The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-04

Every Republican will accept most
cheerfuily the alignment OF party poll
cies n they appear in the platforms
adopted day after day in the several
states. The meeting OF the two ma.
tional conventions ana their declara-
tions Of party faith will not make the
issues clearer than they are today. The
situation IL vastly different from that
Of four years ago. when the respective
party positions were not defined posi-
lively until the national platforms had
been announced. Today we know ex-
actiy where each Of them stands.
The New Hampshire Democrats. for
instance. took action representative OF
the party at large. The convention was
solid for Bryan and free silver. That
man and that Issue are In the forefront.
And surely no Republican could wish
for happier fortune than to fight over
again the battle OF 1895. aided by pros
peritys marvellous demonstration Of the
correctness OF the Republican conten-
ton. This IL the front center OF the
line OF attack. ana the formation cannot
be changed.
Equally ~sli outlined In the party d.
verUsnce on the issue Of expansion. The
New Hampshire Democrats demand alb
solute free trade between the United
States and Puerto Rico. which has been
granted in substance. so that there is
no room for controversy there. They
demand also for that island a form of
government similar to that Of our ter
ritories, To grant that would be to put
tts people at immeasurable disadvan-
tage when the disabilities of the terri.
toriai system are compared with the
privileges now theirs by law. II would
also carry with II moral obligation
10 admit Puerto Rico as one or more
states Immediately, since II has the
requisite population. Are the people OF
this country prepared for or DESTROYS of
that1
Passing to other territory. the Demo-
Gratis are guilty Of an attempt TO be
fuddle the public mind by demanding
for Cuba and the Philippines indepen-
dence as soon as they are capable OF
self government There Is in this an
implication that we intend to retain
Cuba. which In worthy only OF such a
party as modern Democracy has come
90 be. To Cuba our honor Is pledged
and our promise win be performed In
the Philippines there exists no parallel
situation. Whether or not the time will
ever come when such a thing as Filipino
Independence may be possible no man
can tell. any more than he can say
whether the babe I'm ITS cradle viii be
orator. poet. statesman or ditch digger.
There must be Filipino people. some
thing that does not now exist and never
has existed. before we can say what
that people, .aaax.--h@1ome or how we
shall deal with ~
Meantime we have 60 do our duty Just
as we see a. We have TO deal with these
inhabitants Of the Philippines and Of
Puerto Rico, and we are doing Il as tho
man Of science or the man OF business
deals With the problems presented to
him daily; we are making n study Of
conditions as they arise. and applying
20 them the light of experience guided
by the largest and truest humanity We
are not 10 be scared by words. Thu
American people have a profound con.
tempt for talk about conquest and
~miiitarisn" and imperialism" They
revere duty above all other things
They see plainly what duties were i'm.
posed upon them By the results of IN
war. and they intend that these shall
BE- psrfossned- Whether IL has to be DOM