Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-08-08

lively small, but politically and flnan
| cially powerful, number who really
profit by republican policies, but with
them are associated a large number
who because of their attachment to
the party name, are giving their sup
port to doctrines antagonistic to the
former teachings of their own party.
, Republicans who used to advocate BIZ
metallism, now try to convince them
| selves that the gold standard is good !;
republicans who were formerly attach
ed to the greenback are now seeking
an excuse for giving national banks
control of the nations paper money;
republicans who used to boast that the
republican party was paying off the
national debt, are now looking for rea-
sons to support a perpetual and in
creasing debt; republicans who for
merly abhorred a trust now begulle
themselves with the delusion that
there are good trusts and bad trusts,
while, in their minds, the line is be
coming more and more obscure; rep
ublicans who in times past congratu-
lated the country upon the small ex-
pense of our standing army, are now
making light of the objections which
are urged against large increase in
the permanent military establishment;
republicans who gloried in our indie
Dendence when the nation was less
powerful, now look with favor upon a
foreign alliance; republicans who
three years ago condemned "foreible
annexation as immoral and even Grim
inal, are now sure that it is both
immoral and criminal to oppose forci-
BILE annexation. That partisanship
has already blinded many to present
dangers is certain; how large por-
ton of the republican party can be
drawn over to the new policies remains
to be seen
For time republican leaders were
inclined to deny to opponents the right
to criticise the Philippine policy Of
the administration, but upon investi-
cation they found tnat both Lincoln
and Clay asserted and exercised the
right to criticise president during the
progress of the Mexican war.
Instead of meeting the issue boldly
and submitting clear and positive
plan for dealing with the Philippine
question, the republican convention
adopted a platform, the larger part of
which was devoted to boasting and
self congratulation. In attempting to
press economic questions upon the
country to the exclusion of those which
involve the very structure of our gov
ernment, the republican leaders give
new evidence of their abandonment of
| the earlier ideals of the party and of
their complete. subserviency to pecuni-
ary considerations.
But they shall not be permitted to
evade the stupendous and far reaching
issue which they have deliberately
brought into the arena of politics.
When the president, supported by a
practically unanimous vote of the
house and senate, entered upon a war
with Spain for the purpose of aiding
the struggling patriots of Cuba, the
country, without regard to party, ap-
plauded. Although the democrats rec
ognized that the administration would
necessarily gain a political advantage
from the conduct of war which, in
lie very nature Of the case, must soon
end in a complete victory, they wed
with the republicans in the support
which they gave to the president.
When the war was over and the repub-
lican leaders began to suggest the pro-
priety of a colonial policy. opposition
at once manifested itself. When the
president finally laid before the senate
a treaty which recognized the inde-
pendence of Cuba but provided for the
cessinn of the Philippine islands to the
United States, the menace OF imperial