippines: while in case OF / chang,
in the Presidency nobody can tell to
what sort of persons the great offices of
the Government would be entrusted
RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDENT.
4 Delegation of Prcsbyterinns Visit