Arizona republican., 1900-08-19
ISSUES TAKE SHAPE
Why Republicans Are More
 and More Sanguine
The Record of the Administration Unassail ab,e lvents Daily Disproving the Charge of I'm perialism.

Washington, Aug. 1S.-While promin- ent republicans here are not loudly indulging in campaign predictions. be- dictiOns, because they say it is too early to make definite estimates of the probable result throughout the states, there is a growing feeling among them that as the campaign opens the strength of the republican platform and the popularity of the administration will be greater than at any time since the meeting of the conventions. They base this feeling on two things: One is that they believe the democrats as a party are showing their lack of faith in free silver as an issue, and the other is because they consider that the course of the administration in China is one to disabuse every one of even a sus- picion that any spirit of militarsm is abroad in the land.
 The course of the democrats in mak- ing free silver a secondary. if not an altogether unimportant issue in the campaign they consider it an act that will work as a two-edged sword, both sides of which. in this case. will cut opposing factions in the democratic ranks. They say the platform declara-
 
 money" democrats, while the failure to make silver a prominent factor in the campaign has had the effect of a dash of cold water on the silver men, who have been taught to regard the rehabil- itatiOn of the white metal as standard money as the great and one thing this country needs to make everyone pros porous.
 The sound money" men argue that the platform declaration, if not again defeated at the polls may keep alive the issue of free silver and allow it to be brought up again during some time of temporary business depression as q cure-all. The fact that it does not take a prominent place on the stump makes no difference to them, as they say q triumph of the democracy with that plank in the platform will be pro- claimed as victory for silver and give it new life as a political issue.
 On the other hand, among the great masses of people who worship at the shrine of silver the platform declara- tior is not so potent an influence as is the lt.nd of the stump speech. They have been accustomed to hear silver proclaimed as the one thing the coun- try wants. and when they see it is not held up as the great thing this cOun- try should have they will naturally be made suspicious and lose confidence in the leadership of democrats. These are the people who are influenced by Oratory and not so much by the cold record of party in convention.
 Republicans declare that while silver in this double way will weaken the force of the democratic campaign. that events are now taking such a form as to thoroughly dispel what they regard as the illusions of imperialism. They do not believe that merely the fact that the American flag is on new territory will make opponents Of the administra- ton. They think that a temporarily enlarged army will not scare many peO- pie so long as that army is made up of | volunteers. What they regard as the bogy man of imperialism is the one ! thing that might make a man stand and wonder if that is really the course i of events, and they are satisfied that 1 people have already heard enough of that cry to discredit it in the light of | history that is now making.
 They claim that the administration s | course in China is the best possible | antidote for the imperialistic scare
 and when that is taken in connection with what is going on in Porto Rico, i Cuba and the Philippines, they declare l that those who howl imperialism have nothing to point to as proof of their ! fears and assertions. Port Rico. with practical autonomy; Cuba, in the prim- | ary school independence; the Filipinos 1 gradually looking to the United States as it's best friend and possibly the one potent force to prevent it's dismem- | berment, are, they declare, unsavory morsels to feed those frightened by inn | perialiSm.
 | This is the view that is held even by ! republicans who a short time ago felt ! uncertain about the way in which the campaign would open and who could not anticipate how events would take form. They feel fully satisfied over | their prospects, and this sentiment is readily detected wherever republican leaders are gathered in convention.