The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-04
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1900.
ISSUES OF IIaE cA,lpaIGN.

The paramount issue of this campaign.
despite the speeches of the anTi-imperiai-
1st orltors on the one side and the forci-
bile expansonists on the other. IS still
somewhat obscure TO the mind Of the aver
age voter, for there are IN both parties
great numbers of earnest supporters of
the general fenets of the Republican or
Democratic party, as the case may be.
who are in anything but accord with the
avowed principles of the leaders Of their
ocratsc party in the South can fail to see
clear indications that there are many of
those who are strict constructionists of
the Constitution in the old sense, men Who
had they lived in the dnys of Hamilton
would have bitterly opposed his protective
scheme OF taxation and who to-day. are
opposed by principle ard by inherited
!; political utilization to THAT spirit of civ
---elized government that has characterized
rs,e Republican party in the past and is
j present.
But while these Democrats feel as keenly
as ever did their forbeais the danger of
an executive which is monarch1cal in its
be called, and while they see with nppre-
hension The growth OF the military power
in the hands of the President, they Yet
feel that by Whatsoever way 1t may be
laid under responsible IS in regard TO an
allen people that cannot be met by u calm
}wlthdraMal, and to this extent these DEM
fsocrats cannot be in full accord with the
mediate withdrawal of al American
troops from the Philippines.
In the Republican party there are illus
traous examples of men who have carried
magnetism and great eloquence into the
field against the avowed policy of their
party. The names of George T. Hear and
George S. Boutwell, are enough TO show
10 what extent the dissatisfaction in the
ranks OF the Republicans has spread
Behind this issue, which has been given
taae most prominent position in the cam
paigns are the minor issues of national
bank currency as opposed TO gTeenbacks,
OF protection for party favorites md nom
revenue producing industries as opposed
to free trade, of reckless extravaganza
and gross pension frauds as opposed to an
economically administered government.
and. indeed, the whole difference may be
summed up in the old cry of equal rights
for an; specinl privileges for none
Despite this great and successful foreign
policy the Republican party is as much
to-day the party of special privileges as
ever it was under Grant. Garfield, Arthur
or Harrison
Now there is one sndubitable teaching
of history which carries conviction no less
to the statesman than TO the wand polsti-
clan. and ii is that an incoming admins
aratson cannot ignore and cut loose from
the action Of the preceding governing
power. and. therefore, the Introduction OF
= Democratic administration could not. IN
our opinion, materially change the policy
of the government in regard 10 the tsasi.p-
s pines as at present carried out, nor would
We see any great change IN our system OF
protection. and perhaps the pension frauds;
lnsgh1 so on as they have done with in
creastng glory since first begun. But in.
] = government which depends solely upon
i the via OF the people the one essential for
q = long and heaa,hful system Is lhsst there
/ be two contensl.ng parties. Now whatever
& may bc the minor difference between rhe
xwo great parties. howsoeser far the.
|. Democratic party may have strayea from
ass original moor.nss IN 1896 il is none she
seass true thai the Fundamental principle
nf Democracy is in Its last analysts, the
s 8 tdca that a government depends on the
q n4sil,genee. tho self-ress:.ance and the apss-
81 me Individual citizen 70 govern hsn,-
u white The Republ.can party IN ITS