The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-18
WARNING TO REPUBLICANS.
Postmaster General smith Sees Danger
in Overconhdence.
(New York Times.)

New York Iimes.)
Charles Emory Smith of Philadelphia,
Postmaster General in Mr.. Mckinley IS
Cabinet, was in the city yesterday.
Asked for his opinion of the prospects of
President McKinley's election, he said:
Zone thing I would greatly emphasize
is that too much is taken for granted as
to our certain success in the election.
The outlook is certainly very promising,
but there is danger that the people are
taking too much for granted, and that
success is assumed to be certain, when
it is not certain, unless the essential
work and essential conditions are full
filled.
lis there anything in Bryan's speech
of acceptance to which you care to
reply?p
There are two. points especially that
ought to arouse universal attention, and
ought to be emphasized everywhere. The
first is his unqualified declaration that in
case he Is elected he win Immediately
summon Congress in extra session, which
Involves immediate presentation of all
the dangers of Organism. The second is
bis direct and bold declaration to Agui-
naldo and the Tagals practically to con-
tinue their warfare, because II they can
continue it until he is elected President
they will succeed in their object.'
What do you consider the leading is
sue OF the campa1gn?
The paramount issue is not imperial
ism. The paramount issue is the support
Of the government in the policies which
have brought prosperity and greatness to
the country in the last four years. The
vital question OF the campaign is Wheth-
or the nation is to keep on in the path
way of success which has been achieved
under the policies Of this administration,
or whether it is to incur the dangers
which would be greater than would have
followed the election Of Bryan in 1896.
This election is much more important
than the election OF 1896, because 1T not
only involves the dangers that would
have been involved In the election of
Bryan in go, but it involves the addi-
tionaI danger and risk Of the loss of pres
tige we have gaine1 In these four years
How would Bryan's election be more
Immediately dangerous than it would
have been four years ago?''
MIR. Bryan's declaration that in the
event Of his election he proposes to call
Congress Immediately together in extra
session for the purpose of dealing with
questions which he would present to 1t,
is practically a declaration to the country
that all the menace that it involved in
his election WO lid be Immediately preclp1
tated upon the country-that we will not
even have a respite until December, but
it Will come just as soon as he is in
stalled. His election would Immediately
destroy public confidence, and that blow
would be all the greater in view of his
declaration that within four months from
that time he would have assent led Con-
gress together, which would, OF course, be
Bryan Congress if there was a Bryan
President.
''Do you think that all branches at
Washington would be Democratic in case
of BrYan's election?' ''The House
would be certain, and the other branch
so close as to be practically in control of
the President, 1t would be an imme-
date destruction of public confidence and
arrest all enterprises.
81 think that the people have assumed
that the passage of the currency law was
the settlement of the currency question.
Now 1t is not the settlement unless we
have a Republican Senate and a Rep ub-
lican House. 1t would be unsettled at
once by the election of Bryan. People
have taken it for granted that this ques-
ton was settled and out of thu way. But
1T would become unsettled Immediately
upon change of conditions
Do you believe that the Democrats
have the slightest reason to press the
charge of militarism?
mo. The trend of our movements in
China ought to be sufficient proof that
this republic has no inclination toward
miIitarism. Instead of making this
trouble an oc sasiOn for the assertion of
militarism, we are trying to minimize it
to the smallest degree that is cOmhatable
with the absolute requirements of the sit
uation, in assuring the safety of our lega-
ton 1t is the strongest possible demon
stration that we are going in the other
direction, instead of toward militarism =