The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-27
THE POLITICAL SITUATION CHANG


There has been a change in the political
situation within the last few months. At
the beginning of this year the Republic
cans were so confident that they would
elect the next President that they would
not admit that there was a doubt about
it. On the other hand the Democrats,
while hopeful, were far from being sat
ished with their prospects.
A change has taken place-a change
which even the most partisan Republicans
recognize. The Republicans are not now
saying that they will win an easy vic
tory On the contrary they are admit
ting that their party will have to do
great deal Of hard and intelligent work to
retain control of the government. the
talk of the Democratic leaders is encour-
aging. 1t is more than that; 1t is conf
dent. They now believe that the change
that has taken. place in the political SEN
timent of the country will continue, and
will result in Democratic success. What
has brought about the change? That is
a question about which there is a differ
ence of opinion One reason for the
change however. is loss of confidence in
the Republican party. The people do
not believe that it is sincere in its dec
larations against trusts. They believe
that IL Is a supporter of trusts. and is
depending on them for funds with which
to carry on its presidential campaign. As
matter of fact an attorney for one of
the great trusts has been chosen TO put
IL rirla in,
adelphia Convention. This attorney Is a
United States senator, and recently on
the floor of the Senate made excuses for
trusts.
And the people are against imperialism
and militarism. They see both in the
triumph of the Republican party Inn
perialism means not only, colonies, but the
| changing of the republic into an empire.
The Philippine bill pending in the Senate
| confers upon the President imperial pow
er. 1t gives him greater power as SEN
ator Morgan pointed in his speech on Fri
day, than any President ought to have
1t Is a bill framed by the Republican
leaders for the purpose of carrying out
the policy of the Republican party 1t,
| of itself, is sufficient to justify the charge
of imperialism which has been brought
| against that party. Militarism goes along
with Imperialism. The Republican policy
respecting our insular possessions makes a
large standing army necessary. The peo-
pie view with alarm the burden which
such an army would impose on them. They
are clamoring for the repeal of the war
taxes. The fear that these taxes will be
retained, and that additional taxes will be
| imposed, is turning them from the Repub-
lican party.
The Cuban postal frauds have startled
| them, and awakened them to the danger.
| under our system of making appointments,
of our civil service, at home and in our
| insular possessions, becoming thoroughly
corrupt if the Republican party should
be successful, and it's imperial policy
| adopted. These are some of the reasons
for the change in the political situa ton
and they promise to bring about still
greater changes.
The outlook for the Democratic party
will continue to grow brighter unless the
| Democratic leaders make mistakes. A
| mistake would be to give too great prom
inence to the silver question. There is
no good reason why that question should
be forced to the front. If the Democrats
should elect the President they could dc
nothing for silver during the next -four
| years. Silver, however, If given prom
inence in the campaign, would scare
away thousands of votes from the sup.
port of the Democratic ticket. The Dem
ocratlc party, owing largely to Republican
mistakes. now occupies a position which
promises success. They should be careful
not to lose 1t in trying to satisfy senti
ment