The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-14


in 1860 from fnarressing the accepted doc
trines of an authorized national conven-
ton of the party on the intelligent senti-
meat of the country. Whether para.
mount or secondary the expansion issue
is settled. Tt is settled in favor of the
United States retaining possession Of the
acquisitions from Spain, and of utilizing
them in every available way for the ex-
tension of the Foreign trade of the coup-
try. On that score. as on the issue of
the free coinage Of silver, the account Is
closed. 1t is equivalent to threshing
over old straw to engage further in tho
consideration of either proposition.
But the danger of exploitation still re-
mains living danger. From all We
know Of many of those who are close in
the councils of the administration, the
recent new possessions are looked upon
as having their@only actual value in the
opportunities for enrichment which they
will offer to those who are in position
to influence, If not to direct, the admin
istrative policies OF this government in
the Philippines, Porto Rico and Cuba.
In accepting the popular verdict regard
ing expansion, 1t is by no means right
conclusion that the country is called on
to accept as beyond criticism, or open
condemnation, the administrative poll
cies which may be pursued. 1t is an ur-
gent demand Of the country, however,
that peace shall be brought forthwith to
the distracted islands. However this is
to be accomplished it must be done forth
with. We cannot afford to occupy the
position toward the natives of that coun-
try which Spain SO long occupied, of be-
ing professedly unable. either by physi-
cal or moral force, to reconcile the peo-
pie to our way.
There is the utmost need at this time
for charity and forbearance toward each
other, and each others opinions on the
part of all Americans who are anxious
to league themselves together for the
sustainment of Jeffersonian policies. We
may differ to wide extremes in cur in
depreciation of these policies; but there
will always remain questions of large
public import on which we can all be IN
agreement. The tendencies toward alb
solutism which have manifested them
selves so often and plainly on the part
of those in control of our national con-
Germs; the disposition to ignore the indi-
vidual citizen and his rights in the pro-
motion Of the ends of business combina-
tons and syndicates; the marked gray
itation toward the doctrine of force as
the arbiter of existing differences. the
tendency toward consolidation and COM
bination in industrial as in political life;
the settled policy of enriching one class
of citizens at the expense Of all others
through governmental agencies-all these
point out the way in which constitu-
tionai opposition may, without ignoring
the plain mandates of the popular judg-
ment, bring the country back to those
standards of political action on which
the party has stood since its foundation.
and the recognition and embodiment Of
which in the public policies of the United
States have enabled the national De1noc-
racy to survive disaster and to hold
fast to the confidence Of the masses in
the last event.
The Clio e accepts the verdict just
rendered by this people in all its true
significance. It refuses to give its coun-
tenance to the maintenance of claims or
contentious in matters of disputed poll
cies which have been twice repudiated
by the people. No body Of men, however
influential at this time. in the councils
of the party, can afford to insist on their
claims, unless they seek to enter on 8
mission of still further disruption. The
mass Of the Democracy throughout the
country may-safelY be left to choose
their own leadership. Time is the great
healer. Time and mutual liberation viii
bring returning sense. If the lesson of
the past four years shall prove to be lost
in the immediate future on those who
have been for that period in control of
the machinery Of the party, and of their
means of giving expression to its concep-
tons Of public. policy, then, indeed, may
no man close his eyes to the dangers
which are in store for representative gov
eminent among the people of the United
States The G 10 e in such an event
will still adhere to it's own understand
ing of what is right, and will refuse, in
the future, as in the past, to make com
promise with its settled convictions.