The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-21
EFFORTS TO DODGE THE ISSUE.
Grow Festive Under Restraints
Imposed by Leaders.
Baltimore Sun.

the Republicans are chatting under the
restraint Of their leaders, who seek to
avoid the issue of Imperialism and con-
fine their efforts to rehashing the silver
question in the hope of making it the
piece de resistance of the campaign
menu.
Inquiries are daily made as to how long
the Republican leaders Will undertake
to console themselves with the belief
that the American people are so blind
as not to accept a paramount issue when
it is given to them. The true imperial
ist-he who believes the flag must never
come down, no matter where or how it
was planted-cannot admit the possibility
that any patriotic citizen can differ with
him. To them patriotism means terri
tory grabbing under any or all pretexts,
and anyone hold're to the contrary must
therefore be unpatriotic.
Early in the spring Senator Hanna
warned the more optimistic of his follow
ers that there was more danger to the
Republican party from over-confdencc
than from anything else, but up to date
the Republicans have been unable to
shake off their apathy, and most of them
are resting contented as if the victory
were already won. Serenely they reply
to all efforts to induce them to discuss
the issue of imperialism that there is
no such issue, and that the real question
is whether or not the gold standard
shall be maintained.
Months ago they themselves settled
the silver issue against the best judg-
ment of more than one Republican lead
err looking forward to political success
in 1900. 1t was carefully pointed out
that the passage of a Financial bill
which would substantially place it be-
yond the power of the opposition to
change the standard would deprive the
party of it's great issue and leave the
question of the Presidency open to all.
The Gold Democrats in Congress real
lied the truth of this statement and well
coined the opportunity to cast their votes
| for a bill which was designed to lay
| the specter of free silver so deep in the
| grave that not even the frantic endeavors
of Hanna and his henchmen could ever
| resuscitate it long enough to brighten
| the most gullible of American voters
| Bryan reaffrmed his devotion to the
| dead issue at Kansas City, but straight
way left its bier to meet the greater
| issues of the day.
| Confidence is expressed that Mr.. Hanna
that parties do not make issues, but issues
make parties. Issues have always been
made by the opposition, or rather the OPP
position has been united and solidfied by
issues. This was the case with slavery,
the tariff, free silver, and will be the case
with imperialism. No Administration, no
| party in power, has ever been able to Sc
| lect its battle-ground.
no otf fII1n Of fhn
was likened last night to the Chinese
| method Of warfare.
I'm the present campaign" said the
| speaker 'as far as it has been developed,
the Republicans have been employing Chi
nese tactics. They are going out to fight
armed with lanterns and masks, CARRYING
| before them the hideous dragon of free
silver belching forth fire and smole and
| hoping to brighten the enemy. But, now
ever much the people of days gone BY
might have been frightened by specters.
they are not of that mood now. The de-
| Tense OF the Administration is Just as
| though the Chinese had attempted to de-
fend Pekin by massing all their strength
| at the gate opposite the one which the al
| lies were attacking. Instead Of meeting
| the Democrats face to face the Republi-
| cans are attempting to win by creeping to
the rear and raising a great hullabaloo
over the graves of the issues of 1886
| All the leaders are, however not misled
| by the appearance of an easy victory Two
months ago they would not admit the Ios-
| sibility of a doubt of Republican success
| today they not only admit the House will
be very close, but that Bryan is much
| stronger than he ever was before They
| take comfort from the fact that he adopt-
| ed the issue OF Imperialism late, and hope
| there may not be time for it to gather
sufficient weight to overcome the doubts
| Of those who for four years have been
| taught to regard him as the exponent of
anarchy. 1t is unfortunate for them that
| one of the very things which was counted
en- as being of great assistance to the Ad-
ministration now promises to have the
directly opposite effect. AS pointed out
in The Sun when Mr.. Hay made his
famous pronunciamento that the United
States was not after Chinese territory, the
United States may be compelled to take
a slice for indemnity. China has no
money, and. of course. no one expects
her to go free without heavy payment for
the indignities inflicted on American citi-
zens and diplomats and the expense to
which our Government has been put. The
Administration, therefore, will have to
exert its diplomacy to the utmost to at
one and the same time obtain satisfaction
and give no additional impetus to the
anti-imperialistic movement.
With Hawaii, the Philippines and a
choice bit of China, why not protector
ate over what remains of the South Afri-
can Republic. and even the admission of
Switzerland to the Union, as proposed
by Swiss newspaper some time ago.?
Great as the Republic is, it is not, in the
opinion of its masters. great enough to
acknowledge a wrong or undo one. The
great difference between the attitude of
the Administration toward the Philippine
question and that of the Democratic party
is that the latter, as set forth by Mr..
Bryan believes the war can be ended
speedily by the announcement of our pur-
pose to grant the Filipinos ultimate indie
pendence, while the Administration has
no policy whatever, but is Micawber- like,
waiting for something to turn UP.