New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-06
THE OREGON VICTORY.

The sweeping gold standard expansion vic
tory in Oregon Is one to give the Bryan man
ayers pause. 1t does not promise we'll for the
success Of their favorite battle cries 1t rather
shows that the people over whom Bryanism
had great influence four years ago have lost faith
in the nostrums Of the Chicago platform In 1896
the Republican candidates for Congress were
both elected by narrow pluralities, only owing
to the division of the Democrats and Populists
whose vote, If combined, would have swept the
State by some 1000 This year, in spite of COM
plete union of the two Bryanite parties. the
Republicans elect their State ticket by large
majority, both Congressman, and a Legislature
which Will choose Republican Senator for the
term beginning next March.
One of the issues which played prominent
part in the campaign was expansion, and the
emphatic Endorsement of the Republican policy
OF dealing with our new possessions foretells
the disappointment of those who are looking
for great reaction at the call of Mr. Bryan
and demand from the American people that
we give up the task forced upon us by the re-
suits of the Spanish war. The Northwest GER
tainly will not respond to the appeals of the
antiexpansionists. They may hope to do better
in the East but it is difficult to see on what
ground. The elections of November 1898
showed no objection to the then clearly seen
that at that time the glamour of conquest was
still upon US, but certainly last fall the unnonu-
larity of expansion should have manifested
itself if at all. The Philippine disorders had
been dragging on for year; all the dissatisfac-
ton with every mistake of military administra-
ton was acute; then was the extreme point of
reaction, when the people at home were feeling
what the war cost them and theirs in blood and
hardship and treasure, after the ardor which
sustained them at the time of losses was past
Yet the Republicans won unexpected victories
and the anti-expansionists themselves confessed
that the American people were apparently be-
hind the Administration in acquiring the ont
lying territories
Now comes Oregon, leading off 1900 with
facts to confirm them in last falls view They
have no facts to show that the East is less con-
slant in its favor of expansion than the West
and even If there is stronger opposition senti-
ment in the New-England and Middle States on
this issue here, such sentiment is offset by the
| overwhelming belief in sound money Oregon
once filed with the silver delusion. Not
only Democrats but Republicans were carried
away by it. and in 1896 the Republicans.
though supporting Mckinley, We're on record
against the declaration for the gold standard
Since then they have come squarely in line with
the rest Of the party and boldly made their cam
paigns for sound money. and this year declared
that so long either Of our great political par
tiles advocates the free coinage of silver the
maintenance Of the gold standard is the most
important political issue" When in the old
strongholds of silver the gold party can win
such victories it is not TO be believed that peo-
pie in the East who have all along been firm in
their devotion TO sound business principles and
insistent upholding them will be less re-
| sponsve to that issue. If as some pretend to
! believe, the business men Of the East will this
/ year take only a mild interest in the cause Of
| sound money and business stability they will
| certainly be running counter to the tendency Of
| the rest of the country. If Oregon can be car