The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-08-31
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
lsnecial Correspondence. J

Especial Correspondence.
Chicago, August 27.-The political
situation, so far as the Republican
outlook is concerned, may be sized
up in one word-over confidence.
The great trouble at the present mo-
ment is that everybody nearly and
especially the Republicans, are toe
busy making money, getting their
crops in. earning good wages at their
situations in the mills all over the
country, and, in short. feeling SO
very contented that one who comes
along to talk politics finds little en-
couragement. The correspondence,
the clippings from the newspapers,
the private communications received
from leaders in various states, all
indicate that this danger of overcon-
fidence is liable to be the great one.
1t ought to be said however that the
officers of the Republican National
Committee are fully alive to this dam
ger. They like to receive the reports
of prosperity--and the reports also
that as many millions of voters as
possible, especially Republican voters,
are having a very good time of it fin
ancially. But they do not allow
themselves to be lulled into any feel
ing of false security by this. They
have been looking from the drop of
the hat, and that, according to all
reports, is the exact condition in the
East. The Republican leaders believe
that they will win, but they are
going to work harder and harder to
bring about that contamination and
they propose to take no chances.
One of the best advertisements ever
written simply said:
''No time to write advertisements
too busy selling hats "
That about expresses the present
situation.
1t is equally evident that the Re-
publican leaders, orators, writers and
workers of various kinds are going
to chase no rainbows, that is because
they are going to take no chances.
You do not hear those who really
know their political business saying
that this or that is going to be a
paramount issue. " They know
better than to make any such predic-
tions. It seems to them that special
issues are likely to have to be dis
cussed: expansion or imperialism, if
the Democrats choose to call it that,
free silver, possibly the Chinese War;
1t is likely to be almost anything, but
whatever it is these same Republican
leaders, orators, writer's and other
workers are going to be ready. They
are not going to be put on the defen-
sive. They have been in power, they
have responsibilities. They made
promises four years ago. They have
fulfilled those promises They do
not believe that the opposition party, |
no matter how harsh its criticisms
now, and no matter how fair it's
promises, could have done better if
ithad probably could not have
done as we'll having had less expert
ence, and, as everybody knows, having
made but sorry mess of it whenever
it has had chance to try before.
So all the Republican workers are
going to meet the Democratic workers
more than half way. If expansion or
imperialism" is the issue, let the
two platforms be compared. Bryan
actually promises nothing that the
Republicans are not now performing.
He says, to be sure, that he would
convene Congress and establish pro-
tectorate over the Philippines. He
isn't sqaure enough to mention that
this would take about the same kind
of standing army that we are now
maintaining, and to which he seems
to object so strenuously. So, with the
silver issue, he and all his followers
will have chance to explain whether
Bryan, if elected, would not imme-
diately put the country on silver
basis by paying in silver, for he is
permitted by law to pay in "coin. /"
And perhaps the paramount issue
may be the Chinese War. If so the
Republican performance is a good
enough augury for the future. 1t is
about the platform of the gallant
McCalla who if remember correct
ly, said, after the commanders of the
Allies hesitated about advancing:
We seem to have come to no con-
clusion in this conference, gentlemen,
but my minister is in danger in Pekin
and l am going there!"
And he started, he and his handful
of marines and sailors. They were
repulsed but they at last succeeded in
getting there.
1t is the exact truth to say that Mr..
Bryan's speech of acceptance was
disappointment here, greater to the
Republican managers, possibly, than
to the Democrats. He really dealt
in platitudes so generously that there
is nothing tangible in it to attack or
pick to pieces. Resides the platitudes